Diablo III: Reaper of Souls

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls is getting a terrifying amount of new content thanks to an upcoming patch. While Frank Pearce told Game Informer at BlizzCon that a new expansion for Diablo III isn’t in the works right now, patch 2.4 boasts so much content that it could almost be considered an expansion of its own.

The patch provides an all-new zone (Greyhollow Island), along with new bounty areas, truckload of new legendary items, and new side areas. While the nemesis system from the console versions isn’t moving over to PC yet, the massacre system is making that jump. The list of other additions goes on and on, including more stash space and more Kanai’s Cube recipes.

Blizzard is making 24 new set dungeons — special challenges that can only be accessed with a six-piece set and knowledge of the dungeon’s location. Players can find set dungeons by heading to Leoric’s Library in the new Royal Quarters area underneath Leoric’s Manor and doing some light reading. While there, you may also come across interesting bits of story and lore.

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls gave Diablo III a much-needed second shot at life, and post-launch content has continued to provide a stellar experience. Patch 2.4 looks perfect to continue all the monster-mashing and loot-collecting that we know and love.

Diablo III continues to grow and evolve after the Reaper of Souls expansion. In January, a new anniversary event will bring the dungeons and denizens of the original Diablo to Diablo III. The Butcher, Skeleton King, Lazarus, and even the original giant red menace are joining the roster for an event that runs through the month and is scheduled to return each year with special rewards and areas to explore.

While the dungeons aren’t precise equivalents to their Diablo counterparts, expect to take a walk down nostalgia lane with special graphics and audio filters, classic monsters, and unforgettable zingers like “Ahh, fresh meat!” when the Butcher makes a beeline for your health.

Beyond the upcoming trip down memory lane is the arrival of one of Diablo II’s favorite characters, the Necromancer. This full-fledged character class draws upon many of the classic Diablo II abilities like corpse explosion, blood golems, curses, and skeletal armies, but many of the abilities are being tweaked to work with Diablo III’s style and sensibility.

Instead of mindless automated armies, players can give their undead throngs orders to attack specific units, which is extremely handy for taking on rift bosses or other critical targets.

The Necromancer is available as part of a paid character DLC pack that contains additional character slots and some stash space as well. The Necromancer’s release comes with a smattering of new legendaries and sets appropriate for the class.

In addition to this exciting new content, upcoming console seasons starting with Season 10 will include many of the cool features PC players have enjoyed for some time, including the Season Journey, leaderboards, and season rewards and cosmetics.

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls is an expansion to the best-selling dungeon crawler by Blizzard. Set after the events of the base game, Diablo III: Reaper of Souls offers another act packed with demonic foes to slay, gear to gather, and experience points to earn.

With a huge pool of new enemies, bonus modes and objectives, and an all-new character class to try out, Reaper of Souls gives us more fantastic Diablo III content. Whether solo or with a squad of demon-slaying pals, you'll brave the city of Westmarch in a lengthy new story chapter, grind for gear in Adventure mode, and much more. There are enough new features in this expansion to give any Diablo III player a reason to return, offering dozens of hours of more loot-driven smashing and bashing.

Main Game Features

• New fifth story act to complete
• End-game Adventure Mode
• Adds the Crusader character class

Story

The story in Diablo III: Reaper of Souls picks up immediately after the end of the base game, with an added “Act V” for players to complete. After defeating Diablo and recovering the Black Soulstone, your allies try to contain it in an ancient tomb. Unfortunately, they are quickly stricken down by the fallen angel Malthael, who steals the Soulstone for his nefarious purposes. As Malthael's undead army descends onto the town of Westmarch above the tomb, the heroic player must cleanse the streets, wiping them clean of the supernatural attackers. Besides saving Westmarch, you must also hunt down Malthael and reclaim the Black Soulstone, a quest that takes you through the crumbling Blood Marsh, the bright heavens, and beyond. While it's shorter and less character-driven than the base Diablo III story, Reaper of Souls is an action-packed expansion that ups the stakes and offers a much darker tone.

Gameplay

The Reaper of Souls expansion offers quite a big chunk of content, with the main focus being the new story act. There's a big emphasis on variety in the new act, with a huge slew of fresh enemies to fight. You'll battle spectral beings, quick death maidens, and hulking executioners, to name a few. The town of Westmarch is depraved and violent, even when compared to the content in the base game. Even if you've played through the original four acts before, it's worth running through them again, thanks to the new seasonal hero feature. There are now timed seasons with exclusive bonuses for players to get, such as legendary weapons and cosmetic gear. To participate and earn seasonal rewards, you must make a new character and begin your adventure anew.

Luckily, there's a brand new class to try out, the tanky and formidable Crusader. Specializing in shields, heavy weapons, and a bit of magic, the Crusader is a great class for those who keep on the defensive. Once you've completed the main campaign, you can partake in the new Adventure Mode, which allows you to freely roam around the core areas of the game. In Adventure Mode, you can take on new objectives such as randomly-generated dungeons called Nephalem Rifts, hunting down bounties, and more. Reaper of Souls raises the player level cap from 60 to 70, allowing you to equip an extra passive ability.

Conclusion

For those fast-clicking fans who love Diablo III's classic loot-driven action, Reaper of Souls provides more hours of the content you love. In addition to new enemies, character classes, and objectives, Reaper of Souls offers an addictive end-game mode that will keep you coming back for hours and hours.

Pros:

• Lots of new enemies
• Adventure mode is lots of fun
• Very addictive and satisfying gameplay

Cons:

• Lack of new combat features
• Only one new class
• Can be visually dark at times