Gaming

Diablo IV review: Hell isn’t so bad

Much to love in the new game

Published

June 17, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Diablo IV is the fourth major entry in the long-running ARPG franchise. After the controversy of the mobile spinoff Diablo Immortal, it was hard to imagine the fourth title as anything but the continuation of the series’ devolution into a microtransactional playground. And yet, here we are. Contrary to what Immortal might have forbode, Diablo IV is everything that the series became popular for — and more.

A new vision of Hell

It’s hard to tell when a Diablo review should end. Anyone who’s ever played the series knows that the game doesn’t truly end after finishing the main campaign. By then, the game turns into a sprawling hunt for the best loot and more challenges.

That said, Diablo IV feels much more sprawling than its predecessors. It will take a while before you can even reach your second playthrough. Every corner of the map is littered with side quests, dungeons, and strongholds. Though all optional content are usually steeped in the same “kill everyone” format, there’s enough flavor to differentiate one objective from the other. It’s easy to find yourself in a deep hole of clearing out the whole map.

Instead of the procedurally generated maps of Diablo III, the fourth title thrives in an open-world format. Explored areas will remain visible even after you go offline. Balancing it all out, the game still generates new maps of dungeons after every instance. It’s fun enough to log on for an hour every day and do a few dungeons. It hooks players but not to a tedious level.

But something familiar

Despite how new the experience feels, Diablo IV feels familiar to veterans of the franchise. Instead of the more fantastical elements of the third game, the fourth game is grimdark, reminiscent of the stylings of the first and second games. An early cutscene shows a peaceful village suddenly overcome by a demonic violence. In an instant, the once-peaceful villagers brutally slaughter their village priest. Much of the game recreates similar feelings of horror and despair through its stories and locales. If you’re a fan of darker media, there’s much to enjoy in Diablo IV.

Additionally, the game is deliciously difficult, bringing back the challenge of previous games. From the get-go, players can access two World Tiers or difficulties: Adventurer and Veteran. Though Veteran is already a challenge in itself, the game locks the higher Nightmare and Torment difficulties until after you finish a playthrough. Regardless of difficulty, Diablo IV blends a satisfying challenge with a palpable feeling of growing stronger.

There’s also a variety of possibilities available to the player. Packaged as it is, Diablo IV offers five different classes with their own special playstyles: Barbarian, Sorcerer, Rogue, Necromancer, and Druid. Personally, I prefer the Necromancer, but each class is enjoyable to play. Plus, it’s not difficult to rearrange your skills and abilities. Even at higher levels, I can change my entire build and try something new for only a portion of my gold.

More delights on the horizon

On their own, the game’s classes are enough to create a variety of builds. That said, it’s been hinted that there are more classes coming with expansions, including a rumored Paladin class. I’m hoping for the return of the Monk.

New classes aren’t the only things on the horizon for Diablo IV. Blizzard already confirmed two expansions coming to the game. Prior to those releases, the game will also see the introduction of a battle pass system with new cosmetics.

While microtransactions are always controversial, Diablo IV (currently) keeps it minimal by locking only cosmetic items behind the format. Plus, the current store isn’t marketed aggressively. If you don’t care for cosmetics, it’s easy to ignore the microtransactional aspect of the game.

Of course, this can change in a heartbeat if a more aggressive store is introduced. For now, the game does a decent job breaking away from the controversies of a microtransactional hell.

Welcome to Hell

Diablo IV resurrects the joy of playing Diablo for the first time. It’s a drastic change from the third game, but it should feel familiar to those who enjoyed the first two titles.

With more content on the horizon, Diablo IV is shaping up to be a title with a fair amount of longevity through the years. That is, if it can keep its minimalized microtransactions.

Gaming

Nintendo might be working on an Ocarina of Time remake

It will reportedly launch in the second half of 2026.

Published

March 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

What is the greatest game of all time? There’s a substantial chance that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be on the board. Even beside the Switch’s critically acclaimed Breath of the Wild duology, the Nintendo 64 title is one of the most quintessential games you can ever play. That said, it’s pretty dated. But maybe, not for long.

According to Nintendo insider NatetheHate, the company is working on a rerelease of Ocarina of Time. The title is scheduled for launch within the second half of 2026.

The wording is important here. “Rerelease” can mean anything. To be fair, NatetheHate, through his latest podcast, says that it’s likely we’ll get either a like-for-like remake or a full reimagining of the essential game. However, he does not discount the possibility that it’s just an HD remaster for the new consoles. Either way, Ocarina of Time is coming back this year.

If you can’t wait, the title isn’t exactly missing from the shelves. You can play the original from the list of available games through Nintendo Switch Online. The game also got a remaster for the 3DS.

There is no shortage of Zelda-related news lately. The franchise is getting a live-action adaptation next year, which now becomes a worthy follow-up to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming early next month.

Gaming

Life is Strange: Reunion now available on consoles and PC

Max and Chloe return for an emotional finale

Published

March 27, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and Square Enix have officially launched Life is Strange: Reunion, the latest entry in the narrative adventure series. Developed by Deck Nine Games, the title is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. A physical PlayStation 5 edition is also available across Southeast Asia.

The launch comes with an official trailer, marking the return of one of the franchise’s most beloved storylines.

A long-awaited reunion

Set 11 years after the original events, Life is Strange: Reunion brings back Max Caulfield and Chloe Price as they reunite to solve a new timeline-spanning mystery. This time, the stakes center on a devastating inferno threatening Caledon University–Max’s workplace as a photography teacher.

Returning from a trip, Max discovers the campus engulfed in flames, with lives lost across the university. She survives only by using her Rewind ability, a power that allows her to reverse time.

The situation takes an unexpected turn with Chloe’s sudden arrival–an outcome tied to the timeline-merging events of Life is Strange: Double Exposure. Now dealing with fractured memories and an unstable sense of reality, Chloe once again finds herself relying on Max.

Dual perspectives, new gameplay dynamics

For the first time in the series, players can take control of both Max and Chloe, switching perspectives as the story unfolds.

Max’s Rewind power lets players revisit decisions, reshape conversations, and manipulate environments to solve complex, time-based puzzles. Meanwhile, Chloe brings her signature Backtalk ability, allowing her to push conversations in her favor and access situations Max cannot.

This dual-character approach expands both narrative depth and gameplay variety, offering different ways to uncover clues and influence outcomes.

A character-driven finale

Life is Strange: Reunion continues the series’ focus on grounded, emotional storytelling, with choices that carry meaningful consequences. The game builds toward a dramatic climax that aims to close out Max and Chloe’s journey.

As the final chapter in their story, Reunion positions itself as both a continuation and a conclusion–tying together years of narrative threads while delivering a new mystery shaped by time, loss, and choice.

Gaming

Nintendo will make it cheaper to buy digital games than physical

Physical releases will have the same price.

Published

March 26, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The days of lining up for a newly released game are well and truly over. Though some games still experience shortages in brick-and-mortar stores, such as the widely successful Pokémon Pokopia, gamers can get their titles digitally. Now, Nintendo is making digital releases more enticing by offering a tempting discount on the eShop.

Starting in May, Nintendo will start charging different prices for the physical and digital releases of first-party games. While physical releases will still have the same prices going forward, digital releases via the eShop will enjoy a discount.

The discount, of course, will likely depend on the title itself. Nintendo has already given the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book as the first example. The new platformer will cost US$ 70 from retailers. However, it will cost only US$ 60 on the digital eShop.

The company says that the new pricing scheme “simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format.” With the prices of chips skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that the physical release is more expensive than the digital one.

To be more technical about it, Nintendo has started skipping a physical game card for a while now. The physical release of Pokémon Pokopia, for example, has only a game-key card or a code to download the game. In this format, physical releases are just pretty cases you can display on your shelf.

Also, digital releases do carry the added risk of getting delisted on the whims of the developers, the publishers, or Nintendo itself. It is, however, still a cheaper option, especially in a world where getting any discount is a welcome thought.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo sues the United States