Game Title: Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls
Genre: Hack-and-Slash/ RPG
Players: 1, 4 via online multiplayer
Platform: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Review Author: ossiecastro5

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Diablo 3 was released on PC in 2012 and onto consoles in 2013. In 2014, the Reaper of Souls version of Diablo 3 was released. Both versions have been successful as millions of copies were sold through the three years. Despite this success, will newcomers welcome the world of Sanctuary? After spending hours with Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls, the experience was excellent and the extra content made the game feel complete.

Story Overview:

While examining ancient text, Deckard Cain and Leah encounter a mysterious falling star.that crashes into the Cathedral they were in. The star leaves a crater that leaves Cain missing. Your main character enters the nearby town of New Tristram, where you search to investigate the Fallen Star. After meeting Leah and locating Deckard Cain, you begin a journey that takes you through numerous locations, fighting demons in order to take down the Demon Lords that threaten the world of Sanctuary. But after they are defeated, is evil really gone from this world?

The overall story was interesting if you are able to keep focused on it. Many times you are forced to face other enemies and bosses that keep you distracted from the main plot. The story does seem a bit linear at times too. Yet, it is fitting and a good way to justify the traveling and battles that await.

Stunning appearances

Characters:

The role you play as is the Nephalem, a character that you are able to choose. There are a total of 6 different classes to choose from in Diablo 3 ROS, one in which  was not present in the original version. Each character plays well with their own personality that is constantly shown throughout the story. In addition, each class that you play with also has their own backstory, explaining more about each character class and how they became how they are. Each character also has a unique playstyle with special features for each, making each character more enjoyable to play as if they fit your style. The loot that is found while gameplay also consists of armor that can be used to customize the appearance of your character, making them feel more personal.

The main NPCs are strong characters in personality, but often direct. Leah and Deckard Cain are the first two main characters you encounter. The characters of both were done well, while leaving Leah more mysterious until later on. Tyrael, a former angel from the fallen star, is also a solid addition to the main cast; having him appear more would have been preferable. The Demon Lords encountered in this game were unique antagonists. But the last antagonist in the game, where you think that all is over, was the strongest character with a dark personality and a goal that fits well.

The remaining characters were not really memorable. But, there were many that provided services. A few characters serve as allies that travel alongside you and help you fight in battle. Other characters served as merchants and helped you gain and strengthen your loot.

The Lord of Sin definitely is no push-over

Graphics and Appearance:

The cinematic cutscenes looked incredible. They mostly appear after each of the five chapters of the game. The graphics and presentation in each were done excellently, even on the PS3 version. Not many more cutscenes like this were shown in the game. Graphic narratives between certain parts were used instead, which were acceptable and actually interesting with its own presentation.

The overall game looks very good and has excellent graphics overall. The various environments all look nicely detailed and often eye catching, even in the darkest of dungeons. Backgrounds beyond each area also provided art that’s appealing to the eye as well. The enemies of this game had a variety of forms and different art styles of each. Most of them greatly matched their demonic themes and looked interesting to fight. Enemies that were harder and held higher value had a slightly different appearance, making them appear formidable and worth fighting. The enemies and environments both matched well with one another, making each battle feel more immersive.

As stated earlier, you can customize your character with different armors that affect the appearance of your character. Although it was disappointing to dispose of good looking loot for better loot, a certain NPC in the Reaper of Souls version allows you to physically change the appearance of your armor. This was a very nice touch that is added late in the game. Character models in the game are also very good. But the only memorable ones are those that will accompany you the most.

Play nice kids 🙂

Sound and Audio:

The overall immersion of a game can be disrupted if the sound and audio of the game is not suitable. Luckily, the audio is high quality and fits very well. Background audio is excellent and starts to grow more intense during battles. The audio is also fitting to each environment that you fight in, adding to the experience. Audio in the cinematic cutscenes are also top class and strengthens the presentation. The sounds of combat makes the gameplay much more enjoyable, as you hear your weapons strike your enemies and hear your enemies confront you in their unique ways.

The character you play as sounds differently depending on which class and gender you choose. But most of them exactly what you would expect for them to sound like and the voice acting is done well. The main and supporting NPCs also have generally good voice acting. The demons you confront sound demonic and just as intimidating as their appearance.

You can just feel the tension

Gameplay:

Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls takes you through its 5 chapters, with its final chapter not from the original version. The game itself is divided into each chapter, with each chapter mostly a certain kind of location. From deserts to the Heavens, there is good enough diversity. Story missions takes you across each location in order to complete your objective. A main town, or hub, is also in each map for each chapter.  Here you can choose allies to fight with you and interact with helpful NPCs. Above this, you are free to stray away from your objective in order to explore. There is generally multiple optional dungeons that can be explored in each chapter, as well as optional challenges and enemies. This gives more freedom in a game that generally feels linear at times.

Newly added is the Adventure Mode. This can be unlocked after completing the whole story. It allows users to revisit locations with random enemy spawns and random objectives to complete. This, as a result, allows characters to grow stronger and collect better loot. It provides better means to continue to play the game after its ending credits. A co-op multiplayer mode is also available, which allows you to play with others online. This addition is very welcoming to players and gives more connectivity to other players in numerous ways.

Kill them all

Combat:

The general controls for the game is unique for consoles. Most of the gameplay will rely on 6 buttons with different skills. Each skill can be chosen, from offensive to defensive maneuvers. In addition to this, each skill can be altered with different buffs and overall improvements. This can be freely changed to adjust overall gameplay. A majority of skills will have a cooldown or require different needs. But they essentially add more to your character and can branch off your preferable playstyle.

Each class has their own playstyle. From the quick monk to the strength of the Barbarian, the selection of different playstyles is good. Each character also has unique perks, such as specialized weapons and materials. In addition, the mechanics of each character are different as they have different meters and rules that apply to each. The Monk, for example, can use his spirit meter to do potentially strong skills and attacks. This diverse feeling to each character makes the game feel fresh if you decide to start another playthrough.

To add more customization and choice, most weapons and armor are available to all classes, despite the specialized weapons and armor. There are a large variety of weapons that can be used, from swords to axes. Along with the armor, each have their own values and attributes that can make your character stronger. In addition, weapons and armor can come in different levels, with the more rare equipment being generally better. It is rewarding especially after completing boss battles and optional exploring.

Destruction, destruction everywhere

Overall:

This game is pure fun if you enjoy this genre. The combat is addictive. The exploring is immersive. The game is rewarding and gives you more control of your actions. Enemies are a pleasure to kill. This becomes a rinse and repeat process that makes Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls a joy to play. If you haven’t played this yet, I suggest you try it, especially if you enjoy action. The game overall will keep you locked away from many waves of hours.

Pros:

Excellent graphics and presentation
Excellent audio
Immersive combat and choice in gameplay

Cons:

Story not in par with surrounding elements

Score: 9/10

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