Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition

When an upgraded Diablo version features the word “Ultimate,” one should expect a sense of finality. And Blizzard does not disappoint, coming up with the Reaper of Souls expansion where the villain is the closest thing to Death.

You’ll take on the role of one of the six powerful character classes — Barbarian, Monk, Demon Hunter, Wizard, Witch Doctor, or the all-new Crusader — and embark on a dark journey to save the world from ancient and sinister forces.

With the Ultimate Evil Edition on PS4, Diablo III reaches its highest form, melding the successes of two years of PC version fixes with the positive side-effects of porting to current-gen consoles.

Graphics 4,5/5

Diablo III features well-tuned cycle of violence that is easier on the eyes than ever before. Although last-gen consoles had to make visual sacrifices to run Diablo 3’s more heated battles at a decent framerate, on PS4, no concessions are necessary.

At 1080p and almost constant 60 fps, the game looks sharp, plays smooth, and feels mostly on par with a nice gaming PC. There are just occasional hiccups in framerate during massive battles, and the effects aren’t quite at max PC levels. However, it’s still a big step forward from the last console iteration.

Gameplay 5/5

Ultimate Evil Edition teems with content. You are getting everything from Diablo II as well as Reaper of Souls, including the incredible Adventure mode. The reworked skills, raised level cap, and that handy fourth passive slot are all here, and importing the characters from a last-gen console is a breeze. You won’t have to replay a bunch of content you’ve already played over and over again. If you are returning from the original console release, you will not miss a beat.

Diablo III is about killing all the things, whether alive, undead or inanimate. And it's also about looking for sweet new pieces of gear so you can kill more, bigger things. Ultimate Evil's excellent analog stick controls and varied character classes make this hunt enjoyable both in the short term, and the long haul.

The core of the Diablo III gameplay lies in its leveling and looting systems. You level up and customize your characters by killing monsters and acquiring experience. Completing missions and killing monsters allows for loot to drop, so you are constantly killing, looting and swapping out new gear.
There are plenty of unique items to choose in the game, and it’s almost unbelievable at how many of them you can find. Most of the gear you will come across won’t benefit the stats of your character, but they can still be useful. You can sell them or break down into crafting materials to create other items in the hub town.

Blizzard has done a great job with focusing on the combat’s addictive nature and ensuring that the entire experience that surrounds it is as smooth as possible. You can teleport directly back to town whenever you want, and after taking care of business, you can use the portal to return to the original location. A simple idea, but it works great for gameplay and keeps players in action.

Also, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how few load times are in the game. It’s quick and easy to jump around between locations and join up with other players.

Controls 5/5

With the Dualshock 4 wireless controller and custom-designed interface on PS4, you will be outfitted with touch pad functionality and new social features, engaging in the breathtaking combat with a plenty of different monsters.

The controls feel smooth, so nothing will interrupt the pulse-pounding experience you have with this Ultimate Evil Edition.

Replay Value 5/5

The real star feature of this game is the ability to play on the couch with up to three friends. So, it’s always fun to replay some sequences, tearing through the angry hordes of monsters in adventure mode, where the eerie dungeons form the backbone of Diablo 3's endgame.

In-game purchases

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition costs $59,99 USD and doesn’t have any in-game purchases. All the content is available after a single purchase.

Since this version includes both Diablo III and the Reaper of Souls expansion set in one definitive volume, the price seems reasonable.

Conclusion

Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition is the happy conclusion of a two-year public beta. Those who have held off up to the PS4 release will benefit the most, while those who played PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 versions will be able to transfer their saves.

Diablo III's bleakness here is so comprehensive, we can't help but admire Blizzard's dedication. If you are not engaging in conversation with downtrodden townsfolk, you are fending off a seemingly limitless stream of demons. And that feels all the more poignant when you walk on floors covered in corpses in Reaper of Souls. Given that the game’s apocalyptic tone and art direction is so pervasive and focused, it is remarkable that the darkness doesn't feel monotonous or overbearing.

• Graphics 4.5
• Gameplay 5
• Controls 5
• Replay Value 5

Pros

Excellent combat;
Dungeons and fields are rich in bonuses
Varied skills;
Exceptionally accessible to newcomers;
Graphical upgrade;
Adventure mode;
Well-implemented social features.

Cons

Some classes are not as suitable as others for solo play.