I'm still mainly focused on killing every enemy possible, but I'm also thinking about tanking with my Crusader, or healing with my Monk, or littering the screen with corpses to give my Necromancer ally more ammunition.Īs with previous console iterations of Diablo 3, The Eternal Collection allows for up to four players on one console at a time. It's a special thrill to see my character build factor into a larger group, and an even better one to see how that group dynamic changes how I play. And of course, in true series tradition, that combat is often more thrilling with a friend or two.įew cooperative experiences compare to a Monk, Demon Hunter, Barbarian, and Wizard working in concert to whittle down mobs down little by little, one demon at a time. What they don't do, however, is detract from Diablo's thrilling combat. Handheld mode's jagged edges and foggy panoramas aren't massive flaws by any means, but after playing for long periods in docked mode, they tend to stand out. Even then, there's a slight haze over everything, making character models look more like mirages than actual figures. In Diablo 3's darker areas-of which there are many-I have to crank my console's brightness all the way in order to really see what is going on. I mean that both literally and metaphorically. In handheld mode's 720p resolution, however, things get cloudier. In the Switch's docked mode, Diablo 3 looks aggressively fine, or at least, as good as any other isometric game released in 2012. The Eternal Collection's resolution, on the other hand, is a bit more muddled. The framerate is equally stable in handheld mode, and crunching those mobs is just as satisfying as it's ever been. Even during high-level challenge rifts, with hundreds of demons covering the screen, the dungeon crawler maintained a smooth and steady pace. When it comes to visual fidelity, Blizzard ensured that Diablo 3 on Switch runs at 60 frames across the board-aside from rare occasions when elemental effects didn't animate, the Eternal Collection is remarkably clean. To paraphrase the designer Don Norman: good design is invisible. It's just as easy to rely on muscle memory while you focus on the kaleidoscopic display of magic and fire. As was the case with Diablo 3's previous jump to PS4 and Xbox One, the mechanical leap to Switch is painless and fluid. Movement still feels natural on the analog sticks-whether you're playing with the Joy-Cons or Pro controller-and custom controls make it easy to maximize your character build at any time. It's another testament to the novelty of Nintendo's console, yes, but also the elegance of Diablo 3's design. Of the 50 hours I spent with Diablo 3 on Switch, about half of them played out in handheld mode. I completed bounties on my way to work and organized my inventory on the way back. So much of Diablo 3 plays best in short bursts, from the 10-minute chase for that next legendary item, to the satisfying flow of a challenge rift. There's been loads of Diablo 3 news out of BlizzCon 2016, and it's great to see the console versions getting some love along side the mothership build.īlizzard's continual Diablo 3 updates have kept the Mac and PC player base nice and healthy, but console updates have been a little tardier.In fact, I can think of few games better suited for a handheld port. Seasons arrive in Diablo 3 PS4 and Xbox One sometime in 2017. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Many of the features you know and love will translate over to console: seasonal rewards, leaderboards, and more. Having something to work towards regularly is a pretty good reason to keep playing Diablo 3 even if you're not super hardcore about it, but those who are can compete with their fellow champions on an array of leaderboards. Successfully completing a season unlocks a six-piece class set as well as other incidental rewards like pets and cosmetic items. If you're not familiar with the Mac and PC build of Diablo 3 you might not be aware of the Seasons system, which has players working to complete tasks and challenges on seasonal timers. Diablo 3 console players will soon be able to participate in Seasons, one of the RPG's most compelling endgame features.ĭiablo 3 is getting better on PS4 and Xbox One with the addition of Seasons.
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