Diablo 4 debate: Does it really need to be an open world MMO?

devil 4 it’s here, courtesy of one of the worst gaming employers for fridge safety, among other things. allegedly. Despite being the product of a toxic work culture, it’s quite good, with a lot of quality that the Diablo fan will appreciate. But is it the best in the series? Is the story good? Finally, and perhaps most importantly, has the move to an open world MMO format made the game lose some of its charm? Connor and Sherif discuss all of this and more in their one-on-one Diablo 4 chat, after plunging dozens of hours into the game’s pre-launch review beta. During that time, they explored the four corners of the open world map, played multiple classes, completed the main story, and more.

First things first, Diablo 4 is a joy to play. It’s juicier and bloodier than previous games, with the same solid gameplay feel that has made the Diablo series an ARPG classic throughout its lifetime. Whether you’re swinging a massive mace like a barbarian or setting enemies on fire with the Sorcerer, you’ll have a great time.

As for the story, it’s pretty good! While Sherif and Connor disagree on how good Diablo 4’s narrative is, it does have some very good moments that made us incredibly excited at points, and made us very sad from time to time. Lorath was a special highlight and pretty much carries scenes on his back.

Where Sherif and Connor really dig into each other’s opinions, however, comes down to Diablo 4’s open-world structure. The game moves away from a more linear format, allowing players to explore a large map field with side quests and world bosses with other players. While the world bosses are lush, and some world PvP is sure to be exciting for a subset of players, it does make the process of exploring the world a bit superficial. At least in Connor’s opinion. Sherif mentions that perhaps this is just a sign of the times, a necessary advance for the series. With a battle pass and an in-game store, you have to wonder if these features actually make the game better. Then there are the bugs. We come across some of them at various levels of severity. The final boss, which we didn’t spoil, was ruined by some serious latency and online co-op shenanigans. With the game releasing to the general public, let’s cross our fingers that it won’t be too bad for most players!

If you’re curious about our thoughts on the subject, check out the video above! You can also read our Diablo 4 review here! Overall, it’s a good game and a lot of fun, though the degree of your enjoyment may depend on your encounters with bugs, lag, and modern live service features.