Things are rarely pleasant to look at in Diablo 4, but they are always striking and inviting, coaxing you into the gameworld with a gentle yet insistent boldness.ĭark fantasy horror and occult mystery shine through these environments, creating set pieces and visuals that are, at once, thrilling and disquieting – hallmarks of the Gothic tradition done right. Descend a mountain range, and snow will dissolve into slush, and then mud. Not only is it packed with nuggets of emergent storytelling courtesy of dungeons and events galore, but the locales of Diablo 4 have a palpably organic quality, which goes a long way toward making the world feel tangible and somewhat grounded.ĭiablo 4’s environmental design does a lot of heavy liftingĮnvironments shift as you move from them. Brimming with intrigue and danger, the open world of Sanctuary fits the Diablo formula like a glove, providing the space in which the game’s macabre aesthetic and bold mechanical design cohere beautifully.ĭiablo 4’s environmental design does a lot of heavy lifting, too. What could have been a featureless, bland expanse is, instead, a delight. Perhaps Diablo 4’s most adventurous quality is the move towards an open world in the 'modern' sense. Like the other brief mortals of Sanctuary, in Diablo 4 we must play the cards we are dealt as best we can. It may feel ruthless, but it also serves to give your choices meaning. For every skill you pick, there are, perhaps, a dozen that you have had to pass up. This sense of fearful exploration melds seamlessly with the game’s mechanics, doubling down on this theme of mortal limitations. The game’s imposing art style bores into your skull with the inexorable regularity of a jackhammer
The open world of Sanctuary is richly detailed and foreboding – a fact that the game’s consistent stylistic refrains don’t let you forget. Diablo 4 kicked down the door to my imagination and now lives there rent-free, complete with the obligatory contingent of skulls and gargoyles. The game’s imposing art style bores into your skull with the inexorable regularity of a jackhammer. Rather, you step into the role of a character who is, despite their role as protagonist, undeniably limited and mortal. The game’s plot, art style, and mechanics all skillfully converge on a single point: the conflict between dark and light, and the poor humans who get caught up in the cosmic mess. Diablo 4’s commitment to the gothic is far more than purely superficial.
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