Diablo 4's gameplay gives us even more hope for Blizzard's upcoming RPG. The world of Sanctuary looks fantastic. Dungeons are rich and varied. There are several new terrifying enemies. But as the Diablo 4 beta release date draws closer, what we're most excited about is that the developer of Overwatch 2 and World of Warcraft has listened to fans and implemented one vital feature that every video game should have.
Sanctuary has five different zones, all of which are loosely based on real-life locations. The jagged and treacherous Fractured Peak, for example, is derived from the Carpathian mountain range in Central Europe. Dirty, rainy Scosglen is - according to Blizzard - based on Scotland. Without loading screens, you can go through the entirety of Sanctuary unhindered, encountering small towns, enemy mods, and even stage bosses along the way.
Spiders have always been a staple of Diablo, but Diablo 4 takes the eight-legged monsters to a whole new level—arachnophobes should be wary. The Host Spider is a giant gelatinous spider that clings to human corpses and then lunges at you, using them as a shield. After you kill it (if you don't run away in terror), it opens up, spilling dozens of demonic baby spiders onto the floor that try to chew your legs off. “I feel a little guilty for hurting a lot of people,” says Diablo 4 art director John Mueller.
We'll also get a sneak peek at the new Diablo 4 dungeons. Remember "By Three They Come," the stunning cinematic featured at BlizzCon 2019? Yes, this entire environment is in the game, including the dangerous rock bridge and the inner sanctum used to summon Lilith. There's also an "Endless Gate" where each area ends with a portal that teleports you to another, random section of the dungeon, so each room has a new environment and different mobs.
Sounds fantastic, but something is missing. You dragged yourself to Broken Peak. You have defeated a swarm of host spiders. You have defeated the Endless Gate. Returning to the city, you desperately want to relax. If only there was some fantastic way to relax, some ideal, pleasant comfort that should rightfully be in every game, regardless of genre.
“You can pet the dogs,” confirms Diablo 4 lead quest designer Harrison Pink. “So many people asked to pet the dog,” John Muller continues. Check out the Diablo 4 gameplay below to see live, hardcore dog petting in action.
Recommended:
- Diablo 4 open beta scheduled for late March
- Diablo 4 Beta: Ultimate Edition Bonus Item Details
- Diablo 4 Classes - Five Favorites and Possible Classes
- Diablo 4 News: Open world allows you to move away from the plot
- Diablo 4's ending has a level 100 boss that "guards" world levels
- Diablo 4's unique features are scaled to character level, causing controversy among RPG fans
