Summary
The Hell 3 mod for the originalDiablohas officially been completed, finally delivering the full-fledged experience in what is one of the most ambitious fan projects for Blizzard’s 1996 action role-playing game. Since its inception nearly 30 years ago,Diablohas been the benchmark for ARPGs, with four mainline releases and a selection of expansions.
The Hell 3 is the third entry in a series oftotal conversion mods forDiablothat began in 2006 withThe Hell, followed byThe Hell 2in 2019. Although the mod changes nearly everything about the game, the genre and the atmosphere remain intact. The project focuses on structural improvements and gameplay enhancements that breathe new life into the classic without destroying its soul. It also aims to expand on some of the ideas originally planned forDiablo: Hellfire, which the developer thinks wasn’t afforded the time it needed.Hellfirewas the sole expansion for the originalDiablo, launchedin late 1997, less than a year after the release of the game.
The total overhaul mod forDiablois now considered complete, thedeveloper ofThe Hellmod serieshas announced. The Hell 3 update went live in July 2024 and has been under post-launch development ever since. With only minor cosmetic work remaining and potential smaller patches planned for future bug discoveries, The Hell 3 is officially ready for full-fledged playthroughs.
The Hell 3 Adds New Classes, Dungeons, Items, and Modes to Diablo
The feature set in The Hell 3 is impressive. It includes an upgraded system engine, modern support for resolutions, display modes, and refresh rates, and tons of new content. Players also get quality-of-life features such as auto gold pickup, which wasadded toDiablo 2only in the remaster, single-key item comparison, item highlighting, expanded inventory, and improved UI for trading and character stats. As one can imagine, newerDiabloreleases were largely responsible for much of the mod’s inspirations.
The Hell 3 also includes a fully functional multiplayer, somethingDiablolacked when it launched almost three decades ago. Additional features, like running when not fighting, add to the gameplay. However, perhaps the most impressive upgrade is the expanded class system with six classes and 29 subclasses. These can be further customized with traits, allowing for extensive build variety, far beyond many more modernDiablo-like action role-playing games.
Overall, The Hell 3 has been an immense task by the developer, more than doubling the dungeon content and adding new quests. There are a total of over 4,500 unique, tiered items, including new slots for gloves, belts, and boots, new crafting systems, improved enemy AI, and previously unseen additions toDiablo’s impressive variety of demons, among other things. There’s no doubt that it offers an incredible upgrade while preserving much of the nostalgia ofDiablo. However, even after such a monstrous effort, the developer suggests that they are planning a fourth edition of the mod, although that is still far in the future. Until then, The Hell 3 provides many hours of exploration and demon-slaying in Sanctuary.
Diablo
WHERE TO PLAY
Explore the game that spawned a million legends of the one and only, legendary and undying Diablo.The kingdom of Khandaras has fallen into chaos. An unknown force of evil has swept across the land. Plunging it into civil war and terrorizing the populace. A mad king, his missing son, and a mysterious archbishop are all pieces to the puzzle that faces you. You have journeyed to the source of the evil – the town of Tristram, now inhabited by only a handful of survivors.The cathedral there is built over the ruins of an ancient monastery, and now eerie lights and sounds are heard echoing through its abandoned halls. Perhaps the answer lies within the remains of a forgotten past…Diablo invites you to enter a world of dark, gothic fantasy. Play as a brave warrior, cunning rogue or mysterious sorcerer. As you venture deeper into the labyrinth, you’ll discover weapons, armor, and magical treasures, and develop your character’s skills and abilities.
