Diablois one of Blizzard’s most prestigious titles and withDiablo 3having recently reached its 10th anniversary, it’s safe to say that the thirdDiablogame is still going strong and relevant. The same can be said forDiablo 2, now on its 22nd year of relevance. Either game is a testament to Blizzard’s craft withDiablo 3waving the flag high as always.
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As it turns out, slaying the Prime Evils and their minions never gets old. But underneath that simple premise is decades of innovation and mastery, as well as community feedback which shapedDiablo 3into what it is today. So it’s high time to take a look back at what keeps drawing the players to the world of Sanctuary and what makes them stay awhile and listen at the very least.
8Leagues
The main aspect ofDiablo 3that keeps reeling in players both old and new is, of course, the Leagues. These are quarterly events that incentivize players to start fresh with anew characterand rush to the endgame or max-level gameplay to obtain League-specific rewards.
These League rewards are usually cosmetic but just wearing them alone is indicative of a player’s effort and veterancy, which earns them respect from the community. There’s the fact that Leagues also introduce new unique or set items which shake up the meta and make restarting more exciting. It’s a tried-and-testedDiablotradition made more accessible and refined inDiablo 3.
7Class Builds
WhileDiablo 3’s class diversity and complexity are vastly differentcompared to its predecessor, it still allows for some impressive combinations that shape up the meta. At the same time, the builds inDiablo 3have been streamlined to the point where it doesn’t intimidate beginners and newcomers to the franchise.
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This kind of balancing act makesDiablo 3more favorable for the general crowd. Meanwhile, their classes are highly diverse when it comes to gameplay and the powerful items they keep adding to every league also somewhat comes in as a form of balancing.
6Smooth Gameplay
WhereDiablo 3excels compared to its predecessors is with the smooth gameplay. Gone are the days when the latestDiablogame will tax players with carpal tunnel syndrome due to its archaic mechanics and animation schemes.Diablo 3is as smooth as butter when it comes to action and presentation.
The gameplay is energetic and empowering where every hit can be felt and no attacks go unannounced or unnoticed. This is the case even for low-level gameplay. Come the endgameor late game,Diablo 3’s modular class builds allow players to experiment with many wacky or outrageous playstyles; the best part is that they can ease into this with relatively little investment.
5Loot & Rewards
Diablo 3follows a different philosophy when it comes to presenting its players with loot. The two previousDiablogames rely on scarcity to make their rare loot more rewarding (though more frustrating and disheartening to collect).Diablo 3,on the other hand, is all about rewarding players for every little progress they make.
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This approach definitely feels more gratifying in the short term and leaves players feeling like achieved a lot within a League’s limited timeframe. Players can jump in for 10 to 15 minutes and still come out feeling rewarded. Also as mentioned above, the League rewards are some of the most generous out of all theDiablogames; if they want, players can even add the quick dopamine fix to that reward pile.
4Paragon System
In the oldDiablogames and even in otherisometric ARPGs, there’s not much to do for progression after hitting max level.Diablo 3shook this tradition up by introducing the Paragon system or levels. This auxiliary level bar that players can keep progression adds up to the character development.
Paragon levels add stat bonuses to the characters as well as a new character icon frame that players can use to indicate their Paragon level. Again, this provides even more incentive for players to keep playing past the usual stopping point for many other isometric ARPGs. It’s safe to say thatDiablo 3wouldn’t have retained its veteran players the same way it does today if it weren’t for the Paragon system.
3Transmogrification
Apart from becoming more powerful, another motivation for players to keep gambling their time and efforts for loot is fashion. It’s all about that bling for many RPG fans as these can be a status symbol or a mere show of the player’s creative and artistic side. Thankfully,Diablo 3understands this aspect of player motivation when it introduced Transmogrification.
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It’s an import fromWorld of Warcraftbut nevertheless fared well inDiablo 3. Because it meant that players no longer have to sacrifice style for substance. Both can be achieved by simply replacingweapon and armormodels for a small fee. Many RPG players wish their favored RPGs have this system (hence the mods).
2Greater Rifts
For veteran players looking for a challenge,Diablo 3also offers something that will sate their lust for demon blood. Greater Rifts madeDiablo 3’s endgame a lot less stale or repetitive (at least when compared to its predecessors. Inother ARPGs, for example, endgame players are confined to grinding areas they visited and killing enemies they’ve already killed in the main quest.
Greater Rifts are different as they present tougher, more dangerous, and fresher gnarled faces to slay. It’s an endgame challenge that will also test the most diligent min-maxers and theorycrafters, meaning there’s something for everyone inDiablo 3.Sure enough, that’s one of the reasons why it has lasted as long as it did.
1Casual-Friendliness
But of course, one ofDiablo 3’s greatest strengths since its release was its streamlined gameplay systems and quality-of-life improvements. This is a game where players don’t have to worry about lacking respec tokens or running their build. The impact of this simplicity reverberates well through endgame as players who want to try out anew Leagueor a new build don’t have to try too hard if they’re looking for a change of scenery.
Moreover, even old-time players can just log in, complete a Greater Rift rush in a few minutes, and still yield some precious rewards before logging out. This feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment in bite-sized pieces madeDiablo 3a lot friendlier to its players— it’s a friendly, low-maintenance friend that everyone keeps checking out every so often.
Diablo 3is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
