Greg Newbegin -- "Diablo III has seen a number of milestones since it's initial release almost two and a half years ago. Back then, it was called out for being significantly different to previous games in the series (as a result of an attempt by Blizzard to make the new title more accessible to new players), before receiving some significant patching that -- some Diablo fans say -- has resulted in an entirely different game. This occurred with the release of the "Reaper of Souls" expansion earlier this year, which was heralded as a true return to form for the series. You can read our reviews of Diablo III and "Reaper of Souls" for formation if you don't know much about the games, as there is a lot of detail that I don't want to retread."
A fantastic dungeon-crawler that is still mercilessly addictive two years after the fact, Diablo III turns out to be a surprisingly good console fit. Most of the content will have been seen before if you have a prior version though, so don't feel pressured to rush out and get it.
The High Heavens and Burning Hells have waged war for immeasurable years, their charred husks littering the battlegrounds of the Eternal Conflict. And on August 19th, this legendary battle continues on PS4 in the form of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition.
Having put off playing Diablo III in any form until now, I came into this complete version with a profound sense of readiness. It helps that “Ultimate” is part of the title, as it pokes at me and asks, “What have you been waiting for?" Playing has been a mostly serious business, from the minutes I spent pondering my choice of class to the attention I paid to the concise and to-the-point opening cutscenes detailing the end of days. It can make for a focused, engrossing weekend, one where the window blinds don’t open until Monday morning and you realize you haven’t eaten anything healthy in days.
Playing Diablo III is a symbiotic exercise in mindreading between myself and the folks at Blizzard. In a given dungeon, I’m often using my explorer’s sixth sense to guess where the dead ends are so I might color in the maps the best I can before heading to the waypoint. On the flipside, I feel the developers are reading my mind every time I discover something pleasing about the game’s user interface, considering that this UI is adapted from what was originally a PC game. Abilities are easy to access and use, and simple symbols are easy to decipher when comparing weapons and armor. Appreciating the little things comes easy, like how the game auto-equips items in empty slots.
Any hostile territory in Diablo III presents a gameplay loop that involves defeating all present enemies, assessing loot, and searching entire maps for treasure, even if it means destroying scores of well-sorted bookshelves stocked with ancient tomes, or desecrating one of the game’s countless tombstones. In other words, it’s like all good action role-playing games, and it's a well-paced one at that. Smartly randomized levels and tons of opportunities for experience multipliers ensure you’re not stuck at a given level for long. Blizzard is an expert at dangling carrots, especially when it comes to enticing you with skills and abilities--active and passive--that are only a couple of levels away. Between the meticulous treasure hunting and the map coloring, you’re looking at an obsessive-compulsive’s paradise.
The compulsions include the need to organize the myriad gear you come across. It is a pleasant and unusual feeling to equip weapons not out of necessity but instead out of mood and experimentation. When I switch from a one-handed mace to a mystical spear to complement a specific set of abilities, it’s never because I feel I need to, but instead because I'm struck by a childlike “What does this do?” inquisitiveness.
Where all console users start on equal footing is in Reaper of Souls' content. That includes a fresh playthrough with the crusader class, originally introduced in the expansion. For as much as Blizzard has touted the defensive prowess of this holy warrior, the crusader is impressively well-rounded, with access to giant blessed shields that can be wielded like battering rams. It was my class of choice during this initial playthrough, and my deaths have been few while my level progress has moved swiftly.
Aside from the gratifying sense of completeness of Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition, Blizzard is cueing up a number of console-exclusive social features that we have yet to evaluate. Mailing items to friends is good and all, but what I'm truly curious about is the nemesis system, an asynchronous player-versus-environment feature that is akin to the shark from Jaws invading your session. Once these social components are live, I'll be able to share with you a full review.
Having put off playing Diablo III in any form until now, I came into this complete version with a profound sense of readiness. It helps that “Ultimate” is part of the title, as it pokes at me and asks, “What have you been waiting for?" Playing has been a mostly serious business, from the minutes I spent pondering my choice of class to the attention I paid to the concise and to-the-point opening cutscenes detailing the end of days. It can make for a focused, engrossing weekend, one where the window blinds don’t open until Monday morning and you realize you haven’t eaten anything healthy in days.
Playing Diablo III is a symbiotic exercise in mindreading between myself and the folks at Blizzard. In a given dungeon, I’m often using my explorer’s sixth sense to guess where the dead ends are so I might color in the maps the best I can before heading to the waypoint. On the flipside, I feel the developers are reading my mind every time I discover something pleasing about the game’s user interface, considering that this UI is adapted from what was originally a PC game. Abilities are easy to access and use, and simple symbols are easy to decipher when comparing weapons and armor. Appreciating the little things comes easy, like how the game auto-equips items in empty slots.
Any hostile territory in Diablo III presents a gameplay loop that involves defeating all present enemies, assessing loot, and searching entire maps for treasure, even if it means destroying scores of well-sorted bookshelves stocked with ancient tomes, or desecrating one of the game’s countless tombstones. In other words, it’s like all good action role-playing games, and it's a well-paced one at that. Smartly randomized levels and tons of opportunities for experience multipliers ensure you’re not stuck at a given level for long. Blizzard is an expert at dangling carrots, especially when it comes to enticing you with skills and abilities--active and passive--that are only a couple of levels away. Between the meticulous treasure hunting and the map coloring, you’re looking at an obsessive-compulsive’s paradise.
The compulsions include the need to organize the myriad gear you come across. It is a pleasant and unusual feeling to equip weapons not out of necessity but instead out of mood and experimentation. When I switch from a one-handed mace to a mystical spear to complement a specific set of abilities, it’s never because I feel I need to, but instead because I'm struck by a childlike “What does this do?” inquisitiveness.
Where all console users start on equal footing is in Reaper of Souls' content. That includes a fresh playthrough with the crusader class, originally introduced in the expansion. For as much as Blizzard has touted the defensive prowess of this holy warrior, the crusader is impressively well-rounded, with access to giant blessed shields that can be wielded like battering rams. It was my class of choice during this initial playthrough, and my deaths have been few while my level progress has moved swiftly.
Aside from the gratifying sense of completeness of Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition, Blizzard is cueing up a number of console-exclusive social features that we have yet to evaluate. Mailing items to friends is good and all, but what I'm truly curious about is the nemesis system, an asynchronous player-versus-environment feature that is akin to the shark from Jaws invading your session. Once these social components are live, I'll be able to share with you a full review.
