Let’s be clear: This is the darkest Diablo has ever been, and thematically speaking, blows Diablo 2’s brooding Gothic atmosphere out of the water. One takes place in the unmistakably Celtic-inspired woodland region of Scosglen, and the shock factor elicited by its body horror is deftly woven into the broader plot in a way that is signature to the series. One of the earliest pieces of evidence of its masterful cohesion between action, worldbuilding, and storytelling was a side-quest in the starting zone that had me exploring a frozen clearing for a villager’s husband, only to find him bound and flayed alive, begging for more devastation –- a clear nod to Hellraiser.Īll five of Diablo 4’s zones are chock full of moments like that. Moreover, the graphical fidelity, music, and sound design are all top-tier, which is surprising given its frustrating always-online nature.

The big villains are ambiguous in their motives but decidedly evil in their methods, and they’re played brilliantly throughout the campaign.

Class customization is leaps ahead of Diablo 2: Resurrected and Diablo 3.ĭiablo‘s Sanctuary is rich with grisly lore, and this has never been more apparent than in Diablo 4.

Diablo iv console release date