Ep.53 – Thanks Hurricane Ida: Revisiting Diablo's Design

In 2021, Hurricane Ida disrupted life across the Gulf Coast, leaving us unable to record a new episode. Instead, we’re sharing one of our favorites: Episode 19 on Diablo (1997). Released by Blizzard North, Diablo brought gothic horror to PC gaming and reshaped RPGs forever. Originally pitched as a turn-based dungeon crawler, it evolved into real-time, loot-driven combat that set the ARPG template still followed today. Our discussion covers its eerie cathedrals and catacombs, unforgettable encounters like the Butcher, and the rocky launch of Battle.net, once hosted on a single computer. We also debate how well it holds up today, remember its addictive loot loop, and tie its demonic themes into a chat about gaming’s greatest villains. Join us as we fight our demons on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.