Blizzard's Diablo II Update

Blizzard released the latest news and information on Wednesday regarding its upcoming Diablo II release. First, the company has finished building the new game's five character classes: the Amazon, the paladin, the necromancer, the sorceress and the barbarian. When the game releases, Diablo II will offer characters the chance to develop 30 unique, class-specific skills and spells.

The barbarian, the character class most recently completed, features supernormal strength and combat abilities with his crushing blow, stun, and howl. When using the crushing blow, players will charge up the barbarian's strength by holding down the mouse button before the battle. The stun ability stops enemies and would-be prey by stunning them momentarily. Finally, used as a fear tactic, a howl scares off weaker attackers before they even get close.

About 70 percent of the game is complete now that the five character classes and Act III are finished. For those who don't know, Diablo II is broken up into three acts and a finale. Act III takes place in an ancient and currently overgrown civilization held deep in a tropical jungle. Players will explore this land and Zakarum - the capitol of the Eastern Empire. The capitol is best known as the birthplace of the Religion of Light, which has been all but extinguished since an evil darkness fell upon the land. Act I will take characters though the Monastery of the Sisters of the Sightless Eye while Act II takes place around and inside the town of Lut Gholein. The company is keeping its lips closed - for now - on what gamers will see when they enter the finale.

Blizzard will show the game, its five character classes, and Act III to attendees of E3 in LA.

Blizzard North, the game's developer, is still calling for a release later this year, much to the dismay of Diablo fans, who have been waiting for a sequel to Diablo for two years.