Blizzard is developing the next generation in its dark action RPG, Diablo 4, but the combat mechanics are not entirely yet locked in place. The studio has revealed that some aspects of the game are going back to Diablo 2 roots, while others take pages from Diablo 3. However, combat could use a compromise between both of Diablo's most influential titles.
Blizzard's first Diablo game was massive for action RPG fans, but it was Diablo 2 that truly brought the game to the masses. The fluid combat mechanics and addictive loot system, combined with the dark and powerful story, were something gamers hadn't seen before. Many argue that it created its own genre within dungeon crawlers, and Diablo 3 improved upon it. Now, after the third iteration of Diablo, gamers are waiting for Diablo 4 which hopefully combines the best parts of both worlds.
Diablo 3 Was Not Everything It Promised To Be
While Diablo 3 became the most popular of the franchise, it didn't manage to scratch all the itches people had from its Diablo 2. Blizzard improved a lot of things on the surface, but many aspects of Diablo 3 were a step back. The most obvious change in terms of combat from Blizzard was to hide the statistics behind simplistic "better or worse than" comparisons. It was of course understandable, that Blizzard didn't want to alienate the ones that didn't care about the nerdy min-maxing, but it did dumb down the game.
Diablo 4 should also include a more complex skill system, compared to the very linear one found in Diablo 3. While the ability to combine skills freely might be harder for Blizzard to control and balance, it will be worth it for the players. Instead of pigeonholing specific builds, players finding out skill combinations themselves is rewarding and adds to the game's exploration aspect.
Furthermore, Blizzard should bring back many of the affixes to Diablo 4 that were found in Diablo 2, and dismissed in Diablo 3. These include the likes of a chance to reanimate monsters or fire explosive arrows. Having a more expansive list of combat affixes increases the combat's unpredictability and makes the game more fun, but also could give use to items that wouldn't otherwise be of use.
Diablo 4 Should Be Smooth as Butter
Diablo 2 was an amazing game at the time of its release. It completely revolutionized dungeon crawlers, and combat was part and parcel of the success. However, it is undeniable that games have gotten better in the 22 years since Diablo 2's release. In today's reality, Diablo 2 is simply clunky. The battle relies too much on button smashing and too little on complex strategies. While Diablo 3 isn't perfect in this respect either, the combat was more balanced and allowed more variation.
The removal of unnecessary utility items, like the thawing potion that one never used in Diablo 2, is the way to go with Diablo 4, too. Combat in Diablo 2 focused too much on rotating an array of healing potions and only one or two spells. Diablo 3 reversed this by simplifying the healing process and giving more skill slots. Diablo 4 should also focus on delivering interesting mechanics with classes and various skills or spells rather than repetitive combat where fast fingers are all-important.
Combat should be also spiced with encounters that break the endless slaying of regular monsters. Diablo 4 hopefully will include some sort of Rift gameplay that gives a break from the never-ending grind. Diablo 3 definitely expanded the end-game possibilities of the franchise, and Diablo 4 needs to further the prospects in this regard.
We have already seen that Blizzard seems to be taking notes from both games, and including things like more complex end-game builds with ever-developing meta in Diablo 4. Hopefully, this means, that Diablo 4 will be a perfect amalgamation of smooth, skill-forward action from Diablo 3 and complex, player-freedom appreciating Diablo 2.
Diablo 4 will launch in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.