Release Date: June 5, 2023
Developer: Blizzard
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Genre: Hack & Slash, Action Role-Playing Game
ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X/S, PC
So it comes to pass that in the endless war between heaven and hell, mankind is left wondering, what is the next move? No, this isn't spiritual warfare, but rather this is the wait that Action Role-Playing Game (ARPG) fans felt in the eleven year wait for a new chance to battle the forces of hell in Blizzard's critically acclaimed Diablo series. But now that the wait is over, could the game ever stand a chance to live up to loft expectations? Or is this another case of anticipation building too high, impossible to ever live up to the hype?
Yes. Diablo IV was worth the wait. Save for some Day One login troubles in the first half of the day, Blizzard has managed to deliver a game that captures the thrill of dungeon crawling, and finally married it to the signature gothic horror style that made longtime fans from decades past wet their pants in the wee hours of the night. (Does anyone still remember their heart jumping turning the corner and seeing the door kicked in to the battle cry of, “FRESH MEAT”?) Don't let that scare you, this is not a game full of jump scares or hiding in the corner, crying as you wait for the monster to slip by. This is still the power fantasy of stepping in the boots of a warrior, armed with determination that no demon or soldier of hell will be left standing by the time you are done. What terror does exist is the atmosphere of the game world itself. This game sends you through the settlements and cities of a world that has spent decades in a hopeless place. The average citizen has no agency in a place where the monsters of the night wait to tear them to shreds the moment they leave the safety of the well traveled road.
That's great, cool (depressing) world, but what about the gameplay? For anyone that's tried out the previous game in the series (released many, many times over the last two console generations in the past decade), Blizzard hasn't lost their touch. Whether you prefer spell, brute strength, or agile guile, there is plenty to explore and find in the five playable classes (Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer, Druid, Necromancer). All staple archtypes from Diablo games past, back again with fresh modern graphical detail. And a love letter to anyone who remembers those Diablo II days, skill trees are back. Builds are important. Thankfully you are not forever locked into your skill point decisions, a welcome modern touch, it still will fetch a good bit of your hard saved gold in the endgame. A middle road in between that classic Diablo II rigidity and Diablo III's zero consequence approach. And to fuel your favorite playstyles are the endless loot drops that await, dungeons galore to explore and conquer, and an endgame to keep you grinding for just one more perfect piece of gear.
Now for those of us who grew up gaming, we've hit the days where so many of us have families now and want to know what kind of content can be expected. If the M rating hasn't clued you in, this is not a game suitable for young children. While there are many fantasy game settings that don't push the boundaries, Diablo IV revels in its violence. Blood, guts, and gore galore in this battle against hell, so those of us on the more squeamish side might be sensitive as well (one side quest features a man recently flayed alive). And for those new to this series, “forces of hell” has not been code for a candy coated bad guy. The enemy players face her include many depictions of devils, demons, monsters, cultists, and more. There is great detail in the demonic and satanic writings, etchings, and environments encountered. So for anyone who is convicted and feels the need to steer clear of such iconography in their lives, this might be a fantasy romp to avoid.
For those who answer Blizzard's call to take the fight to the devil himself, victory awaits the determined. Perhaps after just one more hour, after seeing that new dungeon just over yonder.