Diablo IV: Review

This game was reviewed on Playstation 5.

Reviewed by: Amanda Martin

There always has to be some sort of demon that wants to rise up and rule the world, and it's Lilith's turn this time. And with a title like the Daughter of Hatred, she might not be the nicest one for the job. As one of the few who is able to resist her influence, it's now your job to stop her. Thankfully, there are many different ways that you can undertake this task.

This game offers a wide variety of character classes to play as, from shape-shifting druids to necromancers capable of raising a small undead army. And these classes also have a form of sub-classes. I'm playing a druid character, and I've tailored the skills around a werewolf build. There are also options to build this character class as a werebear, or even one who has the ability to control the earth using powerful magic attacks. But if you decide you're not happy with your skill set, you can refund your skill points for a small sum of gold and reassign them as you see fit. You have the opportunity to play as a truly unique character every time you start a new game.

The game map is absolutely huge, filled with loot and enemies alike. You can visit towns and settlements that offer services and shops to make sure you're properly equipped for the fights ahead. There are also dungeons to be explored, offering rewards for clearing them and completing their objectives. As well as your main campaign, you can also come across various types of side quests, ranging from the classic fetch quests and rather annoying escort missions, both of which are usually filled with demons to destroy. The world is also filled with event quests that you can participate in for extra loot and rewards. There are so many things to keep you exploring, another example being the Altars of Lilith. These well hidden statues can grant you permanent upgrades to your character's stats, as well as other bonuses.

Your gear is also a very important aspect of your journey. Better loot is dropped in higher world tiers, but this comes at a cost of increased difficulty. Different pieces offer different bonuses, and some can even grant access to an ability, allowing you to use that ability without spending a point. Some of these items come with sockets that you can place gems in which, depending on just what you place it in, can again offer bonuses and buffs to use in battle. There is always that one piece of gear that just looks way too cool to throw away or sell, so thankfully you sometimes have the option to salvage this item, keeping its aesthetic to be used on something else. And if you simply can't bear to part with anything at all, you can stash it away in your player chest, freeing up your inventory space for more shiny loot.

This adventure can be played in couch co-op, or with your friends online. Whilst you're adventuring around you can even bump into random players playing at the same time, and can request to join them to form a group. However, in a certain part of this map, you can encounter enemy players. This PVP arena allows players to pit themselves against each other in a test of ability.

Whilst the combat can be quite satisfying, especially after unlocking more skills, it can also become quite the grind. Enemies are near enough constant as you travel, and even though you can simply run past them, there's always the danger of getting yourself trapped in a dead-end of running into an even larger group of enemies or an impromptu boss fight. Tougher enemies can be found amongst the mobs that require more skill and attention than simply mashing the attack button. You need to pay attention to your health as well, as it can be quick to drain away in a battle. At the beginning of your travels you can only carry a small number of healing potions, but with the help of your trusty alchemist you can increase your pouch size.

There have been occasional glitches that I have encountered during my gameplay, one of which being questlines. One quest refuses to acknowledge that a certain step has been completed, and will not proceed onto the next objective. And if you're a completionist like me you can see why having unfinished side quests would be a problem. Another glitch I ran up against was when I dismounted my horse too close to a gate that my P2 opened, which caused my character to disappear entirely, unable to move. This was easily fixed though with a quick fast travel away.

A good time if you want to get your hands bloody destroying hordes of demons. And there are a lot of them. 8/10.

Reviewed by: Amanda Martin