Below are some of the new features that Computer Hope found very useful and helpful that were not found in the original Diablo.

1. Improved characters and character classes, including originality for each class, such as spells and/or skills.
2. Much faster load time between zones.
3. Much more detailed character map (character now reflects the majority of the armor worn).
4. Capability of up to 8 players in one game over Battle.net, opposed to 4 in the original Diablo.
5. Improved weapons and other items, including new features such as the socketing capability.
6. Gold is now stored in its own box instead of stored in your inventory boxes.
7. Players' characters are now stored on server, helping to prevent cheating.
8. Capability of purchasing NPCs (computer players), allowing for additional help for yourself.
9. New personal stash box allowing players additional inventory in town; can store up to 100,000 gold and is saved with your character. In addition, will take gold from box automatically if character is not holding it.
10. Better customization of shortcut keys and mouse buttons than Diablo.
11. New feature (by default the alt button) that allows players to view all items on ground. This can quickly allow the player to pickup items.
12. Capability of moving the map to different portions of the screen allowing the player to have a better view but still see the map.
13. Much larger areas and towns outside of the dungeon.
14. Teleports, once activated, quickly maneuver from location to location.
15. Capability of running or walking. In addition, stamina added to make player rest or consume potion to increase stamina to continue running.
16. Improved Battle.net look and feel.
17. As your player skills increase or you join games with more skilled players, the creatures and areas increase in skill allowing for much more fun and difficult games and great re-playability.

The above are just some of the most noticeable game play differences. There are several others not included in the above list such as Diablo II still has great graphics, look and feel and easy navigation tools available...

SCREEN SHOTS

INFORMATION ABOUT GEMS

Gems are a new and unique feature to Diablo II. Gems, once socketed into armor or weapons, can be a huge advantage to the player's character. Once socketed into the item, the gems make the once not magical weapon magical, adding special capabilities to that item. Throughout the game you will find a total of seven different gems: Amethysts, Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires, Skull Gems and Topazes. Each of these gems have a capability of being in five levels of quality: chipped, flawed, normal, flawless and perfect.

To increase the quality of your gems, the player must find Gem Shrines; if used, one gem is randomly selected and upgrades the quality of the gem. If the player does not posses a gem, they are given a chipped gem. Additional gem shrines are very rare and are randomly placed in Diablo II. Unlike other items in Diablo II, these gems cannot be bought from a NPC and can only be found or bought from another player in the game.

Each of the above ratings will vary depending on the quality of the gem that is socketed. Finally, once a gem is socketed into any item, remember that it cannot be removed and placed into another or upgraded.

THE HORADRIC CUBE

The Horadric Cube is obtained on the second chapter of Diablo 2 and will be commonly used thereafter. Below is a listing of known combinations of items that can be transmuted in the Cube.

In addition to the above items that can be transmuted any time in the game, you will also need to transmute items to complete quests in Diablo 2.

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Below is a listing of the available shortcut keys in Diablo 2:

MOUSE BUTTONS

TECHNICAL SUPPORT