DIABLO IV
Diablo IV is a game that pushes the series’ boundaries, delivering a fresh and enthralling experience for both new and returning players.
The Diablo series, now in its 26th year, continues to define the genre with Diablo IV. As someone who has played all the previous games but doesn’t consider themselves a Diablo expert, my perspective on Diablo IV offers a semi-fresh take.
I recently sat down with the director of Diablo IV Joe Shely and he summed up the game pretty well.
“It’s a dark gothic action RPG which means that you pick up a controller or mouse and you press buttons to slay demons and the wings are gonna explode and really satisfying ways. And then as you’re doing that you’re going to discover all kinds of new cool ways to do it. And like lots of depth and nuance in terms of like, choosing how you want to interact with the world.” – Joe Shely, Game Director
And he’s right, I exploded so many demons, spiders, monsters – you name it.
An early look at Gary. (Supplied)
While I managed to put a significant amount of hours into the game, I only managed to make it through to Act 2 before the review period ended.
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Throughout my time with the game, I stuck with the one character; A Necromancer whom I named ‘Gary’.
Why Gary? What kind of Necromancer name is that?
Shhh! His name is Gary and it doesn’t matter now because he’s gone – deleted from existence. The review server has been wiped, my level 21 Gary is gone, and I promise (maybe) to be a bit more creative with my character’s name at launch.
As I was saying… I flooded his skill tree with blood magic-related abilities. Exploding corpses, blood draining, walls of blood, blood nova – it’s so bloody good.
RIP Gary. (Supplied)
I’ve been playing Diablo IV on an ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 – Diablo has never looked better. Despite playing on PC, I chose to use an Xbox controller for the bulk of my playtime.
The top-down camera perspective captures every detail with precision. The cutscenes, in particular, stood out as they seamlessly integrated the player’s character, in my case Gary, into the game-engine scenes, drawing your character in and making you feel like an active participant in the story.
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The world of Diablo IV is nothing short of stunning, even when exploring the dark and grotesque dungeons pulsing with flesh. This game truly offers a Diablo experience, unlike anything we’ve seen before. From cutting through giant “Tumors of Hatred” to unlocking flesh gates, the atmosphere is haunting and unforgettable.
Being someone who typically leans towards mage/sorcerer characters in RPGs, I cannot speak more highly about the Necromancer. The array of cool spells and ranged attacks at your disposal is immensely satisfying. It was nice to break away from the sorcerer character, the Necromancer felt familiar but with so many new tricks at their disposal.
Walking through the world, summoning my mini skeleton army and going ham on a big group of demons was just so much fun. Whenever I wasn’t playing Diablo IV, I missed it.
Diablo IV’s skill tree system is incredibly detailed (as usual), particularly the blood magic aspect, and is absolutely captivating. The ability to explode corpses with magic is nothing short of spectacular. It adds a layer of satisfaction and depth to the gameplay that is both deep and strategic.
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(Supplied)
Diablo IV distinguishes itself from Diablo III with its online multiplayer experience.
Unlike Diablo III, which required online connectivity but didn’t feel like a true online game when played solo, Diablo IV takes place in a shared online world where you encounter other players while exploring.
It’s certainly possible to play mostly solo, and many of the game’s dungeons can be tackled alone. However, the game emphasizes cooperative play, especially when facing terrifying, giant world bosses. This shift to a more multiplayer-focused approach is a significant change, but one that is welcomed. Additionally, Diablo IV offers a larger scale world compared to its predecessor.
Diablo IV‘s world events are a true payoff. While I didn’t get to delve too deep into the end-game or multiplay content during the review period, the promise of rich and engaging experiences awaits those who continue their journey beyond the main storyline.
Diablo IV offers a new Battle Pass system. (Supplied)
Diablo IV introduces an online Battle Pass system with three versions: Free, Premium, and Accelerated. Concerns about pay-to-win mechanics have been addressed by the developers, which is good news considering the Diablo Immortals kerfuffle. It’s important to note that the Premium Battle Pass doesn’t provide in-game power, it’s mostly cosmetic – which ensures a balanced experience.
While a constant internet connection did dampen the experience at times, especially with occasional connectivity issues, the online aspect of Diablo IV shines otherwise. Collaborating and engaging with other players is a joy, adding a dynamic layer to the gameplay and creating a sense of shared adventure.
Diablo IV is a game that pushes the series’ boundaries, delivering a fresh and enthralling experience for both new and returning players. With stunning graphics, a haunting world, and promising end-game and future content, Diablo IV sets the stage for an epic adventure that will captivate fans for years to come.
Diablo IV is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC on June 6.
