Editing Diablo II (section)

{{short description|2000 video game}}
{{Original research|date=August 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Diablo II
| image = Diablo II Coverart.png
| caption = Cover art depicting the Dark Wanderer by [[Gerald Brom]]
| developer = [[Blizzard North]]
| publisher = [[Blizzard Entertainment]]
| director = [[David Brevik]]<br>Erich Schaefer<br>Max Schaefer
| producer = [[Mark Kern]]<br>Kenneth Williams
| designer = David Brevik<br>Erich Schaefer<br>Max Schaefer
| programmer = Rick Seis
| writer = Kurt Beaver<br>[[Stieg Hedlund]]<br>Matthew Householder<br>Phil Shenk<br>Robert Vieira
| artist = Phil Shenk
| composer = [[Matt Uelmen]]
| series = ''[[Diablo (series)|Diablo]]''
| released = '''Microsoft Windows'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|June 28, 2000<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-4391,00.html |title= Diablo II Ships, Blizzard Posts Patch |first= Clint |last= Hicks |date= June 28, 2000 | website= [[CNET#Gamecenter|CNET Gamecenter]] |access-date= August 11, 2022 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000817093839/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-4391,00.html |archive-date= August 17, 2000 |url-status = dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="mccauley">{{Cite news |last=Dennis |first=McCauley |date=July 27, 2000 |title=Diablo II: A successful mix of action and role-playing genres |pages=55 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107430226/june-28-release-for-diablo-ii/ |access-date=August 11, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=August 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812023028/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107430226/june-28-release-for-diablo-ii/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|EU|June 30, 2000|AU|July 6, 2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Arrivals |url=http://www.gamesmarket.com.au/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000706211647/http://www.gamesmarket.com.au/ |archive-date=July 6, 2000 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Games Market |quote=Order ''Diablo 2'' out 6/7/2000}}</ref>}}'''Classic Mac OS'''<br />{{vgrelease|WW|July 26, 2000}}'''OS X'''<br />{{vgrelease|WW|March 11, 2016<ref name="auto">[http://kotaku.com/years-later-blizzard-releases-a-new-diablo-ii-patch-1764232247 Years Later, Blizzard Releases a New Diablo II Patch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406070019/http://kotaku.com/years-later-blizzard-releases-a-new-diablo-ii-patch-1764232247 |date=April 6, 2016 }} by Brian Ashcraft on kotaku.com (3/11/16)</ref>}}
| genre = [[Action role-playing game|Action role-playing]], [[hack and slash]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=16949 |title=Inside Mac Games News: Diablo III: Timeline, Expanded RPG Elements, iTunes D3 Music |publisher=Insidemacgames.com |access-date=September 15, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607001518/http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=16949 |archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Classic Mac OS]], [[OS X]]
}}

'''''Diablo II''''' is a 2000 [[action role-playing game]] developed by [[Blizzard North]] and published by [[Blizzard Entertainment]] for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Classic Mac OS]], and [[OS X]]. The game, with its [[dark fantasy]] and [[horror fiction|horror]] themes, was conceptualized and designed by [[David Brevik]] and Erich Schaefer, who, with Max Schaefer, acted as project leads on the game. The producers were Matthew Householder and [[Bill Roper (video game producer)|Bill Roper]]. The game was developed over a three-year period, with a [[Crunch time (video gaming)|crunch time]] of a year and a half.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wawro |first=Alex |date=March 18, 2016 |title=20 years later, David Brevik shares the story of making Diablo |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/20-years-later-david-brevik-shares-the-story-of-making-i-diablo-i- |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211232803/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/20-years-later-david-brevik-shares-the-story-of-making-i-diablo-i- |url-status=live }}</ref>

Set shortly after the events of ''[[Diablo (video game)|Diablo]]'', the player controls a new hero, attempting to stop the destruction unleashed by Diablo's return. The game's four acts feature a variety of locations and settings to explore and battle in, as well as an increased cast of characters to play as and interact with.

Building on the success of its predecessor, ''Diablo'' (1997), and improving the gameplay, both in terms of updated character progression and a better-developed story,<ref name="Gamespot review">Desslock. [https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/diablo-ii-review/1900-2600303/ "Gamespot Diablo II Review"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302082814/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/diablo-ii-review/1900-2600303/ |date=March 2, 2021 }} Retrieved March 27, 2021.</ref> ''Diablo II'' was one of the most popular games of 2000<ref name="gamespy_review">Madigan, Jamie. [http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/diablo2_a.shtm "GameSpy.com – Reviews"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514181906/http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/diablo2_a.shtm |date=May 14, 2012 }}, [[GameSpy]]. Retrieved August 14, 2008.</ref> and has been cited as one of the [[greatest games of all time]]. Major factors that contributed to the game's success include its continuation of popular fantasy themes from the previous game and its access to Blizzard's free [[Online video game|online play]] service, [[Battle.net]].<ref name="Walter">{{cite web |last=Walter |first=Barbara |date=November 28, 1997 |title=Battle.net Defines Its Success: Interview with Paul Sams |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/battle-net-defines-its-success-interview-with-paul-sams |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827104530/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/battle-net-defines-its-success-interview-with-paul-sams |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |access-date=September 5, 2008 |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] }}</ref> An expansion to the game, ''[[Diablo II: Lord of Destruction]]'', was released in 2001.<ref name="battle1">{{cite web |url=http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=27835073330 |title=Battle.net - English Forums -> Patch 1.13d Now Live |publisher=Blizzard |access-date=October 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605063129/http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=27835073330 |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

''[[Diablo III]]'', the sequel to ''Diablo II'', was released on May 15, 2012. ''[[Diablo II: Resurrected]]'', a remastered version of ''Diablo II'' which also includes the ''Lord of Destruction'' expansion, was released on September 23, 2021.