What i really like about d2, that wow and no other fps has done, is the simulation of the attacks and the hits between the character and monsters. In wow (just played a little) and also guild wars which i played quite a bit, when you hit or get it, it's like, you just keep moving and it's like slicing through air or similar. There may be hit recovery animations, stun or such, but it feels very unnatural. In d2, it feels natural, when you get hit, you stop and get set in hit recovery. Even notice the little block animation, when an arrow hits the shield, that tiny sound cue, is the details that sets d2 apart from these first person view games. It does not feel natural. The only reason i played guild wars for about 1000 hours, is the graphics. They are great for that game, i think. And there is also SOME level of "naturalness" to it. Just not enough to make it a great game. I do feel somewhat cheated. With wow, i just couldn't see myself playing for long periods of time. It felt too cartoonish and linear.
But i do NOT feel cheated with d2. Even if the characters are a bit primitive in their graphical shaping, they still do look realistic enough, and the game look realistic enough to not feel childish and cartoonish. There are enough mechanics to keep you interested, but not so vast and huge that you'll never feel satisfied. Even if there was more fun back in the day because of more players, it's still got great replay value and i can't wait until reset in december. I am holding out actually, wanting to play now, but since i have two high level characters, it feels a bit too stupid to start a new one over now.
D2:R