Diablo IV

Diablo IV is the fourth installment of the iconic series of hack'n'slash games. It was developed by Blizzard Entertainment, the creators of the series, as well as games such as Overwatch, StarCraft II and Hearthstone.

Plot

The story is set in a bleak fantasy land known as Sanctuary. The realm is once again invaded by the Burning Hells, with only the playable characters capable of holding them back. The leader of the dark forces is Lilith, a demoness returned from an eon-long exile through a dark ritual.

Mechanics

The game is built on the foundations of previous installments. Diablo 4 is a classic hack'n'slash. The camera is isometric, while the gameplay revolves around exploring the world, gathering items, completing quests and battling hordes of enemies with various weapons and special abilities.

Starting the game, we must first choose from a few playable classes. Each has their own fighting style and unique skills. The Sorceress can manipulate elements, hurl lightning bolts, pierce enemies with icicles and call down meteor swarms. The Barbarian relies on physical strength, ravaging enemies from up-close with an extensive arsenal of weaponry. The Druid can transform into a bear or a werewolf, being accompanied by forest animals during battle. His magic channels the forces of nature themselves.

An important part of the game is the character growth system. Each class has a unique skill tree, with their combat capabilities enhanced by unlocking perks, skill points, runes and legendary loot.

The game's world is composed of two main layers. The surface is reminiscent of MMO games. It's a large, constant, online world large groups of players can move around. It also features PvP zones where players can battle against each other. Dungeons, on the other hand, are instanced. They're closed-off, randomly generated, separate worlds which can fit a few people at once.

Technical aspects

The game offers a grim, brutal atmosphere with horror elements. After the cartoonish artstyle of the third game, the developers decided to take inspiration from Diablo II.

The game isn't playable offline. Due to the game's world resembling an MMORPG design-wise, a constant internet connection is mandatory even when playing alone.

Last updated on 28 February 2023