The third installment of the phenomenal action, hack, and slash game is back and better. Diablo 3:Eternal Collection was released in May 2012 by developer Blizzard Entertainment. After waiting for twelve years to play this game, there is a lot to say about it. I would, however, start by saying that it is an improvement in gameplay and user interface from its predecessor.

Developed for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch platforms. The actual gameplay differs from Blizzard’s demonstration in 2008, but it is a lot better.

GAMEPLAY

Diablo 3 is largely the same game but with a more flexible system that encourages a dynamic approach to the hero in an ever-changing action sequence. Built around the loot-driven gameplay, you get to pick from a few classes and level them up in an addictive fashion. The loot is even more exciting than the graphic nature of vanquishing an enemy. The process feels like shuffling through a bag for a potential lottery.

Diablo 3 takes place in Sanctuary, twenty years after the events of Diablo 2. Although it is an improvement on the story of Diablo 2, it still feels cliché and predictable. It maintains that linear narrative and the only excitement comes from dynamic gameplay. What the game lacks in the storyline, it makes up for in the loot system.

Speaking of loot, they used to be far more scarce than they are now, and the system is now improved such that you can sell unwanted gold, auction them off or take it to the blacksmith and jeweller. The blacksmiths help to dismember unneeded items and craft armour and new weapons. You can also fill up your inventory by offloading your loot directly from wherever you are in the game through an integrated portal system. 

The character classes to choose from.

Diablo 3 originally had five-character classes to choose from. The Reaper of Souls expansion accompanied two more character classes making seven, but we will discuss the original five. They include:

• The Witch Doctor is a new character that reminded me of the necromancer from Diablo 2. The Witch Doctor has special abilities like summoning monsters, casting curses, harvesting souls, and hurling poisoning and explosives at foes. Her powers depend on Mana, a slowly regenerating mental power source.
• The Barbarian is the only returning class from Diablo 2. Barbarians are strong characters that come with a variety of improved skills. They can whirlwind through crowds, cleave through swarms, grapple-snap an enemy, or take great leaps and crush their enemies on landing. They depend solely on fury.
• The Wizard serves as a replacement for the sorceress and sorcerer from Diablo 2 and the original Diablo, respectively. The wizard also has incredible abilities like shooting lightning, fire, and ice, which slow down the enemies, and he can teleport past enemies and through the wall. The wizard is powered by arcane power, which is fast regenerating but shallow.
• The Monk is a melee character that uses martial arts to attack foes, resist damage and deflect projectiles. He is also skillful at landing explosive killing blows at lightning speed. He is fueled by Spirit, which does not degenerate.
• The demon hunter is a combination of the amazon and assassin classes from Diablo 2. Their main weapon is the bow and crossbows, and they are skillful at throwing knives and bombs at enemies. They are fueled by discipline and hatred.

Great fighting pacing

Diablo 3 flourishes best in the pacing of the fight scenes. The AI tosses lesser foes to boost your confidence and then spices it up with a more powerful character-based foe that requires more to kill. This keeps the game unpredictable and keeps you guessing. It also forces you to reach into your toolbox a lot more, searching for suitable weapons and powers to help you prevail. 

One cool thing about the game’s gameplay is how accessible the powers are to you. You only get to use about four powers at a time, but you quickly go into your weapons chest and select a perfect combination of powers as required. This makes you think deeply about your abilities and suitability for the scenario. Doing this often encourages experimentation and gives an in-depth understanding of your powers. In doing this, you get to understand certain skills that you once thought were unneeded.

The auction house is exactly what it sounds like. You can go to a virtual marketplace and trade in your magic items for gold or real money. You can sell items directly from stash or off a character. Multiplayer mode is very interesting, and adding friends comes along, and you can only see your loot. It would have been a wholesome experience if you could voice-check with your friend while you played.

Amazing Theatrical Soundtrack

One of the standout features of Diablo 3 is the voice-over acting. The developers did an amazing job casting the characters for the cut scenes. It helps give a level of depth and fleshes out the universe but begins to lose your attention as you play into the third act and beyond.

The game also has some of the best scores I have ever heard from a game. The scores are grand and give the world an unprecedented scale that hits you. It is reminiscent of a real-life adventure movie like Lord of the Rings. Coupled with the voice-overs, the scale and menacing nature of the characters, and the game’s incredible graphics, it makes for an unforgettable experience.

Graphics

The graphics are one of the game’s highest points as it creates a spectacle for the characters. Diablo 3 has countless epic cutscenes, married with an excellent voice-over and soundtrack.

Conclusion

The game is an improvement over Diablo 2, and you can see that Blizzard learned a lot and applied them in the 12 years it took to develop this sequel. Engaging combat, More user-friendly, Great multiplayer, very gratifying. The user interface is also more exciting than in previous versions of the game. All in all, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.