After one alpha technique which had pleasantly surprised us, the nomadic grind and free-to-play of the legendary franchise hack'n slash what is Diablo Immortal has it still won us over as part of a closed beta exclusive to Android devices? Stay a moment, and listen to our opinion.
It must be said that the project got off to a bad start when it was announced during BlizzCon 2018, given the reactions of fans. Blizzard has however maintained its course and continued to enhance its mobile game with content for the sake of this closed beta, which we tried for several hours, not without pleasure. The final version should see the light of day at the beginning of the year on Android and iOS.
Diablo: The Pre-Sequel
Borrowing an idea that we find in Borderlands in particular, Diablo Immortal clearly wants to straddle two eras, while trying to make its place in the demonic mobile game market. Thus, the story is between Diablo II and Diablo III, while the gameplay and the orientation of the game want to be almost halfway between Diablo III and Diablo IV.
We can't help but think that Diablo Immortal is a form of test for the direction that Diablo IV will take, the release of which is still very far away. This starts with the creation of our character in particular: with the closed beta, the game offers a first draft of customization, as well as the very popular Necromancer class. In addition to the sex of our avatar, we can also choose different faces, while Diablo IV will offer us an even more advanced character creation tool.
On the gameplay side, the beta confirms our impressions of the technical alpha, namely that the touch controls very quickly become instinctive and “devilishly” well transcribed to what we were used to seeing in Diablo III. However, it will be necessary to rely on a relatively large screen to better enjoy it, and this does not prevent the “misstaps” on the skills, relatively tight between them.
Small novelty of the closed beta: it is now possible to enjoy Diablo Immortal on the controller. This feature is still in beta and only supports a limited number of models such as Xbox controllers or the DualShock 4. However, this has the merit of offering a welcome alternative, even if the touch controls are more than mastered in our opinion. . Unfortunately, Blizzard has no plans to add keyboard/mouse combo support at this time, which may sadden veterans of the franchise.
In addition to a large screen for better gameplay, you will also need a powerful device to enjoy the game smoothly. Graphically, Diablo Immortal is indeed a great success on mobile. But playing it at 60 frames per second with image quality pushed to its maximum will cost you a lot of battery and significant heating of the device. However, we are not going to complain about the second part, in this particularly cool period of the year. The soundtrack is also very well made, as well as a solid sound design that is very recognizable and specific to the franchise.
Note that there were no servers in Spain during the closed beta, the closest being located in Canada. We thus recorded an average latency of 100 ms, which however did not slow down our progress or cause major lags. Hopefully this will be maintained during the official release and an otherwise greater influx of players, so as not to repeat the server errors of Diablo III and Diablo II: Resurrected when they are released…
Hell is paved with good progress
We mentioned earlier that Diablo Immortal appears to us as a form of test for the structure that Diablo IV will take. In addition to the mandatory connection required since Diablo III, and now on Diablo II: Resurrected, Diablo Immortal indeed takes an almost MMOesque orientation of the legendary hack'n slash franchise. During the leveling phase, we will therefore meet other adventurers seeking to defeat the demons and increase in power thanks to loot galore. Exactly like what Diablo IV will offer in turn.
JVFR
Speaking of leveling, Diablo Immortal will take us through different lands with a well-marked artistic direction, but more or less resuming the well-known Acts of previous games. Sometimes claustrophobic and oppressive, sometimes more open and colorful, the game maintains the Diablo touch much more convincingly than the maligned Diablo III when it was released in 2012.
JVFR
Diablo Immortal even allows scholarly references to the two opuses between which it is inserted, and even introduces us to certain characters who will be the heroes of Diablo III. In our case, we met Valla, the demon hunter from the third opus, and discovered her heartbreaking story. This mobile version is therefore a rather nice tribute to the Diablo universe as a whole.
JVFR
In terms of activities, we won't be lacking either up to level 55. The most important being of course the scripted quests and dungeons, illustrated by superb cutscenes. Some even allow themselves a bit of originality in their structure, with puzzles or interactions that are rarely seen in the hack'n slash genre.
JVFR
In addition to the main quests, we will also be entitled to the famous flaws introduced in Diablo III. One of them, the Rift of the Ancients, however, will only be able to be opened with keys whose obtaining is somewhat limited… unless you spend real money. We will come back to the economic model of the game later.
JVFR
At some point in the progression, however, the main quest will run out of steam. We will need to continue to go up in levels through additional activities such as said faults, or the unoriginal and repetitive system of bonuses also introduced in Diablo III.
JVFR
This observation is perhaps due to the fact that the closed beta blocks certain crucial elements of the story in the endgame, behind raids to be carried out with other adventurers. To facilitate the search for companions, the closed beta also introduces a group search system, thus allowing the most solitary not to be slowed down in their progress. Diablo fans know it, leveling is only a tiny part of the journey. The Diablo Immortal teams seem to have understood this, and it reassures us that we won't be bored in the long term.
The loot is Immortal
As for the loot precisely, a crucial part in a hack'n slash, Diablo Immortal seems to offer a rather solid system. Each piece has statistics, certainly simplified compared to the old opuses, but which will still allow the most seasoned to imagine different builds. Legendary items bring powerful bonuses that are a serious game-changer, and the sets obtained in endgame raids are always the pinnacle to which to aspire to brave the most difficult contents.
JVFR
Diablo Immortal also makes a distinction between primary and secondary pieces of equipment. The former can only be socketed with legendary gems, which also grant powerful bonuses, while the secondary pieces can accommodate the more classic gems providing simple stat bonuses. All this can be improved thanks to various resources at the incorrigible craftsmen, with whom we will spend a lot of time in order to optimize our equipment.
JVFR
Last piece, and not least, to the building centered on equipment: the Infernal Reliquary. Added during this closed beta, it is clearly endgame oriented, asking us to imprison the souls of different demons to gain even more power and obtain formidable equipment.
JVFR
Finally, and this hadn't happened since Diablo II, Diablo Immortal offers a solid PvP system unlocking around level 40, which has the good taste to find a scenario justification. In order to fight the demons, the best warrior in Sanctuary must take on the mantle of Immortal. Many adventurers hope to achieve this mythical status and near-godlike powers, but not always with the best of intentions.
JVFR
This is why the Shadow faction is there to ensure that the Immortal will never use his power for dark purposes. This PvP system is therefore a rather clever addition that has the merit of working well and bringing its share of interesting rewards for players.
Don't you have five Baal?
Free-to-play requires, a fateful question arises: is Diablo Immortal a pay-to-win game? And the answer will depend on how you plan to take advantage of it. If you're only there for the story or (we're not going to hide it) occasionally playing in transport or on the porcelain throne, you can have fun without losing your purse.
JVFR
On the other hand, if you are looking to run for the top of the rankings, be the best of the best to earn Immortal status or roll through the game with the most powerful build possible, playing without unchecking the blue card may be more complicated. The in-game store in fact showers us with chests granting us plenty of resources and keys to open rifts that are richer in quality loot.
JVFR
We also find the now well-known Battle Pass. If its free version allows us to obtain some great rewards, it is undoubtedly its paid part which is the most interesting. Unlocking it, however, will require you to pay 5,49 euros, and its duration is estimated at three or four months. Advancing on the Battle Pass will require some investment in game time, however, unless you purchase access to the various tiers via in-game currency, which can only be obtained for cold hard cash.
JVFR
Diablo Immortal offers a Codex that traces all your activities in the game, with an entire section allowing you to earn experience points in order to level up in the Battle Pass. It is also the most effective way to gain experience for your character. If the progression in the first levels is fast enough, the sequel may become a little more laborious and repetitive, asking you to repeat activities that you have already skimmed dozens of times. An element that may put off more than one, even if such is basically the nature of a hack'n slash.
JVFR
Diablo Immortal: the impressions of JVFR on the closed beta
It would be wrong to say that the initial announcement of Diablo Immortal did not at first glance cause some mistrust in us. But it is clear smartphone or tablet (or controller) in hand that the title ultimately defends itself extremely well. Both visually and in terms of gameplay, Diablo Immortal in no way distorts what makes the salt of the legendary hack'n slash franchise from which it comes.
We therefore had a very pleasant time browsing Sanctuary in nomadic mode, performing different activities and looting powerful equipment in order to develop our character and our build. We can also salute the effort to introduce a very solid PvP system, something that Diablo III had completely abandoned at the time. Diablo Immortal's business model will raise some eyebrows, however, even though it's entirely possible to enjoy this solid experience without spending a penny, but investing a lot of time in it instead.
In any case, we are on our side convinced that Diablo Immortal is likely to be emulated when it is released at the start of next year, and even to establish itself as one of the best free-to-play mobile games on the market. All that remains for Blizzard is to continue to fill the title with content after its release and, above all, that the servers hold the load during the first days. It would be a shame if Diablo sowed Terror to the point of discouraging millions of adventurers around the world from defeating him once again, in an adventure in all respects particularly pleasant, to take everywhere with us.
