What an Expansion Should Be | Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Review

Diablo 3 took the world by storm and it is safe to say that the game lived up to most people’s expectations. Sure, the game wasn’t 100% perfect, but Diablo 3 is a solid RPG that thousands of gamers are enjoying each day. However, the time has come to build on the success of the original game and to start that transition comes Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls. Reaper of Souls is very similar to the way that Lords of Destruction built upon the success of Diablo 2. The expansion delivers a new chapter in the story, a new narrator, a new class to play as, a new adventure mode and lots of new loot for you to earn. Needless to say, if you are a Diablo 3 fan, you are going to like this expansion.

Right off the bat, Diablo 3 fans are going to notice some pretty big changes to the environments you play in. The world is a lot darker than the base game and it suits the game beautifully. Sanctuary was really beautiful to look at, but it felt almost sterile in places. While it wasn’t necessarily detrimental to the story, it didn’t resemble the Diablo games that came before. Reaper of Souls drags the visuals back into the depths creating a much darker and dangerous feeling atmosphere. It feels more like the old games but with a much improved visual style. It does the series justice and it keeps true to its roots. If you had a problem with Sanctuary, this expansion is going to make you happy.

As impressive as the environments were, Reaper of Souls offers players much more than just a change of scenery. Gamers are given a whole new act to play in the story which expands the gameplay by a solid four to six hours.  With a brand new act comes plenty of quests to complete including a number of side quests and new areas to explore. In this new act, everything was redesigned and it really feels like an honest expansion. All but one monster design is completely new proving that this expansion is more than just a rehash of old material. In addition to the content, players can choose a new class of character called the Crusader class. This class is similar to Diablo 2’s Paladin class which is a half melee, half support class. This new class feels great and fits in quite well to existing parties. With a new level cap of 70, players will have plenty to keep themselves busy with.

Perhaps the biggest addition, and certainly the best addition in our opinion, is the new Adventure Mode. In this mode, the entire map is unlocked and you can travel to any waypoint. Throughout the map, you’ll see lots of different side quests called bounties. Completing bounties will give you access to better and better equipment as you progress. Finally, when you’ve completed enough bounties, you’ll get access to a Nephalem Rift which brings you to a randomly generated dungeon. This dungeon is full of various mobs found throughout the expansion putting you into some seriously perilous conditions. This mode is extremely challenging but it is just as rewarding. Defeat the boss at the end and you’ll be rewarded with tons of loot including a legendary item. It is definitely worth your time and delivers exactly what an expansion should, a place for high level characters to be challenged once again.

Thankfully, Reaper of Souls includes all the recent changes to Diablo 3 including the Loot 2.0 system, the end of auction houses and the revamped Paragon system. This revamped system is great for the game and it truly keeps the spirit of the game alive. You don’t have to worry about someone coming in and being better than you just by buying their way in. If you have good equipment in this game, you’ve earned it. Despite the fact that legendary equipment comes out a little more often and skill specific items drop frequently, this creates an atmosphere where you can build a character the way you want it easier and more efficiently. The system works great and this makes playing Diablo 3 even better than before.

Overall, Reaper of Souls is an excellent expansion on an already excellent game. The visuals bring the series back to its dark roots while allowing new players to come in and enjoy the experience. While Blizzard is still insisting that players remain always online to play, the game itself does exactly what it needs to do; engage players effectively. If you’ve given up on Diablo 3, this may be the time to give the game another look. There are enough modifications made in this expansion that if you left for a specific reason, there is a great chance that it is different this time around. We loved our time with the game and it reignited our love for the franchise. We are confident that if you give this expansion a chance, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

This review is based on a review copy of the PC version of Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Developed and Published by Blizzard Entertainment