{"id":3364,"date":"2017-08-18T01:47:36","date_gmt":"2017-08-18T01:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.offkorn.com\/blog\/?p=3364"},"modified":"2021-08-22T23:13:53","modified_gmt":"2021-08-22T23:13:53","slug":"diablo-iii-first-impressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.offkorn.com\/blog\/diablo-iii-first-impressions\/","title":{"rendered":"Diablo III – First Impressions"},"content":{"rendered":"

After ignoring this game<\/a> for many years I decided to see where it was currently at… for reasons I don’t recall. After seeing that a trial version was available in addition to new DLC<\/a> having recently been released, I said to hell with it and installed it.<\/p>\n

After nearly exhausting the trial with the Monk and playing a bit with the Demon Hunter and Wizard I’ve come to the following conclusion: If you want an immersive experience go play Titan Quest<\/a> instead, if however you just want to mindlessly click on things while collecting loot then this game has you covered.<\/p>\n

The problems here (cartoony zoomed-in visuals, limited abilities, non-existent leveling options) all seem traceable to having a ‘console-first’ strategy. There’s some severe oversimplification, to the point that I don’t see much reason to play different classes beyond experiencing the specialized voice acting and flavor text (which, admittedly, is a nice touch). Regardless of the class you pick the combat cycle is going to be the same: Use one skill a bunch to build up resources then a second to spend them, while maybe tossing off a cooldown skill from time to time.<\/p>\n

Compounding matters is that skill damage is based on weapon damage. All<\/em> skill damage. Use a skill to punch someone with a monk while wielding a club? That’s fine; the club’s damage will be used. Playing a Wizard? Go right ahead and equip a longbow or sword since your spells all use their base damage for some reason. A Demon Hunter? The arrow-based skills require wielding a bow at least… which ends up being not much of a requirement since the other skills (Throw Knife for instance) have no problem using bow damage. Moreover, what’s even the point of having all these different weapon types when you can’t make basic attacks in the first place? Cosmetic concerns I guess?<\/p>\n

The entire experience just leaves a bad aftertaste.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After ignoring this game for many years I decided to see where it was currently at… for reasons I don’t recall. After seeing that a trial version was available in addition to new DLC having recently been released, I said to hell with it and installed it. After nearly exhausting the trial with the Monk and playing a bit with the Demon Hunter and Wizard I’ve come to the following conclusion: If you want an immersive experience go play Titan Quest instead, if however you just want to mindlessly click on things while collecting loot then this game has you covered. The problems here (cartoony zoomed-in visuals, limited abilities, non-existent leveling options) all seem traceable to having a ‘console-first’ strategy. There’s some severe oversimplification, to the point that I don’t see much reason to play different classes beyond experiencing the specialized voice acting and flavor text (which, admittedly, is a nice touch). Regardless of the class you pick the combat cycle is going to be the same: Use one skill a bunch to build up resources then a second to spend them, while maybe tossing off a cooldown skill from time to time. Compounding matters is that skill damage is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,7],"tags":[148,524,28,121,473],"class_list":["post-3364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pc","category-video-game-related","tag-action-rpg","tag-diablo","tag-fantasy","tag-rpg","tag-third-person-perspective"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t