'We each are our own devil, and we make this world our hell.'.
When the initial news of Diablo 3 appeared, I was highly skeptical that Blizzard could deliver a product that would exceed the greatness of the previous 2 games.
Lets face it. Diablo 1 created a brand new genre that took the very best elements from some of the greatest games and fused it into an awesome success. The sequel didn't just take things a step further, it transcended all expectations and took the game to an entirely new level.
With all the improvements and innovations delivered in Diablo 2, it was exceedingly hard to imagine being able to top such a monster hit. And with the advent of so-called 'new gen' games which saw some of the worst titles ever released for more than a decade, one would be forgiven to pass judgement on Diablo 3 even before it hit the stores.
How wrong I was.
I was ashamed to make such a hasty call on a company that only had 3 franchises on their portfolio. And all three were immensely popular due to Blizzards minute attention to detail & creative innovations.
Diablo 3 was, in fact, a highly addictive romp through familiar plots and landscapes. The oldest story ever told, didn't seem to get gamey after all these years.
Reaper of Souls is a long anticipated expansion set that follows the grand tradition that started with Diablo 2. This expansion brings forth a slew of improvements, additions and tons of fun.
First is the addition of a whole new act which continues the story after the end of Diablo 3. Act 5 introduces brand new territory along with a new collection of demonic denizens.
Next is the introduction of a new playable character class, the Crusader. This holy warrior bears some resemblance to the Paladin class of old but is designed for medium and long ranged battle.
The voice acting for the Crusader is rather exceptional. Its skill tree a balance between aggression and buffs. The Crusader is a lone warrior who makes a fabulous addition to co-op game play as much as it can fend on its own. It also has a range of class specific weapons that are a thrill to play with.
New locations are strewn across all 5 stages in the new Act. There are no assets being reused from the vanilla edition. Overall, the graphics have been improved and everything simply looks better.
In addition to the awesome additions in this ultimately evil edition is the inclusion of a new mode of play. Adventure mode allows gamers to play in randomly selected maps with specific goals to meet. Some maps may require for players to defeat all enemies or fight with a special boss. The rewards are more than worthwhile but its best left for the players to find that out.
A new loot system has been included. Now players are awarded valuable class specific drops after defeating a certain number of enemies or boss fiends. New souped up monsters will make their appearance after certain conditions are met introducing a brand new element of surprise for the returning stalwarts.
The challenge has also been overhauled with the inclusion of new levels of difficulty that will tax even the most battle hardened veterans. The Paragon system has also been revamped with a new level cap to accommodate the new degree of challenges.
Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls is indeed a massive expansion that delivers more fun, action and an excuse to be whisked away to that old twisted, menacing world once again.
I, for one, shall never again be so quick to pass judgement on Blizzard. They have truly outdone themselves.
When the initial news of Diablo 3 appeared, I was highly skeptical that Blizzard could deliver a product that would exceed the greatness of the previous 2 games.
Lets face it. Diablo 1 created a brand new genre that took the very best elements from some of the greatest games and fused it into an awesome success. The sequel didn't just take things a step further, it transcended all expectations and took the game to an entirely new level.
With all the improvements and innovations delivered in Diablo 2, it was exceedingly hard to imagine being able to top such a monster hit. And with the advent of so-called 'new gen' games which saw some of the worst titles ever released for more than a decade, one would be forgiven to pass judgement on Diablo 3 even before it hit the stores.
How wrong I was.
I was ashamed to make such a hasty call on a company that only had 3 franchises on their portfolio. And all three were immensely popular due to Blizzards minute attention to detail & creative innovations.
Diablo 3 was, in fact, a highly addictive romp through familiar plots and landscapes. The oldest story ever told, didn't seem to get gamey after all these years.
Reaper of Souls is a long anticipated expansion set that follows the grand tradition that started with Diablo 2. This expansion brings forth a slew of improvements, additions and tons of fun.
First is the addition of a whole new act which continues the story after the end of Diablo 3. Act 5 introduces brand new territory along with a new collection of demonic denizens.
Next is the introduction of a new playable character class, the Crusader. This holy warrior bears some resemblance to the Paladin class of old but is designed for medium and long ranged battle.
The voice acting for the Crusader is rather exceptional. Its skill tree a balance between aggression and buffs. The Crusader is a lone warrior who makes a fabulous addition to co-op game play as much as it can fend on its own. It also has a range of class specific weapons that are a thrill to play with.
New locations are strewn across all 5 stages in the new Act. There are no assets being reused from the vanilla edition. Overall, the graphics have been improved and everything simply looks better.
In addition to the awesome additions in this ultimately evil edition is the inclusion of a new mode of play. Adventure mode allows gamers to play in randomly selected maps with specific goals to meet. Some maps may require for players to defeat all enemies or fight with a special boss. The rewards are more than worthwhile but its best left for the players to find that out.
A new loot system has been included. Now players are awarded valuable class specific drops after defeating a certain number of enemies or boss fiends. New souped up monsters will make their appearance after certain conditions are met introducing a brand new element of surprise for the returning stalwarts.
The challenge has also been overhauled with the inclusion of new levels of difficulty that will tax even the most battle hardened veterans. The Paragon system has also been revamped with a new level cap to accommodate the new degree of challenges.
Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls is indeed a massive expansion that delivers more fun, action and an excuse to be whisked away to that old twisted, menacing world once again.
I, for one, shall never again be so quick to pass judgement on Blizzard. They have truly outdone themselves.
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