Diablo clone

A Diablo clone is generally a PC or console game that has taken most or all of it's gameplay and other inspiration from the Diablo games series.

aka: Diablo-like

A subgenre of action role-play-videogame (arpg) with Hack'n'Slash gameplay, named after the homonymous Blizzard videogame series. As reported in the Hack and Slash definition in Wikipedia, great confusion is generated from indiscriminated use of arpg and hack'n’slash definitions, where the first term is too generic and could apply to “any rpg thatcan be played with a controller (cit.)", and the latter canrefer both to weapon-based beat-em ups (god of war, bayonetta, devil may cry) or just simple and plain beat-em up's (Golden axe).

[about hnS: it can be considered as just a definition of a gameplay style instead of a genre: for example, consider Skyrim like a arpg with HnS gameplay, or Bayonetta like a action game with HnS style.]

A Diablo-clone has this peculiar features:

• isometric/top down field of view

• real-time, action combat

• emphasis put on mouse use (movement, main attack,interaction with scenario"point-and-click")

• loot : wearable items, quest items, power-ups, gold, etc. (usually pickable by click on a text label: dif-ferent colors, different rarity/quality)

• great attention to char performance development :leveling leads to increase of stat/skill points, manyclasses available

• only one character controlled by the player (oppositetoparty control seen in crpg)

The main focus of the game itself is not on a deep storyline, relations with npcs or plot twists, like in other rpg subgenres, but instead great emphasis is put on the sheer “power” growth of the player-controlled character: im-proving its performance (meticulously monitored through mathematical parameters, like DPS or int/dex/str/vit). This subgenre usually shows great replayability value, because to reach top level with a character, multiple pthroughs are required (Diablo 3 allows an adventuremode, playing an alternate gamemode instead of replay-ing the main campaign). The possibility of creating multiple characters, each withdifferent stat/skills’ assignation, extends further the game lastng appeal.

Notable titles:

• Diablo series (more precisely, the most "cloned" gameplay is that of the 2nd iteration.) • Sacred series (1-2 and dlcs, 3rd episode is a isometric beat em up ) • Nox • Fate series • Titan Quest • Grim Dawn • Path of Exile • Darkstone: Evil Reigns • The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing • Loki: Heroes of Mythology • Deathspank • Kult: Heretic Kingdoms • Legend: Hand of God • Torchlight

Notable exceptions and “borderline” titles, that have some but not all the "necessary" attributes of the genre:

• Borderlands series (First person shooter gameplay, with small progression in char building, mainly re- lying on higher level weapons)

• Dungeon Siege I-II (party based, pausable to give orders, stil respects some other criterias)

• Silverfall (same as above)