Looking back on my childhood it is hard to think of a game I thought was as cool as the original Diablo. It was dark, edgy, and gave me just enough agency to feel that yes, little ol’ me could save the world of Sanctuary. Fast forward many years and several console generations later, Diablo and its grimdark inspired world has returned to take up hours of my time. But does the recently released Diablo IV hold up as well as its predecessors?
The answer is a strong and definitive ‘yes’. This new entry in the sprawling multi-dimensional saga recaptures the dark atmosphere and hopeless vibe that the original absolutely radiated. Everything is covered in this grim visage that marks a return to the series’ roots and a sharp turn away from the more cartoony graphics of Diablo 3. But even better, is the amount of freedom we as gamers now have.
No longer are we forced to play a preset pixelated hero that some guys in a room smushed together without our input. Instead, Diablo IV boasts a character creation system that is comparable to some of the best in the industry today, offering the kind of detailed customization gamers have come to love over the years. It has enough depth to keep players enthralled, allowing just enough flexibility to make every visit to the character creation screen a fun time.
Best of all, however, is the buttery smooth gameplay. As addictive and fun as ever, the game has masterfully translated it’s complex control system to a gamepad. It makes it far more accessible for those of us that want to play on next-gen consoles. Cross-gen play, however, takes things up a notch, making it that much easier to raid dungeons and go toe-to-toe with epic bosses while flanked by your buddies.
Its easy to see why so many are crowding servers eager to get their Diablo-fix. I won’t lie: over the past few days I’ve been right along with them. For fans of RPGs it’s a must-play and if you happen to be in that crowd get ready traveler: Sanctuary has plenty of room.
Ismael David Mujahid.