Diablo IV Ultimate Edition Review

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Fast Facts

Through Hell and High Water

Diablo IV is arguably one of the most anticipated games to be released in 2023. Arriving 11 long years after the amazing Diablo 3 (and one mildly disappointing mobile game), it certainly has some big boots to fill with high expectations to fulfil. Thankfully, Diablo IV comes out swinging its comically oversized axe and hits a near-perfect critical hit. Although there are a couple of minor issues, it certainly doesn’t stray too far from the already established path. Diablo IV is, undoubtedly, the greatest Diablo has ever been.

A Cruel and Unforgiving World

It’s no secret that these days, you will be hard-pressed to find a new release that is not marred with issues at launch. Thankfully, Blizzard has paid close attention and, for the majority, managed to avoid any glaring problems. Understandably, during the Open Beta, there were numerous reports of connection problems. This may be because players are unable to log in or experience complete disconnection during gameplay. During the time I’ve spent with Diablo IV, my connection has been rapid and taken mere seconds.

Unfortunately, on numerous occasions, I have been kicked from the game altogether due to a connection drop. These are the sort of problems becoming regular occurrences with an online-only game. When it does work, though, it can be an extremely enjoyable experience. You can team up with random players that are battling the same world event as you. This experience can be chaotic and thrilling, with everyone firing off multiple attacks and spells at the same time.

Diabolically Stunning

Visually, Diablo IV looks absolutely stunning. Snow-capped mountains, murky swamps and desert cities are all vibrant and have this wonderful, detailed feel. Each area feels significantly different from the last, and these are all blended together in the massive open world of Sanctuary. Despite all the madness and the plethora of monsters and multiple attacks filling the screen, not once have I experienced any visual issues. The frame rate consistently holds steady, even when my Sorcerer is engulfed in walls of flames, pools of poison and icy storms, sometimes all at the same time. The rare fully CGI cutscenes look incredible, but these are few and far between. There are some weird facial animations that don’t quite match up with the voices, but it’s not a deal breaker.

There’s Something About Lilith

Story-wise, Diablo IV is slightly disappointing. It’s the usual Diablo story of a new big bad villain that is trying to take over the world, and only you can stop it. This time, the main villain is Lilith, The Daughter of Hatred, who has criminally little screen time. The issue here with Lilith is that after a stellar introduction in the game’s opening minutes, she is reduced to a whisper of a threat. You will occasionally pick up parts of the story in flashbacks, but Lilith is never actually present until the latter acts of the game.

Lilith is not the only interesting character in Diablo IV, though, and I have found myself quite fond of the various companions you pick up along the way. Admittedly, most of my time is spent doing the absurd amount of side quests and activities scattered all over Sanctuary. These range from your usual, go here, kill this objective to fully fleshed mini-stories. There is absolutely no shortage of things to do in Diablo IV. From the aforementioned side quests, the world events, the dungeons and the basements, there is always something to be doing. Completing the actual main campaign is only half of the experience, with other world tiers to unlock. This also brings about even more content, which I won’t spoil here.

A Hell of a Choice

Diablo IV does not re-invent the wheel when it comes to the characters, yet it does change things up from Diablo 3. You now have customisable options, which, whilst limited, are just enough to make your character feel bespoke to you. The unique options include hair, makeup and tattoos to differ from being the same hulking brute wearing a different headpiece. Then there are the classes of Diablo IV. In the past, I have played as a Barbarian; however, I decided to switch things up and use the Sorcerer this time. Unlocked through your skill points are a wide range of customisable spells, shields and buffs.

The skill tree will require some trial and error, and you will find yourself restarting at least once to find the playstyle most suited to you. Utilizing these, your character will feel completely your own. When I encounter a world event with two other sorcerers, the attacks they use are so different from my own. Utilising a combination of ice and lighting moves, my sorcerer varies from one that charges in blasting fire. This is just another example of how Diablo IV really makes your character YOUR character.

Final Thoughts on Diablo IV

While Diablo IV does nothing too outside the box, Blizzard has managed to create the best Diablo game available. Not only does it look and sound great, but the amount of content readily available is enough to keep you busy for a long time. With the upcoming inclusion of the seasons, there is more reason to keep playing long after the main campaign is over. Although the story is lacking and falls a bit flat around the middle, there is still plenty of distractions long after the credits have rolled. Hopefully, the connection issues are sorted in the future, and a few new world tiers are introduced. If you have never played a Diablo game before, now would be the best time to dip your toe in the blood-red water.

Rapid Reviews Rating

4.5 out of 5

4.5

You Can Purchase Diablo 4 on the Microsoft store here: Diablo® IV | Xbox