Blizzard evokes nostalgia in Diablo III ‘Darkening of Tristram’ annual dungeon event
For fans of hack-and-slash action role-playing games, few titles can rival Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo franchise.
In celebration of the 24th anniversary since the launch of the first Diablo game, Blizzard invites fans to relive the nostalgia in The Darkening of Tristram, an anniversary dungeon event.
The limited-time event only occurs in January of each year and allows players to revisit the original 16 levels of Diablo I. The retro-style adventure crawl begins with players entering the dungeon via a portal in the Old Ruins of Tristram, next to the fountain.
It’s only accessible via Adventure mode though. The zone itself is just called Tristram and all 16 levels are labeled as Labyrinths.
Inside are most of the monsters, events, levels and items of the original Diablo game. Players will encounter familiar foes in Returning Boss Fights with the likes of The Butcher, Skeleton King, Arch-Bishop Lazarus and The Dark Lord Diablo himself.
Every single unique monster from the 1997 game can be found here, and once killed, they drop top-tier magic items. Old quests also make an appearance, though they are much altered and simplified. Completion rewards include banner elements, pets (The Butcher and Royal Calf), transmogrified items, and the legendary gem Red Soul Shard.
The Darkening of Tristram event ends on Jan. 31 so fans still have a lot of time to explore the dungeons. It’s perfect for veterans looking for a dose of nostalgia or for newbies who want to get a feel of the first game. This limited-time event is available for both the PC and console versions of the Diablo III game.
In the '90s, Diablo became the highest-selling computer title in the US. The trilogy of Diablo 1 (1997), Diablo II (2000) and Diablo III (2012) have garnered the adoration of millions of gamers worldwide, turning them into adventurers exploring a world ravaged by the eternal conflict between angels and demons.
A new sequel, Diablo IV, has been announced by Blizzard at Blizzcon 2019 and is currently in development. Meanwhile, take a quick glimpse of the long-awaited title in this cinematic gameplay trailer.