After 12 years was Diablo III worth it? That's far too loaded a question to answer in just a single piece, so we're putting together a review-in-progress series leading up to our final review. Today, we look at Diablo III's launch day and offer our take on our experience with the game so far.

Diablo III didn’t get off to a great start; in fact, it got off to a horrible start. As I write this article, the servers are down for maintenance, which is pretty much par for the course over the last 24 hours. I was hoping to finish Act I by the time I put this thing together, but alas, Battle.net isn’t feeling cooperative. A lot of readers like to point out that Diablo III isn’t an MMO whenever we post an article or news post about the game, but it looks like the game shares at least one thing in common with MMOs: crap launch days. They’ve gotten better over the years, sure, but Diablo III’s launch experience hearkens back to MMO launches of old due to the widespread instability and lack of service. That ‘always online’ bit? Not such a great idea after all, eh?

Read more of Michael Bitton's Diablo III: Review-in-Progress Part One.

I am only a couple hours in but I am having fun, ( notwithstanding the server issues ) Playing a witchdoctor and loving the abilities i have learned so far. I am not a power gamer and am just enjoying the ride for now, will see how crazy it gets as the difficulty increases 

Not using the keyboard for anything is off-putting.  I almost wish I could have my WASD back.

The storyline isn't bad thus far.

The servers are crap, and shall remain crap henceforth until... well who knows.  Someone at Blizzard better fix it.

People said it's not too easy, it's not too hard.  Only time I've died levels 1-14 was because I was trying to see just how many people I could get into a circle and AOE the ever living daylights out of them.  (I think the total was 30 before I died)

The no offline play killed the game.  I dont want to put out 60 bucks for a game with single player and then not be able to play because i cannot get online.

I returned my copy and exchanged it for a gift card....thats how much i hated the game.

Originally posted by Alalala
Only done some of Act I, and what is startlingly to me is the poor art direction / graphics. Twice I checked to make sure my graphics were maxed. Was the target machine a TI-80 calculator? Everything else seems solid in the game - but the graphics choice - blah

They intentionally blur the graphics for some unknown ridiculous reason and in general the graphics look like they're from 5-7 years ago. Very disappointing.

Completed the game at level 36 just over 15 hours gameplay, Worth it? not really bored the hell outta me.

was wondering when you guys would talk about  server issues. its sad- after a beta stress weekend, they would fall  worse than the weekend itself.

-but its an awsome game, its like having a ford GT without gas. i look forward on many hours of gameplay!

<.<

Originally posted by orbitxo

was wondering when you guys would talk about  server issues. its sad- after a beta stress weekend, they would fall  worse than the weekend itself.

Tell that to this guy...

Mascular babe fans unite?

Good and fair write-up so far. Wonder what your eventual mileage playing this game will be. The "auto leveling setting" analogy is exactly how it felt to me.

Originally posted by Boltonsquad

Completed the game at level 36 just over 15 hours gameplay, Worth it? not really bored the hell outta me.

 

The estimated play time is 20-30 hours of content x Multiple modes.

This is likely to be a sore point for players very quickly.

And why is a game that is clearly not an MMO getting an in-depth multi week review on MMORPG? Have we run out of things to talk about that actually are MMO related?

Originally posted by Superman0X

Originally posted by Boltonsquad

Completed the game at level 36 just over 15 hours gameplay, Worth it? not really bored the hell outta me.

 

The estimated play time is 20-30 hours of content x Multiple modes.

This is likely to be a sore point for players very quickly.

 

i'm 6 hours in and still on the first half of act 1. Soooo...ya that all depends on playstyle. For me I should be able to get quite a bit more. If you rush well thats your decision. Not fun to me rushing though.

Happy I decided not to buy, hate the restrictive DRM and ego has become a company run by accountants not gamers.

Waiting happily for Torchlight 2

No DRM

Software developement kit

lan play

single play

$20

pets

Originally posted by TheDor

And why is a game that is clearly not an MMO getting an in-depth multi week review on MMORPG? Have we run out of things to talk about that actually are MMO related?

 

Like Mike pointed out it has at least "crappy launch days" in common with mmorpgs. Lolz.

Also I think it was Suzie or Bill that said that even when Diablo III isn't technically a mmorpg, it has many things in common (apart from the massively bit) and the target groups overlap for a great deal too.

Originally posted by Alalala

Only done some of Act I, and what is startlingly to me is the poor art direction / graphics. Twice I checked to make sure my graphics were maxed. Was the target machine a TI-80 calculator? Everything else seems solid in the game - but the graphics choice - blah

 

I Lol'd.

Originally posted by DarkPony

Originally posted by TheDor

And why is a game that is clearly not an MMO getting an in-depth multi week review on MMORPG? Have we run out of things to talk about that actually are MMO related?

 

Like Mike pointed out it has at least "crappy launch days" in common with mmorpgs. Lolz.

Also I think it was Suzie or Bill that said that even when Diablo III isn't technically a mmorpg, it has many things in common (apart from the massively bit) and the target groups overlap for a great deal too.

 

This and the fact that majority readers asked for it to be covered. Plus, at BlizzCon, Wyatt basically said "It's an MMO in our eyes, but we're not calling it that officially." Yes, it's missing a shared world, but given the always-on (except when it's down, lolz) nature of the title and its social aspects, is it really that much of a stretch?

I tihnk the thing to write here, Michael, is that while Diablo 3 is a good polished game, it isn't  genre defining more a re-work and update of Diablo 2. Blizzard/Activision have done a good job here and I am certainly playing and having fun. However, I think one of the disapointments is the game's graphics, it really needs something above the current offering of high setting, If they can patch that in it would improve the game.  Game itself is standard RPG/ DUngeon hack stuff.

My rating...

8/10

Was quite dissappointed.  I'm not saying the game is bad...but its been 12 years since D2...which was amazing...but I didnt' expect another D2...I expected an upgrade.  This is just D2 with better graphics, a more linear area to roam in (smaller areas) and really boring classes.  The classes in D2 were amazing.  To this day i'd say the necro in D2 was the best necro class in any game ever.  This game did not live up to the hype....sad.