An all time great - deserves more than an 8.2 from Gamespot
Well it's really in appreciation of the extreme magnetism that this game holds over you. I play other games from time to time, but this is the only game I routinely install whenever I reinstall my home system which is frequently for my job. And it's still seventh on my list of applications to install behind Trillian and in front of MS office.
Initially the game was addictive in almost every aspect of gameplay - from character advancement to collecting items and building an armoury of capabilities to defeat the boisses. And even now the attraction of building characters with new strengths and finding an interesting methodology to improve the gameplay with the chosen character is still compelling.
I have only played the Paladin, Sorceress, Barbarian and Necromancer to date all the way through from start to finish without any assistance from other characters. I suppose by the time its long-lasting appeal fades in 2020, I'll have done the other three aswell.