Diablo 4 was not only showcased at BlizzCon, but the hack ‘n slash could even be played. Some streamers and representatives of the gaming press did so and shared their impressions.
How is Diablo 4 generally received? What one sees of Diablo 4 also reminds of Diablo. Blizzard is not experimenting with the gameplay, but is introducing innovations such as the open world and MMO elements. For example, you encounter other players in the world.
This is currently very well received. Diablo 4 remains Diablo. That was important to many. Nevertheless, Blizzard is also taking some new steps, and that is good. The community welcomes that the action RPG series is becoming darker and more brutal again after the more colorful third part.
A demo for BlizzCon visitors
What could be played? Blizzard put together a demo in which BlizzCon attendees could see a small part of the RPG. In the role of the Sorceress, Druid, or Barbarian, a wilderness area with dungeons could be explored. The “shared world aspect” was also well illustrated.
While the dungeons were “private” for solo players or a party, several players attacked a gigantic boss in the wilderness.
How Diablo 4 is currently received
What do the testers say? Overall, the mood is very positive. Diablo 4 was the most fun, and there is now great anticipation for the release, which may still be a long way off.
- Mike Minotti, editor of VentureBeat, compares Diablo 4 with the second part. Especially the dark atmosphere, which differs from the comic-like look of the third part, appeals to him. He also praises that the battles are oriented towards Diablo 3. Anyone who has played the third part will find it easy to navigate. He concludes: “A cynic might call Diablo 4 ‘more of the same.’ If you’ve played Diablo 3, then part 4 doesn’t feel much different. But the aesthetic changes are important. Diablo 4 is dark and brutal.”
- James Duggan from IGN is particularly excited about the ‘shared world’ aspect, which reminded him a lot of Destiny. He is enthusiastic about the open world, where there is so much to do, including public events or boss fights that can be tackled together in groups. The battles are said to feel really good because players have to actively dodge, among other things. Loot and skills are also a lot of fun. He states: “Diablo 4 feels like a 2019 evolution of the brand. I can’t wait to play more.”
- Author Heather Alexandra was able to try out the action RPG for Kotaku. She believes that Diablo 4 focuses on pleasing players and providing challenging battles. Everyone should be able to concentrate on exactly what they enjoy in the game. Players will love the gameplay in her opinion: “The result was a Diablo experience that I really enjoyed and definitely want to try again,” she explains.
- Ozzie Mejia, senior editor at Shacknews, comments on Diablo 4 that Blizzard seems to be trying to retain the best of Diablo 3 and raise the bar. He particularly enjoyed the in-game cutscenes, where the camera zooms down from the isometric view, presenting a sequence tailored to the chosen hero. “There was a lot that I couldn’t try out, which seems to suggest that Diablo 4 still has some time in the oven,” he states.
- Paul Tassi from Forbes, on the other hand, is not so enthusiastic about the game. He is bothered by the new look. For him, the graphics and animations seem clunky. He also does not like the idea of a “shared world” with PvP. He simply wonders what restrictions this brings for PvE players. In addition, the big question remains what Blizzard intends to do with microtransactions. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m very excited about Diablo 4,” he says. “But the more I saw and heard about the game, the more alarm bells rang for me.”
Streamers enjoy the hack ‘n slash
What do streamers think? The opinions of well-known streamers are also very valuable nowadays, which is why Blizzard invited some to BlizzCon.
- Bluddshed is excited about Diablo 4. He says it plays very well and feels great. He describes the game as round and cinematic. Everything just fits for him.
- Rhykker also had a lot of fun with the demo and sees Diablo 4 as the true sequel to Diablo 2. He likes the dark look and also praises the gameplay.
Diablo 4 is well received after Blizzard’s presentation and the first playtest among the testers. How about you? Let us know in the comments.
