Diablo 2 vs Diablo 2 Resurrected All Cinematics Side by Side Comparison

With Diablo II: Resurrected, Blizzard is giving the original action RPG a major overhaul with new visuals and music, offering a more definitive take on the dark-fantasy adventure. With the game releasing we take a look at every Act's cinematics, and we figured it's worth comparing them to the original. Here's a side-by-side look at how the new 2021 cutscenes stack up to the cutscenes from the year 2000.
Players will be able to get their hands on Diablo II: Resurrected beginning on September 23rd at 8am PT on PC, PS4, PS5 Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
Timestamp
Intro Cinematic 0:00
Act 2 Intro Cinematic - Desert Journey 06:55
Act 3 Intro Cinematic - Mephisto's Jungle 10:05
Act 4 Intro Cinematic - Enter Hell 14:26
Epilogue - Terrors End 17:57
Act 5 Intro Cinematic - Search for Baal 21:00
Act 5 End Cinematic - Destruction's End 25:00
#diabloII #diablo2

[@saptrandir]

the new ones look great but all i learned from this is that what these people did in 2000 was a freaking miracle

[@MyLittleMagneton]

They really shouldn't have killed off Blizard North :(

[@midnightblue3285]

@@MyLittleMagneton All the members of the Blizzard north are still alive but they are divided

[@ivanmilanov8386]

@@MyLittleMagneton They killed Blizzard North? Is murder legal in US?

[@joshashe2087]

@@ivanmilanov8386 only if you are rich and famous

[@martinivanov1319]

the original ones have a lot more charm. just look at ball. they ruined him completely

[@viridianloom]

Man, I totally forgot that there was a time in gaming history where a cinematic was a big deal and a reward in and of itself for progressing through the game.

[@MsRafaelRGO]

And how it made us feel! i remember see W3 cinematic and going nuts, i NEEDED to play that game. It was fantasy caming to life....I guess as became more and more common our brain just get used to it, and lose it's novet.

[@JohnsysChannel]

I hated the cinematic sequences. Less chat more killin. Still feel the same way.

[@bagelborrowing6085]

@@MsRafaelRGO best part

[@generalawareness101]

YES, even in Diablo the cinematic with the raven eating the eyeball, Diablo II, etc... is mainly why I purchased the games. If it was a Blizzard product, back then, I purchased it just for the Cinematic, and the music. The game was normally great too so a complete win.

[@generalawareness101]

@@JohnsysChannel Then you are a cretin from birth. The type that destroyed WOW, and all online games, for so many.

[@Kaaxe]

glad to see that moving with "demonic speed" is still just a casual walk

[@loafbunmerp8050]

lol

[@l1qu1dm3t4lIV]

If you'd just walked hundreds of miles as an old-ass, opium addict then a casual walk is 100% demonic speed

[@Lettuce_Play]

LMFAO that is hilarious. But I chalk that up to it all being in Marius's perspective. We didn't see it from his eyes, but rather externally as an outsider.

[@edwardtan7283]

That was pretty fast consider how long it takes to reach Tyreal on that bridge with 0% fms on walk. Diablo walked that bridge in less than 2 second.

[@Iambadboy88]

I always thought it meant to walk and leave a fire trail behind.

[@cameronmcewen9666]

These cinematics are how Warcraft III: Reforged should’ve been.

[@ibrahimmckagan]

Yeah...

[@mr.redhands8390]

We'll have to wait for Warcraft Rereforged

[@Ken-bz7kj]

You mean warcraft: refunded

[@ibrahimmckagan]

@@mr.redhands8390 naah we need a world of warcraft Shadowlands classic

[@Michiho.]

@@mr.redhands8390 sure, couple decade later maybe...

[@someindividual2151]

In the games OG form, there was a separate entire CD for the cinematics. This was why. Absolutely incredible for what they had to work with.

[@daywalker3735]

That's why I don't remember hardly any of these....

[@jangdi.]

What exactly is incredible about this???? Looks similar to most cinematic at the time

[@ezkibela]

Ok couse i passed all the game but dont remember any cinematics, thats why , i only had one cd

[@diablocls55]

Yup I remember this. I first played this when I was 9 on PC and I guess my dad was too lazy to fully install it because I remember the game telling me to insert the cinematic disc or bypass at the start of every Act. I just bypassed until I replayed the game years later on my own computer

[@lucashaywardmusic578]

The old ones are simultaneously way better than I imagined and way worse. Some of the lighting and modeling is really nice, but the character animation is very late 90s. It's so janky it gives it a whole other level of charm for me

[@silverwolf3625]

Tyrael's model is glorious. Diablo had the best design for it's angels. Faceless human figures clad in shining armors of gold and steel with wings of light. Holy cow as a kid I loved it, nowadays not many games or media depicts them as such.

[@thoradensandan1351]

I liked better the old model's "glassy" wings.

[@KirosanaPerkele]

The design of Tyrael in the original D2 and of angels in general was certainly great. The original Tyrael seemed more tall and slender than the bulky Tyrael of D2 resurrected. That, and if you look closely at their wings in the original they are undulating slowly from right to left kind of like seaweed underwater in a current. Now they just kind of flap back and forth which is less original.

[@kevingame3198]

He's looks more closer to diablo 3 design

[@FilipRanogajec]

I never liked their 'hidden visage' archetypes. I prefer demons when it comes to that - at least they don't hide.

[@brotheralthalos9442]

the thing I love most about the design is how alien it is. the wings look like tendrils of light, and are used much more like the tentacles of an octopus than actual wings. and the hood putting the entire "face" in shadow makes it seem like Tyrael and the others are actually putting on a show for the mortals, attempting to shield them from the disconcerting reality of what whatever their true form is like.

[@TheMaelstrom]

it's strange seeing them side-by-side. When I do, its like I recall the old ones being a lot higher quality than they actually are when I see them. I guess back at the time, the mind upgraded the quality and filled in the gaps.

[@Talia.777]

True

[@andriybabiy9092]

probably it is because we used to have monitors with much smaller resolution, so on modern monitors it looks very blurry

[@rowdymatt]

When I saw the remastered cutscenes, I legit thought they were the old ones at first but I felt something wasn't right lol

[@joshishere96]

I love how girls are even aware of Diablo 2 (call me sexist I don't care). Because it's like the rpg game made for weirdo geeks. Plus the cutscenes are just grotesque and horrific on a spiritual level if you imagine it as if you're Marius. And people casually talk about the game as if it's just a new song that released. I mean Diablo 2 is pretty fucked up for a game blizzard designed. The same company that made wow. I'm quite surprising actually.

[@bluetextonwhitebg]

it's called rose tinted glasses. although i am not happy at all with what they did to marius. he looks maddened with terror in the original, but his body gestures in the remastered version just make him look tired.

[@myselfthethird3393]

22:29 a thing i noticed is that although the cinematics are meant to be the same or better. Baal in the original feels much more malicious while Baal from the resurrected is much more wrathful . not much but subtles body movements makes a big differences. the way one turns its body or smiles. its interesting to see the side by side comparison and see the body language of each . last thing... in the resurrected , baal blew up that guy... but in the original...baal splattered him all over the entrance !

[@FiikusMaximus]

Yeah that death looks way less satisfying in the remake. The two hot streams/lightnings move a lot faster in the original and it always felt like they overfilled him in the original. The new version feels much less gutteral.

[@javachipz]

Also skinny Baal in the original (which is more correct since Tal Rasha must not have been eating all that time) gives him a more sinister and demonic appearance

[@reddragon4482]

@@javachipz I agree yeah, he has a very human face too for a demon lord, so it gives him a weird uncanny and conniving vibe.

[@Raajur]

I feel like they captured it perfectly. The slight smile, they way he moves... they are nearly identical. IMO the resurrected cinematic captured him perfectly. I absolutely love it.

[@dragula131]

My favorite part of the Remaster is they kept the late Frank Gorshin as the voice for Marius. The man was a brilliant actor and voice-over.

[@swietytomasz]

no match for a polish dubbing anyway ;D

[@Sweetguy1821]

The original theybdid a good job at making Marius look high as fuck. Looks more sober in remake.

[@Vamavid]

Was thinking the same thing.

[@BruceWayne-fj9bm]

Older graphics.

[@HeedennPapermade]

yes! marius doesn look serious and his face expression was showing , i dont care..... in ressurected version.... this was the takeaway i guess.... where else all others are good. Initially i dont like baal as his face is showing sad, but still acceptable.....i prefer it looks cunning & energetic in the old version....

[@snugglepuff7648]

I preferred the old Marius IMO. The remake one looks like someone's deranged and drunk uncle.

[@liquidrufus]

@@snugglepuff7648 I think they were going for the carrying the soul stone has a took too many drugs effect on the poor sod carrying it. Well more drugs in Marius's case.

[@davidsawyers8754]

Got to give mad respect to the original when you realize it is 21 years old.

[@CoffeeGremlin83]

It can finally drink!!!

[@diablocls55]

Crazy to believe that it’s 21 years old now… then again so am I (game came out a few months before I was born) Oh, The memories I had playing this game when I was 9 😮

[@Stoynov666]

@@CoffeeGremlin83 only in usa :D

[@everrunic8375]

got to give props to the new one for not just improving the quality but actually making it from the ground up

[@DonLee1980]

I think a big part of the success of D2, was this storyline. It's absolutely crazy how 20 years ago, they made nearly 30 minutes of video footage like this. It might be more blurry, but in some scenes, it actually looked better.

[@leyrua]

Sometimes blurring things, reducing the details you can see, makes things seem all that more horrifying. I know I've played a few games where enemies were absolutely terrifying UNTIL I could see them clearly.

[@reddragon4482]

@@leyrua Fear of the unknown yeah, the most primal fear of all I think. It's universal xD

[@wdpk837]

some of the desert scenes on the original in particular look better. they’re closer up and it gives more realism to it

[@ExileLBL]

@@leyrua yes because it takes more imagination. Thats why brain is more "scared" :)

[@masteroidul]

It's only blurry because of the different screen resolutions. Back then, we used to play D2 on 800x600 and 1025x768 resolutions

[@YuYuYuna_]

The only thing I really hate about the remastered cutscenes is how Marius' facial expressions were changed. In the originals his expressions and mannerisms actually matched his tone of voice and the inflections in it like when Baal revealed himself to Marius and he said "Baal... nooo, no no no noo" It just doesn't look right at all in the remastered.

[@generalawareness101]

Noticed in the first one where it was more ominous and more realistic in some parts than the eye candy remastered one. Just seemed to fit. I mean why did they have him go from naked legs to having a robe? The part with the wonky screen when the sun was on his eyes as he adjusted was more realistic in the non remastered too. edit: Look at @20:28 where he was just murdered yet in the remastered version there is no blood. KNOW WHY? China market.

[@amak1131]

@@generalawareness101 Please... many areas have blood on the ground and religious overtones are rampant. While the Chinese market is easy to blame, I doubt that was the case here.

[@generalawareness101]

@@amak1131 No, you are naive as the modern Blizzard, as so many gaming companies, make changes to even classic games for the Chinese market. Showing blood is a no-no in China and the CCP will tear you a new one if it sees. Even a picture from blizzard of a knife going into its enemy had to be changed with the knife being removed. Picture looked stupid. You really need to follow what the CCP does since they have a ton of clout/sway/pull in the entertainment business. Go look at the serpentza, or laowhy86 channels about this stuff. Any expat will tell and most of them had to flee China so are now much easier to get the truths.

[@kevingarubba1370]

@@generalawareness101 There's definitely blood on the ground @20:34

[@generalawareness101]

@@kevingarubba1370 Yeah, some but not to the same extent is what I meant (so little I didn't even catch it). Funny thing is with the CCP they have even forced a change from a knife about to stab someone, and the company changed it to a spoon. CCP said that was fine. I guess the CCP never saw Robin Hood, lol.

[@AdhamMGhaly]

Lots of the original footage are better directed in terms of art. Tyrael was waaaay more glorious and had this strange blur around him, Baal was not as scary but his reactions were waaay more sarcastic which suited his character well. Marius himself seemed to suffer much more in the old videos. The new ones are just better in terms of graphics but not in terms of art direction.

[@Mastermind111111]

Blizzard is a B company

[@JSone4Design]

The older version is like a Shakespearean performance compared to the HD version, making up for the lack of technical advancement with more believable expressions of emotion and mystery. It reminds me of older cinema movies that relied on good acting before CGI took over everything.

[@tigermunky]

Agreed. Marius' body language when he realises that it's Baal is far more expressive in the original version than the remade one, where he seems more indifferent than truly broken. He moves like he's just failed an exam, rather than losing EVERYTHING and then some more.

[@LeafyPeach]

Agreed especially on the tyreal bit.

[@mikeh4551]

I prefer Tyrael's wings in the original due to the sort of ethereal wispy connection between each tendril that overall gives them the look of actual wings but other than that the remaster scenes look amazing.

[@johndelapena3484]

agreed. feels much more mythical and ethereal that way. new wings looks too watered down. more alien less angel

[@fufufuaru]

yeah I wish they kept that in the remake, in the remake when the camera is pulled back far he kinda looks like a dandelion seed lol But I still like diablo's version of wings for him (tentacle-like instead of typical avian)

[@leyrua]

@@fufufuaru It's not often that you see tendrils rise up from the abyss behind a character who is crawling out of it... and they belong to the GOOD guy.

[@JordanR]

​@leyrua I also.the love the way they close around and point at Diablo I'm unison. They didn't do that at all in the remake

[@Weyk47]

I was thinking the same thing. And a lot of the cool ethereal multicolored lighting is gone too which i loved about old fmv’s.

[@CrossMindStudio]

Search for Baal Cinematic , New cinematic might be visually detailed, but beside that older version is still a masterpiece considering it was made more than two decades ago. Baal's body language, gestures, little details on facial expressions, lips movement,the way he casts spell, skin on the jaw, neck and the way he leans back and forth is adding so much to character. (24:22) His neck prop have better animation and delay and feels like it has weight , the flags, banners, smoke etc are more lively and wind is perfect for the kind of scene when they charge towards screen at the end. Birds, snow in the air, dust etc all of that is missing in new one. It looks flat , and only the textures and models are more detailed. If you watch it from 24:35 without sound the visuals itself have so much chaos in old version and feels powerful. Feels like the animators were living the character they made. I think i said too much already...my love for Old Diablo is pouring out. I think i am gonna play it one more time.

[@alexlalov7152]

They showed more of his freakish head this way whereas in the new one he is a piece of wood.

[@Zenocius]

Shame they left out his cheeky grin

[@nystagmushorizontalis]

@Enrique They're both great. Resurrected version can play way more with subtle facial animations than what they could properly do 20 years ago therefore he does not need to move as much to make the job done. And it does the job done really well

[@h1n1worm]

+10000 ty sir, well said!!! faces, they just fuked up. so much pain, suffering,horror in Maruis face, i literally feel his tiredness and emptyness ... and what they did? empty, detailed shell in remaster. and baal... i cant add nothing to what you have said!!

[@SeanCaMall]

Agreed...the at the old cinematic Baal was much more expressive, even the hand sign to stop the echo in the new one is not much detailed.

[@jakenguyen4253]

I can't believe the original holds up SO well

[@darkjak224]

Blizzard has always had amazing CGI cutscenes. Last cutscenes in Frozen Throne from 2003 still gives me goosebumps

[@holden6104]

@@darkjak224 Brood War had some amazing cinematics too. Art style and originality trumps technical prowess any day.

[@akatsukicloak]

it does not hold up at all. It looks like a Simpsons episode.

[@LarryHazard]

@@akatsukicloak they're better than the new ones and there's not a single simpson episode that looks even close to this

[@akatsukicloak]

@@LarryHazard Get yourself some glasses if you think that abysmal cgi is anywhere near modern ones

[@adamcrux6829]

I remember being a teenager and showing off the cinematics to my dad after first getting the game because it was "cutting edge tech" and being so impressed with how realistic it was. Since I've been playing D2R I keep going back to the legacy game just to see how much they changed. I've got to say I think I'm just as impressed today as I was 20 years ago. I seriously think this game will live forever. 20 years of people playing the legacy D2 now that's it's been refreshed it will go at least another 20. The craziest part to me is the fact that I would quit for years at a time and come back to it and bnet seemed just as lively as it did when I first started.

[@Nicolas-Sun]

Should show him the remastered version as well

[@Monkeybaruso]

I had the same thought. I was 14 in 2000, completely addicted for a year. Now 36 and hooked again. Can I pre order the 2044 remaster?

[@LNN1356]

Love Baal's fresh look but I prefer how he acts flamboyant and sarcastic in the old version, it brings out so much of his personality. Baal in the new cinematic seems a little more grounded.

[@Wolfhammered]

The colors and lighting in the old version are so much better too

[@mowtow90]

I agree ,the new Baal is not as good as the old one but Mafisto on the other hand is miles ahead.

[@the-hermit-arcana]

the expressions of the characters in general are pretty flat in the new version. Diablo's transformation from man to demon (in act 3 and 4 cinematics) was also strangely way more horrific and gross in the OG cinematics. Still love D2R and generally pleased with the game, but the old cinematics had way more personality.

[@Nimroc]

@@the-hermit-arcana Also the way Diablo walks toward the portal after transforming seem quite different, in the original he has a more straightened posture and seem to walk faster and more confidently.

[@mikeybarber393]

I probably would be pretty damn grounded if my two brothers were killed.

[@andersenmark1240]

I like the old one better , more insane , more weird and distorted. The angel rays are also distorting normal vision and we can't see clear.

[@MrEssmarbu]

Agreed! The "acting" is actually better - more dramatic, grotesque and dark - in the originals! Integrating what made them chose to dail down on the drama and why they removed the dwarf-waiter in the intro scene... 🤔🤔🤔

[@Brother_O4TS]

While what they managed to make back in early 2000s was phenomenal, Resurrected is just a straight up upgrade to everything that made the original good

[@emopanther8454]

The Act V cinematics were my favorite, kinda disappointed they they took out some of the little thing from it. Baals little hand thing in the intro, and tyrael falling to his knees as the worldstone is exploding :(

[@RpTheHotrod]

Huh, I never noticed him falling to his knees, but you're right!

[@MrSamidare]

@@RpTheHotrod The new cinematic creator hasn't probably noticed too ;D

[@dacsus]

They removed the nonsensical gesticulation because they added grimaces that express his character better - both would have been too much.

[@timestimesx7535]

The original cinematics still hit different imo. The directing was superb in those . Like Marius looked far more innocent in the original and you were almost forced to pity him. In the shot where Baal reveals himself being able to see his face constantly makes it way too obvious that he's a bad guy. Aaand Baal got his character removed in the act 5 cinematic.

[@mspionage1743]

Looks good but I prefer the old Ba'al facial changes as he looked much more arrogant and cunning.

[@borischan5252]

I know they want to make the movements less forced, but some of the things they took out greatly impacted the message the original animators wanted to convey. For example, Bel waving his hands to stop his echoing voice, show that is one of his powers. The new animation doesn't really show that.

[@CaffyPvP]

The simple things make a big difference. Marius in the original was so much more pitiful than in the new one. His bare legs thrashing around feebly trying to push himself away from the approaching demon conveyed a kind of helpless terror that is missing in the remaster.

[@Cythil]

I agree. Many small elements I think were done better in the old animations. I think a lot of things were more expressive in the old animations. Even the spiders movement in the beginning feel more like how a spider would move (Spiders generally do not stroll along. Either they sit still, move slowly, or more really fast, they tend not have a medium speed.) That is not to say that the new animations are bad. There quite good. But they could have been a bit better I think if they kept the more expensive style as well as worked on making some scenes a bit more readable. The old animations did get that a bit for free since you had less. And less is more sometimes. At least it tends to make thing more readable.

[@fionordequester6748]

He did the "cut throat" gesture--so it's still pretty clear in that sense. IMO, the only thing really missing was the screen shaking from Diablo's walk in the Act 4 cinematic, as well as his more regal posture.

[@waspoptic]

Preferred how in original D2, Baal’s cinematic has a lot more motion coming from him. He gestures, he twists and turns, makes him feel far more terrifying with his charisma. Also I hate how they took out his little hand gesture when his echo goes on and on, I always thought that was hilarious. He’s just like: “Ah shit I over did it, one sec.”

[@ammejan2157]

Also the Barbarian Elder was walking like a human being, not like a well a human being but with limp and bad internet so he lagged every third step.

[@cube6687]

@@ammejan2157 the barbarians has sent their best accountant unfortunately.

[@CynicalWarlock]

Exactly! Exactly that. I love that gesture!

[@DinoCopRulezTheWORLD]

exactly my thoughts. He was more Sleaky somehow and more charming (his face). New looks like old man with some fucking rash. I like the new version and the fact they did it. Just saying. Baal´s charm is little bit down

[@level9drow856]

It looks cheesier. New one is less cringey and more realistic.

[@edwwardmarcos1887]

The new one looks amazing, but I'm a little disappointed because the characters seem so stiff especially Marius. In the old one Marius seemed a lot more deranged, and there was a clear difference between how the stone affected his age.

[@CynicalWarlock]

Spot on! You get it. The new Marius seems more like an actor playing the role of the old Marius, and he seems like he doesn't get it. Or was underpaid and is pissed.

[@Sasataf]

Agree! Definitely prefer the original Marius's "acting".

[@rodrigopetunio]

"Look what the stone did to me!" but you look exactly the same?

[@CynicalWarlock]

@@rodrigopetunio lol

[@pierretheron8686]

@@rodrigopetunio You realize he's talking about his mental state in that quote right?

[@leyrua]

I definitely liked Tyreal's wings better in the original ending cinematic. It gave me the sense that he is this grand cosmic entity that is far larger than his physical avatar can represent.

[@kevinstefanov2841]

I know right! The distorted effect created by his wings, they couldn't recreate that in the remastered. Just shows this game really was created by unmatched geniuses, which is why it's still a very big thing even after 20+ years.

[@petartsankov8655]

I love the ammount of contrast between the light and dark that the old ones have

[@Raajur]

Too much imo. Even where there's suppose to be light from the fire its pitch black.

[@michaelwong4789]

Why do they change the hand gestures of Baal, I love the way he stops the echo and his hand waving while saying "I shall take your position as consideration".

[@DragonZerul]

Because the animators for the old one had passion. I can't blame the new ones tho, because it is after all someone elses old game they are making.

[@ezg8448]

The new hand gestures are so lame, almost reminds me of those old dubbed kung fu movies from the 70s.

[@michaelwong4789]

@@ezg8448 true man, the new hand gestures are a little too much

[@zahard1732]

In the old games they used to give characters a lot of hand gestures and body language to cover for the fact that they couldn't really convey a lot of emotions with the faces. Maybe that's why

[@NostalGamation]

12:10 "he moved with demonic speed" ...I initially thought demonic speed was unnaturally fast, now I realized it was unnaturally slow... he was much slower than the original 😂

[@Seelenschwert088]

honestly, THIS sequence looked even in the Original ridiculous. The HD just makes it very clear. But "demonic" speed isnt even in the original one, its like the wanderer took many tiny steps in a row as fast as he could. If anything, the Blurr from the old makes this possibly that way, but even then you can clearly see his movements, but how his Shoulders and Body moves. Since i saw that scene (and over and over again) i was always wondering "where is this "demonic speed" that Marius is talking about?"

[@darkravenbest8970]

Well, he likes to wander, not run around.

[@pepesanchez9812]

@@Seelenschwert088 For the week Marius is with the Wanderer, he is walking like an old weak dog. The Wanderer went from 1-100 real quick

[@vivekthakrey6349]

The expressions of the oldman in the old version are superb 20:00

[@zizonesol]

I think that the main problem with the Resurrected cinematics is the body language and the emotion behind it. If you look at Marius at 19:59, the original's Marius has a very constricted, very crept up arms, which shows Marius as not-so-confident individual. Someone who looks like he has something to hide and has been fleeing for long time. However, the Resurrected Marius has more open arms, which shows confidence. It feels kinda off when Marius has been someone who's been chased by both the demons and the angels for not destroying the soul stone for a long time only to have a very confident body language. I think this is the reason why the Resurrected feels lifeless despite having superior graphics.

[@leyrua]

In the original Tal Rasha scene, it gave the impression that Marius was seeing an illusion of the original man. But in the new one, he is seeing a ghost trying to free itself from the body? I kind of preferred the illusion, since it better fit with what Marius has been going through so far.

[@sheetsda]

An improvement overall, particularly in the faces, fire and lighting! I have one nitpick: At 23:29 the old Baal seems to actively dismiss the echoes, showing the character's complete domination of reality. The new one's movement seems less like a conscious dismissal and more a random fidget.

[@maya_gameworks]

Dunno whatcha talking about. Marius face looks like shit, the wanderer's face is exactly the same as Marius' face.

[@dukefleedactarus6891]

In the old version Tyrael was more mystical and majestic. His floating wings were longer, bigger and sparkled with golden color just like his body and armor.

[@7shelties]

Overall I like the new ones better but I agree about Tyrael.

[@dukefleedactarus6891]

@@7shelties The cutscenes are better but not Tyrael. Now he has lost his trascendency, his mystery, his wings look more like blue electrical discharges than spiritual golden long wings. In D3, Blizzard, humanizing him, they completely "killed". him.

[@mrgabest]

@Orc Peon In the original it seems like he's praying to a higher power, in the new one he's just chanting a spell.

[@LordShrub]

They also seem to have lost that fluid effect around his wings and sword when he throws it, which you also see in Baal's spell.

[@Carrie-yzh130]

The original Baal seems really enjoy what's going on there and truly amused by toying with the Barbarian, while the resurrected Baal is mildly entertained and more like being there for his job as the Lord of Destruction and the mission he has to accomplish.

[@just2coolkk]

yes, old Baal was creepy

[@TheShmrsh]

As the whole game done as just a job, no soul in new content whatsoever, this is terrible useelss remaster

[@Boxfortress]

@@TheShmrsh WC3Refunded wishes it had a fraction of D2R got.

[@FAYcampers]

@@TheShmrsh New content would have been pushed back by veteran d2 players way worse than whatever you're spouting. Would I have enjoyed new content done well, sure. But you must not understand just how big of a tightrope that would be to walk across

[@TheShmrsh]

@@FAYcampers i mean not new levels or quests but new drawings and models , also effects are very poorly done

[@dangercat8919]

The new ones look great but I gotta say, the old Baal looks a lot better. The new one just looks goofy.

[@SetzerII]

Think it's the odd choice of colors. If they kept the old palette with the newer details it would've looked better. Maybe without the "Mouth of Sauron" ring though.

[@gambikules]

no

[@RZAJW]

the new one looks way more disturbing

[@dangercat8919]

@@RZAJW Yeah, if you're terrified of clowns, I can totally see that.

[@KaraokeNig]

@@dangercat8919 Lmao..he looks pretty hellish in both versions .

[@CreatioNNoitcurtseD]

The updated graphics are awesome but Tyraels wings were waaaaaaaaaaaay cooler in the original D2

[@malcolmt7883]

They were, new wings look like tentacles from a squid.

[@ExileLBL]

This was definition of darkness. The part Marius found out its Baal let the big mark in me as a child. Pure madness.

[@ihadlunch8575]

When I saw the resurrected cinematics I didn't think they did much. Thought they did very little. Goes to show how good the cinematics were back then.

[@thecaliplayers1503]

When I was a kid this was the best game that was installed on my grandparents computer. Not sure how it got there, but I always played it after everyone went to sleep.

[@YoungXelDong]

back then when you buy a computer, the technicians sometimes include games. maybe thats why

[@dakure907]

The reurrected ones look so good but the original encapsulate the emotions and the vibe much better.

[@MrEssmarbu]

Yes! The "acting" is more much more dramatic and kind of grotesque. Which suits the game well.

[@OmniTron1000]

Idk man. I think the floaty, weird character animation doesn't do much to cultivate a vibe that isn't just "awkward". Don't get me wrong. They're great for their time, I remember being blown away back in the early 2000's. That said, they've aged about as well as a carton of milk left out in the sun.

[@IronToast]

The original was gorgeous already, but damn, they really did a top tier job on this remaster.

[@queenofwrath7823]

For the first time, they done ALL PERFECT. Even the cinematics and they don‘t change the voices etc, I love it!

[@midnightblue3285]

@@queenofwrath7823 Some remestered places in the game looks so colorful I don't like it

[@IronToast]

Adding more color isn't so bad, in my opinion. What areas did you think were too grey/colorless?

[@midnightblue3285]

@@IronToast Some places are dark it is suppose to be dark and realistic but they did more colorful with the colorful spells and sorroundings

[@thewarriors3048]

Remake*

[@Jonjzi]

Why would they think it's necessary to make the guy serving drinks not be a dwarf? Also Marius lacks so much character without all the fidgety anguish and tormented expression from the original.

[@jackochainsaw]

My thoughts exactly.

[@zagreus5773]

Don't care about him not being a dwarf, doesn't change much for me. But in general, the old on is better, especially Marius.

[@kleomenis456]

I prefer the old ones in terms of models and expressions

[@charleslogan3169]

Take off the nostalgia goggles and go see an eye doctor. Send me your venmo so I can send you the money for the appointment.

[@msghia5252]

Stop with the nostalgia bullshit. How the fuck can you prefer those hideous clay monsters over the new ones?

[@charleslogan3169]

@@msghia5252 He got dropped on his head right after childbirth. It's ok we try not to judge him.

[@kleomenis456]

@@msghia5252 too much hyperbole in new ones

[@ChannelPreviewer]

I love all of the new animations - my only critique is at the end of Baals cinematic. In the old one, his army ran as fast as they could, once ball started laughing - they seemed so violent, bloodthirsty and ready to invade - but in the new one, they just kinda stand there, looking around for a bit and they start running like they are to tired to go for a jog - not nearly as intimidating

[@NewChangersFiis]

They wanted to impress realism, because they clearly have a fetichism with that so said: "Wait, act 5 monsters actually don't run, yeah, let's not make them run" and voilá. Magic gone.

[@JMac85X]

Baal's body language was more emotional in the original, the new one, he doesn't move as much.

[@BrandonPrentice]

90% of them techniqually ran full speed into a cliff. Remake made more sense running towards the drawbridge

[@ChannelPreviewer]

@@BrandonPrentice True - It's just those 2 death maulers in front... feels like they were out drinking a bit the night before Baal shot this

[@JPearlLapis]

I liked that you can see the battle standards(?) turn sideways in the original when all the demons start running through it. I feel like you don't get to see it as well in the remake

[@xentharas5629]

Let's be honest: The right side is okay, but nothing special for this time. But the left side is breathtaking, considering the possibilities of its time.

[@PWCDN]

Yep, lotta extra work for very little gain. Wish they kept it original and knock a few bucks off the price instead.

[@Eridos12]

Honestly, set aside the quality of animations I like the original somehow more. As if it has more soul... like it's a real masterpiece and the other just a copy.

[@gurgy3]

Y’know y’all can still play the original if you want.

[@copsychuszviharasoon1368]

Althroughthe new one has new graphic but the old one has better quality in acting / animation / emotion

[@leyrua]

24:53 My god I forgot how the chanting transitioned into agonized screaming at the end of this cinematic, signaling the start of the bloodshed. That gave me such _chills_ the first time I watched it. Good memories.

[@unclesamuk8687]

Nothing beats the original, its like falling in love for the first time.

[@attenberg]

original Mephisto: a scary, brutal flesh monster resurrected Mephisto: a flying, gesturing skeleton

[@falshion1837]

The new version looked way better design wise imo. The old one had a lot of potato faces for the villain characters : /

[@attenberg]

@@falshion1837 Of course they didn't look as clean as today, but they changed his look completely. I think, that wasn't neccessary.

[@falshion1837]

​@@attenberg I'm arguing that the skull route was more interesting and scary compared to the mummified face look. The old cgi also didn't help the mummified design.

[@Yumums]

Mephisto looks terrifying now

[@JesusMcPleasus]

With me it's like "oh man, who are my skeletons going to have to tank now?"

[@jcarson3721]

The only things I never understood about the cinematics were how Tyrael didn't completely murder Diablo in Tal Rasha's tomb (I'd get it if The Wanderer was strong and had a weapon, but he just kinda rolls a bit on the floor), and why the A5 barbarians put out the drawbridge for Baal to cross to the gate.

[@tadaojr]

My headcanon is that Tyrael didn't want to release Diablo and have a direct confrontation, like Imperius did in D3. I think he was just trying to contain him.

[@grantwithers]

@@ULTRAOutdoorsman "Tyrael was actually pathetically weak " See Heroes of the Storm Tyreal

[@Andy-iq6rk]

There is no doubt at all Marius was and will always be better in the original when it comes to his talk with 'Tyrael' in the asylum. He is constantly curled up with nervous ticks going off constantly unlike in resurrected where he just kinda half lays on the floor and the moment Baal touch the soulstone in the original the screams in the background crescendo and silence plus the fact that his face that he shows Marius is the face of Tal Rasha as Marius saw not just some evil face.

[@ssstylish2681]

Marius looks way more insane and desperate in the old version, especially in the epilogue when he shows what the Stone did to him, the new cutscenes do look amazing tho

[@krel3358]

Given modern technology I think they did a terrible job. The remastered cinematics look like something a bunch of disney and dreamworks people came up with. I think the worst is that Marius does not look very faded by the stone at all in the remake and the scottish barbarian looks awful. The original had a lot of soul to it because it was likely made by passionate people who lacked tech. Art from adversity. Even Baal looks kinda meh.

[@suchen403]

Marius looked more mentally disturbed in the old version, which i think is the right approach. In the new version he look sane all the time, the eyes are too clear and i don't think it makes sense coz a sane person should never follow the wanderer.

[@ssstylish2681]

@@krel3358 At least the look of the characters can be changed with mods

[@krel3358]

@@suchen403 I mean he was high on drugs most likely suffering from PTSD, possibly a survivor of tristram then this wanderer comes along and the demons he unleashes kills everyone except you. Marius probably took that as a divine sign as well as likely being under a form of hypnosis. Marius was likely a very broken man who just had bad shit happen to him all the time and was looking for some higher purpose.

[@broughton1835]

@@krel3358 I think you need to get a life 😂

[@SteenbergGaming]

The worldstone exploding in the new one could have used a bit more of "bright rays of light shining forth from the cracks" effect and bigger explosion effect, considering it being corrupted and then annihilated by an arch angel's blessed sword.

[@sunso1991]

thats the Old Blizzard for you! before the downfall and corruption that plague it nowadays a game 21 years old, with a storyline worthy of a Tribology movie, the cinematic still decent by today's standard. Rest in peace, Old Blizz.

[@MCPaperus]

I love the visual on new one, but for example Merius is depicted perfectly in old ones. His expression and everything is just perfect. He seems more sane to me in new one.

[@JustinGarcia072688]

Damn. Those graphics from the original are impressive.

[@arcadealchemist]

24:21 the fact the stain is still there as you enter Sescheron in D3 is a nice detail. the best thing about diablo 3 is the constant audio lore you get playing though filling in the rich details. sadly Blizzard no longer employ people who care about details just how it looks.

[@ducluong1992]

The remake cinematics are great except the Act V open one. The “Search for Baal” in the original game has a better mood, Baal and the old man’s expression, the old man’s coat and Baal’s hand gestures... It is always one of the best of Blizzard’s cinematic of all time.

[@beskal2000]

Watch baal opening act in carbot animation channel..it's the most accurate version, lol

[@dantefromdevilmaycry9857]

They took out the Carrions in the background too, which indicates that Baal's path were already littered with dead bodies and the he is in no mood to bargain.

[@dgtldead]

I disagree. the old man looked like he was steeling himself for what he was about to say, and generally seemed like he didn't want to go out there. The original seemed more like he was just idling in space, moving because he wouldn't look as good sitting still.

[@filippecha7909]

In fact the origin expansion opening cinematic was the one I liked the least from all of the cinematics. Which I think was the best remake from all of the other remakes because they are so emotionless. Just fancy graphics details and effects. Just like any other new blizzard game (sc1 vs sc2 for an instance) which are missing the soul, basically of everything from environment through the characters to the graphics. Also if you compare Diablo 1 and Diablo 2 experience from the game play. Diablo 1 is absolutely crushing it with the escalating tension of the atmosphere and the feeling it delivers to the player... as it was meant to be in the first place as a trully horrifying experience form playing Diablo 1 as you are entering the deepest depths of hell to meet Diablo himself. Absolutely epic. It's sad that all the games nowadays as well as some movies (shining vs Dr. Sleep, which was great btw) are so focused on the effect instead of atmospehere. Guess its how it goes now....yea, that'll be it...I cut it here.

[@eveillanderson]

i just hate his new face, yuck

[@Zack-tx7oz]

I can appreciate both the original and remastered versions. Both had different artistic visions. And compared to W3 : Reforged (or Refunded), DII : Resurrection's studio did a bang on amazing job! 10/10. You´d still excuse me for preferring the original cinematics. They had soul and charm the new cinematics were missing a bit. But hey, tiny nitpicking on an otherwise brilliant honouring of DII.

[@IronToast]

The level of cinematics that Blizzard puts out these days is already amazing, it's been years since i've seen their older cinematics and now i'm remembering that for their time, they are really mindblowing.

[@Caldaron]

dude, all you can see is tyraels armor glow^^

[@dotexe4981]

Different artistic visions? No, they kept it very close to the original vision.

[@VasterLordUlquiorra]

Я бы сказал, что новая студия пытаться повторить и не сломать. Но это невозможно ведь старые модельки и ограничения работали на для создания атмосферы. В ремастере не хватает эмоций. Но работа гиганская, и я рад что увидел обновлённые облики демонов.

[@flexivefowl8186]

So they updated the cinematics for this but not Reforged.

[@ZerotheeHero]

Assuming these are the cinematics, who knows if they removed these from the game for lame cinematics but they would never do that…..again

[@thedurtylemur2282]

Different team not related to Blizzard remade this game. Blizzard North did Diablo 2 back in the day. They actually split up because Blizzard the parent company wanted to absorb the studio into just Blizzard but they wanted to stay split because they didn't necessarily like Blizzard the main Headquarters. So team members started leaving so they shut down. Back on to topic, the people who did Tony Hawk 1+2 remade the game and the cinematics, Blizzard only supplied the original footage.

[@rmnogueirap]

@@thedurtylemur2282 A quick correction to your statement: the Vicarious Studios team that was added to Blizzard was the team responsible of developing the remaster but the cinematics were done entirely by Blizzard's cinematic team

[@JagsP95]

@@rmnogueirap bingo

[@blackvial]

They had a different team do the remaster on Diablo 2 resurrected, this team was not an in-house blizzard team like it was for Warcraft 3 reforged.

[@numerodez6558]

The original looks more expressive to me but I think they did a great job on resurrected.

[@hzubovi1]

For the most part, they did a great job. In the first cinematic I am sorry they didn't use a little person for the bartender, also the sword which is important in the original has a nice highlight on it, while in the new one it is blended with the background. And lastly, the lamp at the end throws a great shade while swimming in the old one while in the new one it has none of that at all.

[@feral7094]

The original always left me jaw dropped as a kid. I loved blizzards old school animation right back to warcraft

[@Plaguebaboon]

I cant ever get over the fact that they extend a bridge out for Baal in the act 5 cinematic.

[@spencechan]

Now we gotta wait for the remastered remaster, that has modern graphics _and_ compelling animation

[@Quiestre]

there is something about the old ones direction which I like better in almost all cases. some points of view, some effects (I like how the world stone splits in tiny pieces)

[@chrisludwig4729]

This isn’t the insulting mess of WC remastered, but I still greatly prefer the originals. Despite their age, I feel they still do a magnificent job of conveying character and tone. The remastered version losses some of the almost ineffable details that gave the original such depth. Marius and Baal seem far more like stock characters found in any number of games.

[@jonahfalcon1970]

Marius no longer looks like a melting wax dummy.

[@LifeCacher]

The new animations are nice but when I got to the Baals cinematic in act 5 I strongly felt that there is huge part of his scary weirdnes missing. In the original his hand movements, facial expresions and that casting of spell felt like he could not be bothered to act as the most terrifying evil being and feels like at the same time he is holding his evil laughter in, seeing the human that dares to stand up to him. And yet his weird half assed casting of the spell and the "lazy" hand waving had huge effect on the banners and the human like he could wipe out anything with just simple wave of a finger. In the new one I dont feel terified of him cause its missing all of the above....

[@p0pp4]

I realise that it has been many years, but this! This is spectacular!

[@jaimecolodro1588]

I like more the original one at the end. Tyrael wings looked amazing, big respect diablo 2

[@-SaKage]

Same. There is a lot gone in the new one. Those special shine around the wings tentacles what has not been there in before cinematics, indicating Tyrael is gathering all his might. Also those wavery fluidlike light planes between them. And I also noticed that they changed the shockwave from impact (indicating the shock the destruction sent through all realms/dimensions) to a light whirl.

[@Thronecrusher]

Strange, I remember bugs on the floor in the epilogue of the original D2

[@nefrace]

Same thing. But only with remaster i can see them as bugs :D

[@renmajestic3940]

@@nefrace Mandel Effect?

[@BitWise501]

there were bugs on the floor. There are 2 versions of the epilogue cinematic with and without.

[@asmosmeden]

Why doesn't Mephisto's mouth move? And what happened to Diablo's walk making the camera to shake? I know you can do better! The act 1 and 2 remakes was flawless!

[@kitosjek9541]

Because the og mephisto lip sync was horrible beyond measure, so they opted for a more skeletal face and etheral voice

[@Zerrotox]

this takes me back when blizzard used to make masterpieces, now they are barely able to make a remake... things like this make the "live long enough to see yourself become the Villan" quote all the more powerful

[@FireFoxBancroft]

That's because Diablo 1 and 2 were done by Blizzard North who no longer work for Blizzard Entertainment, they're long gone.

[@tonpe92]

I liked mephisto more in the original. The ripped and bloody flesh from the arms looked a lot cooler. Those big hands in resurrected looks meh.

[@orcunoktay9396]

remaster style is good but his body language splendid in the original

[@andiezzii3281]

In the past people put more manual efforts that's why we had masterpieces with that much emotion. Have not seen much of these in today's game.

[@019Icicle]

I miss Baal holding up his fingers to quiet the deafening echo like " Yeah ok calm down there.."

[@ZaaZoJo]

i feel the ending cutscene with the world stone destruction was better in original honestly. tyraels wings and the explosion

[@svyatoslavrurikovich8831]

Tyrael's wings were better in the original but the Worldstone destruction is absolutely better in the new cinematic. The old Worldstone destruction looked like wood splinters, which is very weird.

[@firstjawad9750]

Lovely comparison , thx

[@huskotabago]

Lighting and focus is a bit better in the old version, though character shapes are more realistic in the new, the details should be very similar but they are not (face of Marius, the dwarf doesn't look like a dwarf, Tal Rasha's and Aidan's face are too similar to each other, the grill in Marius's cell has been totally changed). Great job remastering it anyways!

[@SetzerII]

I'd say they changed the dwarf to not be one for reasons of modernity. Not a surprise, but it doesn't affect anything. I rather like the new Tal'Rasha. Like the Wanderer, the corruption they were undergoing has a baseline look, with little details differing from their posessor. Absolutely agreed on Marius.

[@BruceWayne-fj9bm]

You’re kidding yourself if you think the lighting is better. The old one has nostalgic charm and not being photorealistic makes the old games cutscenes very expressive but the new one obviously outshines it in graphics. Including lighting. They are both good in there own way and everyone is just blinded by nostalgia.

[@huskotabago]

@@BruceWayne-fj9bm Blinded by nostalgia? o.O This is a fantasy game, why lighting should be realistic in the cinematics to deviate from the original? (Plus Marius told he had dreams mixed with reality, soo...) Anyways if you want to remaster something, you are just making minor modifications to the original content.

[@metalgearfan2222]

in the Intro, Marius looks less desperate to me than in the original.

[@ssstylish2681]

I agree, i think that in the remake they wanted to show that Marius is relieved believing that Tyrael came to help him

[@gamerforever4837]

Anyone else thinks the original Mephisto looked scarier, like recently deceased compared to a corpse?

[@malekk4012]

Nope...he looked like a clay fighter...

[@willyvereb]

Lesson is that technology cannot replace good art direction and spirited animators. While the new cinematics are nice they lack focus and character. They do look better at average, the 3D models came a long way from 2000, but they don't have the same degree of expressiveness. I haven't played D2 in a long while and honestly don't feel a huge nostalgia for it. Just comparing the two versions here led me to the above conclusion.

[@arpee1337]

I remember as a kid seeing this and FF: The Spirits Within and thinking it was impossible for CG to get any better

[@DEVGRUnotST6]

Spirits Within was pretty impressive in its time. I thought the same thing.

[@roberonin7400]

the audio lol is so much better in the old version lol and marius is quoted saying maestro's voice was like a thousand needles in my heart yet in the remaster his voice is kinda pleasent and by the time it gets to diablo 4 he has the sexiest smooth voice you have ever heard lol tyreal also had a massive voice change ! barely reflecting the first version we had !

[@EdTheBearsFan]

I recently played through Resurrected, and the memories came flooding back. I remember how the expansion cinematic looked so much like a live action movie; I was completely blown away! I assumed that Resurrected just upscaled the graphics and cleaned them up. I didn't realize the degree to which they overhauled this game until I saw this! Even though the graphics and gameplay are better, I can appreciate the level of quality in the 2000 game. Diablo II was miles ahead of any competitors.

[@MrBarlien]

It's nice to see how faithful they were, and also how well the originals hold up, not in render quality but in animation and composition. Found my self enjoying those elements quite a bit more in the originals. An example of this is 0:23 when the original is just a cold and stark steady camera looking down on Marius, while in the Remastered it's slowly spinning moving down. Removes the just stark nature of the original. I also find it kind of weird how much they changed the server in the first one. The shattering of the crystal looks far more magical and arcane in the original in my opinion. I know it got changed because the effect used in the original looks dated to animators, and it is just a face stripping mechanic common in most 3D editing suites these days. Also it's not really animated destruction. But the white inside and over the top shattering looks cooler to me at least, and that could have been done even with the new destruction animation. Great video much appreciated, thanks for the effort!!

[@pumpkinhill4570]

Tyrael definitely has more impressive wings in the original and looks better without the space marine shoulders. But I think a couple of the long shots like 11:58 and 21:38 also look more imposing originally. Marius' framing in the light of the cell at the end (like 18:30) is a lot scarier too. Marius' whole demeanor is a lot crazier in the original, but I suppose that's more of a stylistic choice, just like the censoring of the dwarf! lol

[@kotparam]

The original cinematics look much better..... It's so miraculous they made such artistic cinematics more than 20 years ago even today's Blizzard cannot reproduce.

[@dragon_slayer2026]

While the image quality and digital models are (obviously) better in the remake, I find myself preferring a lot of things about the original. The angles and shot compositions felt more dynamic. The lighting had better contrast and clarity, making the scenes and images clearer. And the way Maleus and The Wanderer moved in the original, odd and jerky, made them feel more broken and mad than the smoother movement of the remake.

[@blacksama_]

The fire looks better in the new one but the old one has more charm.

[@GrimNightengale]

The old style has more emotion to it, the characters feel like they emote better, the new ones appear a touch stiff...and the new Baal is meh to me.

[@SlippyDude]

Yeah idk why make him look so clownish

[@Bassathat]

One of the changes i dislike is at 1:04 In the original into the Baal suggest that he is real Tyraell, he doesn't outright mimic Tyraell's form like in the remaster. I find it more subtle and better, since it is the earlier example of Baal's devious nature

[@christinamonks9189]

I think that is marius seeing what he wants to see I don't think Baal mimics anything at all

[@BattleBound]

I love seeing these side by side. Man, I miss the days when a video game cutscene could give me goosebumps and make me so excited to continue playing that my heart was pounding. I have seen all these old D2 cinematics so many times I can't count.

[@alexxx5749]

You can tell they put a lot more love and care into the original than they did in the remake. The dramatic effects, the emotions in their faces, their movements and even landscape details were much more detailed to fit the narrative than the remake.

[@saintnick6329]

Now this is how you do a remaster

[@bcyc2004]

The new graphics on the right looks amazing and real, but I felt like the left is more fantasy or more creepy to me which makes it more fit with the theme.

[@scottyd035ntknow]

Hell yes I've been waiting for someone to do this! And yes the cutscenes Blizzard pulled off in the early 2000s were absolutely insane for the time. Even now they hold up.