It’s been over a decade since the previous title, and after the messy pay-to-win mobile game Diablo Immortal, one may wonder if the latest installment of this beloved franchise is ever going to live up to the hype. Thankfully, after spending an entire weekend playing the game in early access, I can safely say that Diablo 4 is a fantastic experience that’s sure to keep you hooked for hours on end.
GOTHIC GORE
Thrust into the gorgeously grimdark world of Sanctuary, you’ll immediately find that everything is bleak and depressing, but also absolutely stunning. Its enormous map showcases the game’s impressive graphics, with areas ranging from a bustling medieval town, dilapidated settlements, and expansive deserts and forests.
I’m keeping this very brief review spoiler-free, but know that, in spite of a few lows throughout the narrative, this has to be the best story that the series has ever offered so far. The obvious expansion set up at the end feels a bit forced, but at the same time, I’m looking forward to what else they have in store for us in the future, especially if the cutscenes stay consistently good.
FAMILIAR FORMULA
I never really expected Blizzard to experiment too much as they have already perfected the addicting gameplay loop of “kill demons and get loot”, so seeing that it plays much like a vastly improved version of Diablo 3 (both aesthetically and mechanically) was unsurprising.
The game boasts an extensive skill tree that, while it isn’t quite as complex as something like Path of Exile‘s, allows you to try out a wide range of builds that remain viable even as you approach the endgame content. In my case, I’m currently playing a minion-focused necromancer who spams Bone Spear and partly relies on Corpse Explosion for sustain and damage. It isn’t close to being the best build ever, especially as somebody who’s currently over level 50, but it’s kept me reasonably healthy in most situations and has already gotten me through nightmare dungeons with relative ease.
Each class also has unique mechanics that further distinguish them from one another. Using my necromancer as an example again, I can customize my minions in terms of what type of damage they can do or whether they focus more on defense or crowd control. I can also “sacrifice” them by removing my ability to summon each type of minion in exchange for passive buffs (e.g. increased attack speed or critical damage).
Once you’re done with the campaign, you can attempt the Capstone Dungeon, which is a fairly difficult challenge that acts as a gatekeeper to the next world tier. Nightmare, which is the third tier, unlocks all sorts of new endgame options. Helltides with tons of loot to claim will start spawning in random regions every hour, nightmare dungeons can be unsealed, and new types of items will start dropping. There are also world bosses to slay every few hours that require several players to complete (unless you’re absolutely cracked at the game and can do them solo).
CONCLUSION
Diablo 4 has the thrilling moment to moment ARPG gameplay of Diablo 3 without the restrictiveness that came with the latter’s launch version. Coupled with a captivating story and beautiful visuals, it has enough meat in it to keep fans of the genre chomping at its seemingly endless amount of content.
The game is already shaping up to be the best entry to the series so far, and with two expansions already confirmed, it’s only going to get better from here on out.