It seems like only yesterday that Diablo 3 launched but that was back in 2012. Then, a year later, the series broke new ground when Blizzard announced the game was coming to consoles. This was during Sony's PS4 reveal event wherein they confirmed PS4 support along with PS3 versions which would release first. Xbox players were not left in the dust either, which would be later revealed.
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This wasn't the first time the series hit consoles as the original did launch on the PS1 back in 1998. That was it for years, which is why 2013 was a huge deal for the franchise. It was a big change, so, what big changes does Diablo 4 introduce besides the game now launching simultaneously on consoles and PCs from day one?
The ability to swap genders was a new concept in Diablo 3 which was great. Previously, classes were locked into set genders which lacked player customization plus there was overall a lack of female characters.
This new game changes things even more by allowing players to fully detail their characters in Diablo 4 from hair to height to scars. At long last Blizzard has caught up with RPGs of the past decade. It's better late than never as the saying goes.
Past games have introduced side dungeons and allowed players to explore. That concept has been expanded upon significantly, making Diablo 4 the first true open-world adventure in the series. Players don't even have to follow one story quest to progress the narrative.
There are usually two to three story quests happening at once in varying regions. This non-linear approach to this series has made it more addictive than ever before.
Since the world is bigger, Blizzard introduced a staple of their games into this sequel: mounts. Mounts have been a big part of their game design since World of Warcraft and now the idea has bled over into Diablo 4. Having a horse around makes getting around in open-world environments much more convenient.
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There is a caveat to this addition though which is admittedly a bit frustrating. Mounts cannot be unlocked until the endgame. It's oddly held back but at least subsequent playthroughs will be faster.
Health potions and Mana potions have remained relatively unchanged since this series began almost three decades ago. Enemies dropped potions of all varieties upon being defeated. Potions could also be bought in shops although there was almost no need.
In Diablo 4, players will get a set amount of Health potions, to begin with. Brewing stations can refill these charges sort of like Estus Flasks in the Dark Souls series. The amount of potions and the potency of them can be upgraded too.
Lilith is the main antagonist in the game and she is always present in the minds of NPCs. It's not just her name though as flashbacks will show Lilith meddling with innocent life. It's great to see a villain so present in this series because that has been lacking in the past.
The story overall is more cinematic too with in-game cutscenes to suck players in as well as amazing vocal performances from the cast. Of the many changes in the game, this could be the best as it shows Blizzard's willingness to progress narrative storytelling in RPGs.
It's an obvious statement to mention but all of the classes have been switched up. They will be familiar to fans but the unlockable skills and how skill progression actually works for the classes have been changed.
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Going into each class' specific changes would be an article in and of itself, but there is one minor alteration to all five classes worth mentioning. Every class in Diablo 4 can now dodge immediately from Rogues to Necromancers. It's another concept that should have existed ages ago but thankfully it is present now.
This next change is going to irk some old-school players but relieve others. The game is now always online, so if players lack the internet, they are out of luck. Online integration has always been a huge part of the series since day one but it has never been required before on a constant level. This change allows Blizzard to dynamically change the gameplay with things like World Events.
These quests will appear randomly and offer players amazing rewards for quick encounters. Typically they will gather players from around the server too which is a great way to kickstart a co-op session.
Another thing that may draw some negative attention to the game is the reduction of couch co-op. The last game allowed four players to jam on the same TV but Diablo 4 only allows two players. It's not a great change but at least Blizzard didn't get rid of local co-op altogether unlike a lot of other AAA games.
Four-player co-op is still available online as a consolation. Also, co-op players now get their own inventory menus as well as storefronts when in town which reduces a lot of the wait time in multiplayer.
Diablo 4 was released on June 6, 2023, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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