Diablo 4, Blizzard Entertainment's latest entry into the legendary Diablo franchise, is finally here. Read on to find out our first impressions of the game, as well as everything else we know so far about it.
Diablo 4 Review | A Bloody Good Time
Diablo 4 Review Video
To say that Diablo 4 had a lot of eyes on it leading up to its release is a massive understatement. It is, after all, the latest installment of the critically acclaimed Diablo series, after all. And since it came right after the disappointment that is Diablo Immortal, people are much more likely to view the title with doubt in their minds.
Will Diablo 4 redeem the series? Will it be another cash-grab title riding on the coattails of its predecessor's success? Or, perhaps, will it fall somewhere in the middle?
Diablo 4 Gameplay Screenshots
To answer that question (and to play the game myself), I bought Diablo 4, fully intending to rip the game a new one as a player who was also severely disappointed with the mobile game. However, fortunately for the game, even after playing it for almost a week, I thoroughly enjoyed almost everything about it. Sure, the microtransactions had zero appeal (big words from a gacha addict), but the gameplay itself was extremely fun, even with all the imbalances.
Multiplayer gameplay was notably a very enjoyable experience, especially once you reach the highest difficulties.
Sure, the game came out with a lot of balancing issues, but I think that just gave the game more personality, albeit a short one. Seeing people run overpowered builds only to die because of one misclick or two was quite cinematic.
Rewarding gameplay. It's almost like it was made to be fun and not take you to the shop at every corner.
Diablo 4's map is a sprawling landmass filled with treacherous swamps where enemies gather and hidden nooks where altars that boost your stats are located. Treasure chests dot the landscape, containing loot that ranges from useless to priceless. Dozens of side dungeons to complete and strongholds to conquer are open for daring players to explore and reap the bounties. Side quests are also scattered across the land, and finishing them can earn the player renown, which can be used for loot, additional potions, and other worthwhile bonuses. Recurring bosses also spawn for players and others nearby to battle together and reap the rewards. The game is both a completionist and an explorer's dream.
However, Diablo 4 is an ARPG. Action is the name of the game. Fortunately, Diablo 4 has managed to fit its combat seamlessly with its element of exploration. The two go hand-in-hand, even when the player looks for a piece of biteberry or silver ore. The thought behind the combat system itself created a polished, fun, and challenging design. Players must learn to weave their skills together optimally to overcome complex challenges.
On the other hand, despite campaign bosses being a fun and engaging challenge, side bosses are the opposite. Most of the time, they are simply elite versions of common monsters that the player can find anywhere else but with the same kind of shared catch, such as their general immunity to specific crowd-control options. Despite that, they still mostly fight in the same way as their regular counterparts, making the endeavor more of a hassle than a challenge.
Tons of customizability options.
Diablo 4 fits the description for a game that's impossible to fully experience without investing dozens of hours. Besides the five classes available at launch, each class has many different skills and gimmicks in which to specialize. Though people who aim to optimize their playstyles will eventually defer to a handful of builds, those willing to experiment are presented with dozens of options. This means that each class can play wildly differently depending on the player's choice. Diablo 4's branching skill trees further reinforce this idea, which allows the player to choose only the skills that interest them while completely ignoring the others. Though some may argue that this is necessary due to being limited to only six skill slots, it is still a fantastic way to encourage build diversity.
Not only that, the selection of items expands the customizability even further. There are so many items to choose from when deciding on a build. These can range from those that raise specific stats to aspects that add an entire line to your equipment. With the number of possible items and skill combinations available to the player, there is practically no limit to the number of builds that can be done on every single available class.
And while it may seem absurd for a game being sold at $69.99 to have microtransactions, it must be pointed out that Diablo 4 is a live-service game. Unlike World of Warcraft, which uses a paid subscription method to generate income, Diablo 4 is technically a game you can play entirely for free afterward. That would include enjoying their seasonal content, such as their Battle Passes, consisting of free and paid rewards. What's more, according to a long blog post posted on their website, paid content will be limited to cosmetics (including emotes, headstones, etc.) and premium currency (which you can spend to buy even more cosmetics).
Yes, seasonal boosting items can be obtained from the Battle Passes, but they avoid the pay-to-win aspect by preventing them from being acquired by purchasing BP tiers. That is because they are also locked behind milestones when playing the game. In other words, according to them, these items "must be earned."
But though the variety of loot you can obtain is practically uncountable, players looking to min-max their characters by spending the necessary hours grinding for the perfect equipment may eventually get bored of it. After all, repeatedly spending hours doing the same thing may not be fun for some people. And because loots have drop rates, there might come a time when frustration builds to bursting.
This is also where the sheer customizability of the characters can negatively impact player experience. Equipment for one build isn't necessarily the same for another. That's why players who have already farmed their gear might find that they would need to invest additional hours grinding for more if they decided to change the way they played. On top of that, the player not only needs to farm for equipment, but also for certain aspects and, to a lesser degree, enchantments.
A great story backed up by wonderful audiovisuals
One thing I found pretty appealing in the game's story mode is how well the main characters are written. They aren't fighting for just a vague sense of the "greater good." Instead, they each have motivations that drive them to do what they do. Their reasons vary from a love of family, love of their people, and even vengeance; some are big, while others are insignificant. Even the main antagonists have their reasons, though they differ in how justifiable they are.
As you progress into the story, take care to read as many of the character-building entries and talk to as many people around the map as possible. It may also lead to clues about their goals in the story before they tell you outright.
Additionally, the environments themselves tell their own stories as well. Rather than just a background for your exploration, each ruined building or corrupted area tells of how events have played out over the game's fictional timeline. Sometimes, the players themselves bear witness to towns falling into ruins or how lush forests give way to corrupted swamps. It's all a wonderful thing to experience as it comes.
Diablo 4 makes great use of its AAA budget to carry both its great story and gameplay with some of the finest visuals modern GPUs can provide. It is one of the most beautiful ARPGs out there, with stunning landscapes, dismal ruins, fantastic landforms, and vibrant flora. Care has been put into the design such that snow craters upon being stepped on and debris are scattered when disturbed. Even the effects in combat look brilliant, along with well-placed carnage that doesn't impede one's sight.
And as a testament to Diablo 4's excellent audio design, each encounter feels like an epic showdown regardless of scale. The sound of arrows being launched off a player's bow or a blade ripping through flesh is very well-defined, supplementing the fantastic visuals with another layer of immersion.
So, What's The Verdict?
We are so back, at least for now
Even if the game isn't on discount, Diablo 4's replayability and overall polish make its full price worth every penny you pay. So long as you're open to the grind, the game promises hundreds of hours of gameplay. The game's value for money can only increase when future content drops, including the additional storyline and content.
However, considering the direction Blizzard games have taken lately (including Diablo Immortal), I still suggest treading with caution. At the very least, it should prevent you from being too surprised if Blizzard suddenly makes any terrible decisions down the road.
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Diablo 4 Product Information
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| Title | DIABLO 4 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | June 6, 2023 |
| Developer | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Publisher | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Supported Platforms | PC, PS5, PS4, XONE, Xbox Series X|S |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, RPG |
| Number of Players | 1-4 |
| ESRB Rating | Mature |
| Official Website | Diablo 4 Website |
