Diablo 1: Intro Cinematic

Blizzard has always been known for their exceptional level of quality in their cinematic sequences for their games. Although the intro cinematic for the original Diablo looks a bit creaky by modern standards, it still manages to convey the sense of dread and creepiness present in the game itself.

Abandoned homes, desolate fields, and a raven poking the eye out of a fresh corpse are the first thing we see. The ominous music, a more somber take on the classic Diablo leitmotif, builds as a knight enters an empty home only to see one of his brethren dead, his armor-clad body propped up against some barrels. Throughout these scenes, we repeatedly cut back to the image of a sword sticking out of a hillside at the brink of twilight. This is imagery reminiscent of the first Highlander film starring Christopher Lambert, where the immortal Connor MacLeod leaves his family sword at the grave of his deceased wife.

A trio of bodies hang off a tree, underlining that Diablo is going to be a much darker fantasy game in tone compared to Warcraft. The knight peers out from the shadows of the abandoned home. No monsters are present, but he shifts around uneasily. The locale changes to the inside of a dungeon, where we see a stone coffin in a dank room illuminated by torches. A mystical purple force radiates from the inside of the coffin as its lid slides over, starting to open. Menacing red eyes peer from the darkness.

The sword in the hill glows with colorful energy as the gem in its hilt burns the brightest of all. The purple energy from the coffin blows the top off as the knight enters the dungeon. We spiral through the stone hallways as we catch glimpes of goatmen and demons before Diablo himself screams from the darkness.

Although this is an intro cinematic that does not advance the plot any, it is effective at conveying the mood. Anyone thinks it still holds up?