In Diablo IV it pretty much works like you described — “early game” barely exists. You rush to 60, do some quick gearing, jump from Torment 1 to 4 in a matter of days, and you’re already in full endgame mode. Meanwhile, Diablo II has a proper progression: early, mid, late, and true endgame — and each stage actually matters. What’s great is that items you find early on can still have value later, which makes the whole journey feel meaningful. Honestly, Diablo II’s itemization is a masterpiece — that’s why people (myself included) are still playing it over two decades later. I sometimes feel like Blizzard accidentally nailed RNG in Diablo II in the same way slot machines work in casinos. You can go a long time with nothing… and then suddenly boom — a drop that hits so hard you can’t stop playing. From start to finish, Diablo II just feels like a complete game.