Sierra On-Line - Press News - Coming Soon Magazine

SIERRA ON-LINE RE-OPENS GATES TO HELL FOR DIABLO FANS: HELLFIRE, THE EXCLUSIVE AUTHORIZED DIABLO EXPANSION PACK, BLAZING TO STORES NOW

All-New Eight-Level Add-On Disk Introduces New Quests, New Monsters and Plenty of Original Spells and Surprises

Bellevue, WA, November 24, 1997 -- Sierra On-Line, Inc., the leading worldwide developer of interactive entertainment software, announces that Hellfire, the only authorized expansion pack to Blizzard Entertainment's runaway blockbuster hit, Diablo, is now shipping to retail outlets. Hellfire adds to the original Diablo universe a stunning array of enhancements and gameplay features for the single-player mode, including a new character class, additional quests and new dungeons, monsters, weapons, objects, spells and artifacts. Developed by Sierra's Synergistic Software division, Hellfire is the only add-on disk based on the original Diablo program code, resulting in a true expansion and continuance of the original game's storyline, characters and feature sets.

Hellfire introduces players to new quests revolving around a powerful demon known as Na-krul. A creature who once served as Diablo's chief minion and strongest ally, Na-krul and his co-horts rebelled against Diablo and, after a failed attempt to overthrow their master, were banished to the Void. Freed by an evil sorcerer, Na-krul has set up command in the ancient Demon Crypts and has once again initialized his plans to destroy Diablo and spread the evils of Hell throughout the world. Gathering together a small army of never-before-seen monsters, Na-Krul poses an even greater threat than Diablo, who himself is stronger, smarter and tougher to defeat.

Hellfire's quest ushers players into the realms of 29 new monsters, challenging novice and advanced players alike to find entirely new methods of combat. Players will confront the The Lich, an Undead, skeletal sorceror; the Psychorb, a floating, be-tentacled eyeball that fires spells; the Hork Demon, a gnarled monstrosity that attacks viciously in between "horking up" little Hork Spawn demons; and the Grave Digger, a shovel-toting zombie.

With 30 new magic items and five unique new spells - including Immolation (fires fireballs in all directions), Lightning Wall (generates a wall of lightning), and Warp (teleports player to the nearest exit in a dungeon) - players are offered new ways of defeating the offending opponents and developing their character's skills and abilities. Players will also find new unique items, armor and weapons in the quest, offering a greater variety of strategies and tactics.

Also new to the Hellfire player is a new player character class - The Monk. With a mix of abilities not found in the other classes, this mysterious priest of an ancient faith comes wandering from distant lands with a plethora of defenses up his sleeves.

Hellfire is available in Windows 95 CD-ROM format at most computer and software retail chains nationwide for a suggested retail price of $29.95. The game is also available through Sierra Direct at (800) 757-7707 or SierraWeb at www.sierra.com. Hellfire requires the full original Diablo program.

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Sierra, located in Bellevue, WA, is one of the original developers and largest worldwide publishers of interactive entertainment and productivity software. In July 1996, Sierra was acquired by CUC International, Inc. (NYSE: CU), a technology-driven retail and membership services company that provides access to travel, shopping, auto, dining, home improvement, financial and other services to more than 70 million consumers worldwide. Sierra is part of CUC Software, an operating unit that consolidates the sales, manufacturing, finance, accounting and management of CUC International's software divisions.

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