Diablo 4 - Preview

After spending a good chunk of time with the Diablo IV Beta, the good news is that the game is what I hoped it would be. A darker, more visually appealing dungeon crawler with some modern changes. After spending hundreds of hours with Diablo 3, the differences feels like a throw back to the earlier days of the series but the modern changes elevate the experience to something fresh.

Here are the Top 5 Smaller Details That Make Big Differences

Darker Tone

Much has been said by Blizzard about the darker tone shift after many were displeased about the brighter color palette from Diablo 3. Making Diablo 4 darker brings the game closer to the series roots. It’s much more than just a visual change also, thematically, within the first hour or so there are a few cutscenes that depict some sinister events that are fairly disturbing. This tone shift across the board could be the realignment that the series needs.

Traversal

One of the earliest features Blizzard revealed about Diablo 4 was the ability to traverse the environment much better including going up and down cliffs. What I didn’t expect was how much more immersive this would make the world feel. Although, the traversal isn’t on the level of something like Breath of The Wild, where you are only limited by your stamina and imagination, there are still plenty of areas that embrace this new change. Certain areas are highlighted on your map that allow you to jump over chasms, crouch into small caves, and scale cliffside.

Cutscenes/Story

At one point in time Blizzard was known for their epic cutscenes almost as much as their high quality games. They are still here at the opening of the game as you expect, but very often during my first quest at big story beats, there would be a mix of in engine cutscenes and CGI scenes that made the plot more engaging. This is a step above what has become the norm with most of the major story beats to be told with two stationary characters on screen having lengthy discussions, which would not hold attention. It could be the plot is more interesting this time around, but its likely a combination that will likely lead to a more engaging plot.

Little Details

If there is one common theme noticeable in the Diablo 4 Beta it was the increase in immersion. The attention to detail on many little things created a world that felt alive. Moonlight bouncing off the frozen wagon tracks in the snow, the way the lantern shadows dance in the evening wind, all the way down to how your skills visually evolve as your character gets stronger. It’s been over a decade since Diablo 3 released and the technology has evolved. This was a game that came to the PS3. This evolution in technology and hardware creates a world that you feel a part of.

Underscore

The attention to detail on the audio was amazing across the board from the transition of your footsteps from snow to path to stone all sounding unique, all the way down to how heavy and grand attacks sound. Arrows tear through the wind and spells sound otherworldly but it was the score that captured my attention. Playing Diablo 4 felt like watching a horror movie. The orchestral score gave me a constant sense of unease and tension by using things minor keys, close intervals and multiple chords at once. Horror music is hard to define but you know it when you hear it and when you combine the amazing score with the dark tone shift of the plot and visuals, it creates a nice package.

Hell-ishious

Overall, most of the changes made to the Diablo formula were small, but sometimes a lot of little things make a big difference. There are open world events that feel reminiscent of Destiny but they don’t disrupt what makes Diablo work. There are still plenty of unanswered questions including how the game will be monetized and what the end game will look like but if the beta is any indication, there is still plenty of fun to be had. Although Diablo doesn’t seem to be making revolutionary changes to the genre, it still seems like it’s going to be another great time spending hundreds of hours in sanctuary.