DIABLO IV
Back on the not-so-beaten track
Format PS4 ETA 2020 Pub Blizzard Dev Blizzard
The granddaddy of loot’em-ups is returning, and it’s learned a few tricks from the kids. On the surface Diablo IV looks like Diablo III with a new grimdark makeover, but this sequel is embracing MMO elements to bring it into line with the likes of Destiny and The Division. The game will be always-online and the world will be populated by other players keen to team up with you – though some will be ready to steal your loot in a new PvP addition to the series. There’s some balancing to be done to maintain Diablo’s sense of isolation, that feeling of exploring a dangerous fantasy world alone with only your massive hammer, beard, and wits to rely on. So while you will run into other players in the wilds, the deeper you venture into the new open world map the fewer people
“THE WORLD WILL BE POPULATED BY OTHER PLAYERS TO TEAM UP WITH.”
you’ll meet. But then, as in real life, if you take a break in one of the game’s towns or villages, you’ll see plenty of like-minded folk to chat and collaborate with.
Things get more familiarly Diablo when you venture into a dungeon. These can be played solo or in parties, but you’re not forced to play well with others. There’ll be granular options to tailor a dungeon’s difficulty too, ensuring die-hard Diablo players can ratchet up the difficulty (and rewards) while casual players can enter at their leisure.
DUNGEON KEEPER
Though the mix of MMO and Diablo lootery is a controversial one, what’s not in doubt is how this entry looks. Demoed on a PC (but this is PS5-bound so it’ll look identical) the game is awash with detail and atmosphere, and the animation for the three character classes – Barbarian, Druid, and Sorceress – is beautiful. The world comes alive as the dynamic weather sweeps across the level, with puddles forming in real time, the dirt turning to mud before our eyes, and drab cobbled streets beginning to shine as they get wet.
In many ways Diablo IV is the refresh the series has needed. It’s adapting to modern trends but its evil, bloodied heart still beats for the old-school hack-slash-andlooting of old. If Blizzard can control its urges to fully embrace the new MMO structures and remember it’s those dark and grimy dungeons that matter most to players, then Diablo IV could resurrect the series for a new generation of fans.