Thursday 13 September 2018

The Switch Will Be Diablo 3’s New Platform


Diablo 3 had a difficult start when it first hit the market. Connectivity issues, a deeply hated online marketplace, and plenty of bugs almost saw one of gaming’s favourite series getting tanked. But Blizzard, being the ever-loveable developer, listened to their customers and made some serious changes that undoubtedly made the game a much more enjoyable experience. 

But now with two expansions under its belt, and enough success to see it on more than one platform, the game is seeing its first foray into the world of Nintendo: in the form of a spot on the beloved Nintendo Switch. Those that have tested if first hand can attest that it’s still very much Diablo 3 – and that’s in no way a bad thing.

Playing on The Switch
If there’s one thing that can be said about Diablo 3, it’s that it’s a fun game to play. There has always been the grittiness to the series, and although Diablo 3’s darker side isn’t quite as dark as its predecessor, there’s no denying that Blizzard has made a game that has worked, and worked well. It also helps that there is almost an unlimited amount of stuff to do in the game; from the annual seasons to the end-game modes that truly test a player’s skill, it’s been enough to keep the franchise alive and well for the last 6 years.

And it hasn’t changed at all with its port over to the switch. The same mechanics, the same play-styles, and the same visuals are present. The fact that Blizzard has made a game that is easy to get in to, and ported it on to a platform that can be used both at home and while travelling – it’s a match made in heaven.

The first demo was released at FanExpo Toronto, where fans got to have a taste to a Rift – a dungeon with multiple levels – and it was a rousing success.

Is It Difficult To Play?
From what we’ve seen, the answer is no. The controls are intuitive, the screen provides all the information the player needs, despite its size. There has been much praise toward its controls, in fact. For a franchise that has always been bound to the keyboard and mouse, successfully putting it on a console with joysticks and then making it work well is a mean feat of its own, but it has seemingly worked to perfection.

Diablo 3 on Switch is not a game that has been built to thrill those that have already sunk thousands of hours into the game, but rather for those that have never played it before. It’s a chance for the uninitiated to have some fun in a franchise that has always had its zealously die-hard fans – and while they’ll always be the first to try and chase new players away, its new iteration on the Switch is like winning big in the bingo Canada has to offer, and should open up this RPG to everyone looking to sit back and kill hordes of demons.