Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition

The further into the world of 'Diablo III' I explored, the more impressive its visuals became. While generally a dark game, it also has the capacity to deliver an incredibly colorful and vibrant experience. The high variety of creatures you are faced with, in addition to the ever-expanding character abilities, results in some of the most chaotic, yet gorgeous, gaming experiences I've ever had. So much can happen on screen at any given time that it often approaches visual overload. Yet, the 'Ultimate Evil Edition' never stumbles or stutters.

Locked in at 60 frames per second on the PlayStation 4, I was consistently pleased with how smooth 'Diablo III' played. Battling through armies of the undead, with every ounce of magic and melee on full display, would have made any other game chug along to a veritable crawl. This smooth gameplay experience proved to me that, although not quite equal to the highest PC performance, this current console generation has made considerable advancements. And sometimes it's the smallest visual development efforts that impress the most.

Other games of this genre, involving massive on-screen action and multiple playable characters, I would often lose track of the character I was controlling. Eventual realization that I was focusing on another character would generally lead to embarrassment as I back my character out of the corner I moved into. The simple addition of a color-specific ring around each character (that also happens to match the color glowing from the respective DualShock 4 controller) was just enough of an identification to avoid any such embarrassment during my time with the 'Ultimate Evil Edition'.

Although the cast of voice actors in 'Diablo III' make an attempt to create strong and believable characters, the storytelling ultimately pales in comparison to the much grander gameplay. As was previously mentioned, most fans have already accepted the fact that story, and its delivery, often take a backseat to what made this franchise so consistently strong. Strong gameplay should have an equally strong audio representation, and the 'Ultimate Evil Edition' does not disappoint.

As chaotic as some of the combat can become, there was rarely ever a detail that was not optimally represented through my Denon 7.1 receiver. A few minor audio drops aside, 'Diablo III' does a more than admirable job of fully immersing the player into the action as every lightning bolt, explosion, creature's roar, and blood-curdling scream pop with dynamic audio surround sound.

Several hours into my play through of 'Diablo III' I accepted the fact that additional experiences of the 'Ultimate Evil Edition' would be inevitable. Besides satisfying my need to obtain any and all loot, playing as an entirely new character class is reason enough. While I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences playing as the Crusader, watching my son play as the Witch Doctor was incredibly inviting. With five other classes to choose from, each playing completely unique from the rest, it's a fair estimate that 'Diablo III' presents a high level of replay value.

Adventure mode, unlocked after completing the fifth act, allows the player to travel between the various acts of the game, essentially traveling anywhere and killing anything. Additionally, completing optional bounties will reward you with a variety of experience, treasure, and other, more unique, items. Finally, more difficult modes will be the ultimate test for only the most seasoned of veteran 'Diablo III' players.

The developers of 'Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition' have teamed up with Sony to include content specific to the PlayStation 4. The Nephalem Rift, inspired by the creatures that inhabited the world of 'The Last of Us', as well as a larger-than-life acquired armor set based specifically on the ever popular 'Shadow of the Colossus' are a nice touch - but not altogether necessary - and warrant a nod to some of Sony's more beloved games, both new and old.

With a solid Internet connection you are able to 'Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition' via remote play on the PlayStation Vita. With your character's abilities appropriately mapped to the face buttons and left and right bumpers, controlling the game works quite well. However, as is the case with most remote play games requiring the use of either the L2 or R2 triggers, finding that sweet spot on the rear of the Vita's touchpad is usually hit or miss. What I wouldn't give for a Vita that has been designed to include these much-needed controls.

I've played my fair share of 'ultimate' or 'definitive' editions of games over the years. Some have warranted the title, presenting truly unique and inspiring updates, while others resulted in nothing more than a rehash of the same game with obligatory DLC thrown in for good measure. 'Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition' undeniably falls into the former of these categories. It's true, I have not played much 'Diablo III' before the 'Ultimate Evil Edition', but my research prior to its release, along with the time spent playing the game as a newcomer, has convinced me that it is much more than a simple port, and that it has been designed (in some cases from scratch) to take full advantage of the technology of the PlayStation 4. Playing alone is certainly an option, but playing together with friends is the preferred method and allows for multiple opportunities to do so. Blizzard Entertainment's continued focus on social integration shines, as does their ability to develop a game that runs amazingly smooth, delivers awe-inspiring visuals, and intuitively captures the imagination and enjoyment of those looking for a grand dungeon crawl, both new to the franchise and long-standing fans.