On the heels of a successful beta, Blizzard has been candid regarding its thoughts onDiablo 4bringing the series to new heights. Given that the game borrows heavily from the fan-favoriteDiablo 2while also implementing many of the quality of life features and combat flow ofDiablo 3,Diablo 4has potential to be the largest and most immersive title in the legendary dungeon-crawling series. WithDiablo4’s sprawling open-world and day/night cycle similar to that found inDiablo 3, the implementation of a mechanic fromThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildcould bring significant challenge to the world of Sanctuary - The Blood Moon.
Appearing in the red-tinged sky of Hyrule on nights with a full moon, the Blood Moon is an eerie and unsettling environmental mechanic fromBreath of the Wildthat sees enemies resurrected from the grave and being given boosts to aggression and power. One of the more stressful aspects of the Blood Moon is its inability to be predicted except for occurring at a specific lunar phase. WithDiablo 4’s switch to an open-worldthat players can traverse freely with “jump in, jump out” co-op and specific nighttime events, inclusion of a Blood Moon-style mechanic would be a boon for players seeking extra challenge.
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An Unpredictable Day/Night Cycle Would Ratchet Up Tension to Diablo 4’s Own Blood Moon
If the game’s recent beta is any indication,Diablo 4will feature a similar day/night cycleto the one found inDiablo 3that doesn’t follow a typical in-game clock but is instead tied to completion of quests and entering or exiting dungeons. The unpredictable nature of the game’s diurnal invites the possibility of a Blood Moon-style mechanic being used as a random in-game world event. Sanctuary inDiablo 4is already a world that has an underlying sense of dread and this unease would only be exacerbated by the looming threat of reanimated foes as darkness falls.
In addition to helping to underscore the game’s horror elements, these events could also spawn specific buffed enemy types or unique world bosses that only appear during an environmental affect akin to the Blood Moon. Similar to how Chris inFriday the 13th Part IIIstruggles to get her keys to the van out in time to escape her fate at the hands of Jason Vorhees, players frantically scrambling to get inside a dungeon or town at the first sighting of a Blood Moon wouldadd true terror to theDiabloexperience.
In Diablo a Greater Challenge Equates to Greater Loot
Not all hope would be lost in the crimson darkness of the Blood Moon however, as greater foes drop rarer and more elusive loot in the world of Sanctuary. The inclusion of a Blood Moon event in the world ofDiablo 4incentivizes players looking for a greater challengeand hoping to extend the game’s playability to venture out into the night. Certain enemy types that spawn during these events could even require certain party compositions, adding a dash of MMORPG strategy to the encounters and encouraging players to consider what classes to bring on these challenging hunts in search of the ultimate gear loadout.
TheDiablo 4team atBlizzard have outlined what players can expectin the endgame and one of the primary reasons to keep exploring Sanctuary past the main story quest is to hunt for an ever stronger pool of loot through challenging boss encounters and world events. While an environmental mechanic similar toBreath of the Wild’s Blood Moon might spell doom for players still early on in their quest, it could become one of the main draws to keep playingDiablo 4with friends as players search for encounters that test their skill and give them reason to continue the hunt long after Lilith has been slain. When the Blood Moon rises it’s dangerous to go alone, but inDiablo 4,fans won’t have to.
Diablo 4releases June 6 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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