Act 4 was also just disappointing because of the lack of NPC dialogue. Jamella and Halbu didn't talk, and Cain and Tyrael had only one script of gossip.
Act 3 does have the Stygian Dolls. And if anything came close to giving me such pause, it was them for sure. And not just because of their game mechanics with how they exploded, but they were just these freaky undead tightly bound creatures that seemed more intent on killing you than any other monster in D2.
Ye, for me Act 1,2,5 for reasons too long to explain (Decided on Act 5 in the end.)
But since there are not many negatives about the acts I dont like, i'll explain those. (I do like certain things about acts 3+4 , but I'll just focus on the negatives.)
Act 3: Lame Monsters imo... Like other than the High Council i found the monsters pretty damn lame... Hell, even Mephisto was a little weak looking imo. (Not to mention.. ANNOYING monsters!)
I agree about a lot of the monsters being lame. They never really struck any terror in me like they should. Doom apes, more buzzards. The Zakarum were kind of interesting if not threatening. They needed to do a lot more with them because it's rare you encounter monsters that are actually humans.
I disagree with you about Mephisto though. I thought his design was wicked cool. Seeing him made a lot of Act 3's efforts worthwhile.
The music in Arcane Sanctuary is excellent ambient music. It felt like fantasy meets science fiction. And I loved any time you came across a narrated book. Very reminiscent of Diablo 1.
Indeed. Act 2 is very climatic for sure. And right around then you get your level 12 skills. I was way more intimidated by Duriel than Diablo when I first say him. A huge fuck off maggot looking demon with claws bigger than his head. He taunts you, freezes you, and runs after you really fast.
And seeing Tyrael for the first time was stunning. While whole speech about Tal Rasha, the Soulstones, and the Horadrim was great because so often you seem in the dark about the events happening around you. And then you see this powerful being who gives you all this accurate information all at once. It was great.
Oof, and the maggots that spawn the baby maggots. More annoying creatures from Act 2. But apparently it's justified as long as you change their color.
Diablo's death was kind of anti-climatic for me to. Sure his actual death was kind of neat, but then he just lied there and the music was barely audible, more ambient. Everything around you is quiet and empty.
I have mixed feelings about Act 4. Aesthetically, I actually think it's really cool. But I know a lot of people expected it to be more dazzling because it's Hell. But I liked the idea that some areas of hell really are just these desolate plains with lost souls trapped randomly here and there.
But I do hate a lot of the monsters in Act 4. Especially those demon vagina things that spawn the little wyrms. Or the damn leapers, as if they weren't annoying enough in Act 2. Or Souls. Who doesn't hate the Burning Souls.
Forge and Izual were great quests though with some of the best rewards the game had to offer.
I do think they should've spruced up the Chaos Sanctuary more though. It really did just look like some run of the mill cathedral. If you're gonna have tons of blood and gore like in the first Diablo, this might have been a good place to put some.
Kurast is by far the worst it takes forever to get anywhere and there is so many dead ends plus the durance of hate was just a giant maze took forever to get anywhere
Durance wasn't always that big.
I think people are too hard on Act 3 though. It feels so authentic. Especially when you get to Kurast and Travincal. I really like the look of the city.
And Fetishes can actually be fun to kill if you have a mass killing method.
I see few people actually say Act 3 is the best. From a multiplayer/ladder point of view, Act 2 is the most annoying just because it takes the longest to rush through. And Maggot Lair, ugh....
Yes, Act 1 does have a kind of malaise to it that's very satisfying to immerse yourself in. It didn't quite feel like Tristram, but it had strong Tristram overtones to it.
I actually voted Act 5 just because of it sheer cinematic quality. I love the music and by the time you reach Harrogath, it really feels like you're nearing the end of an era. As if you can sense that people way of life is going to be changing soon. Also, just because of the Nihlathak quest that I always thought was so incredibly executed.
Yeah, and who can actually judge an act by its rewards? The different acts have way more different things going for it than that.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
I disagree with you about Mephisto though. I thought his design was wicked cool. Seeing him made a lot of Act 3's efforts worthwhile.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
And seeing Tyrael for the first time was stunning. While whole speech about Tal Rasha, the Soulstones, and the Horadrim was great because so often you seem in the dark about the events happening around you. And then you see this powerful being who gives you all this accurate information all at once. It was great.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Diablo's death was kind of anti-climatic for me to. Sure his actual death was kind of neat, but then he just lied there and the music was barely audible, more ambient. Everything around you is quiet and empty.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
But I do hate a lot of the monsters in Act 4. Especially those demon vagina things that spawn the little wyrms. Or the damn leapers, as if they weren't annoying enough in Act 2. Or Souls. Who doesn't hate the Burning Souls.
Forge and Izual were great quests though with some of the best rewards the game had to offer.
I do think they should've spruced up the Chaos Sanctuary more though. It really did just look like some run of the mill cathedral. If you're gonna have tons of blood and gore like in the first Diablo, this might have been a good place to put some.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Durance wasn't always that big.
I think people are too hard on Act 3 though. It feels so authentic. Especially when you get to Kurast and Travincal. I really like the look of the city.
And Fetishes can actually be fun to kill if you have a mass killing method.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
I actually voted Act 5 just because of it sheer cinematic quality. I love the music and by the time you reach Harrogath, it really feels like you're nearing the end of an era. As if you can sense that people way of life is going to be changing soon. Also, just because of the Nihlathak quest that I always thought was so incredibly executed.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs