Blizzard can GO TO HELL.
Ok, the above was my first impression of the game. I'm editing the review after another 10 hours of gameplay. I feel a bit better about the game but it is still quite a letdown.
First off, the installation was a nightmare. I basically had to re-install Windows on my 2nd hard drive to get the install to work... after spending 8 hours trying to get it to work on my 1st hard drive (32 bit Windows 7). There are many complaints of people who can't install the game at all.
Now let me go over the pros and cons:
PROS:
1) Game is mildly addictive due to "loot lust". It would be a lot more addictive if the cons (below) were not a factor.
2) I like the new crafting system, even though it's somewhat limited.
3) The music and sound effects are GREAT. Really top notch.
4) The artistic design of the game is pretty good. I give it an 8 out of 10. Monster design is very good and monster deaths are fantastically gory. Special skill animations are also quite spectacular.
5) Co-op play and having a NPC follower accompany you are both bonuses.
6) The environment is more destructible than I expected, with decent physics as statues shatter and walls crumble. You can occasionally use the environment to kill your enemies by making chandeliers fall on them, walls fall on them, etc. It's the fantasy game equivalent of the exploding barrels you find in so many first person shooters.
7) Most voice acting is decent. Not great, but decent.
CONS:
1) From a technical standpoint, the graphics are dated. My biggest gripe is textures are somewhat low-res by today's standards. Lighting is average at best by today's standards. Yes this runs on modest computers, but better lighting and higher-res textures for decently powered machines would have been a huge plus. I would say the graphics are on par with a 2008 game (4 years ago!) However, the decent art design mitigates this somewhat.
2) HUGE CON: the game is EXTREMELY EASY. I am in act 2 and haven't died once, not from the very beginning! You HAVE to start on normal difficulty. Higher difficulty levels only unlock one by one each time you beat the game! This makes gameplay boring for everyone but noobs!
3) HUGE CON: BIG BIG server and connectivity issues. Oftentimes you can't play even in single player since you can't connect to the server (the infamous ERROR 37 issue). Many players can play this game only occasionally (after many attempts) or even not at all. BUYER BEWARE YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY THIS GAME AT THIS TIME. I HAVE ASKED FOR A REFUND EVEN BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO INSTALL THE GAME AND THEY WOULD NOT GIVE IT TO ME (I did a digital download direct from Battle.net). Also, if you are inactive for more than a few minutes (bathroom break, etc.) you get booted from the game and lose any progress since the last checkpoint - that's right you can't save the game at any time, saves only come at checkpoints! What is this, a f@#%ing console port?
4) Watered down customization. All classes automatically earn skills according to level. There is no choosing attributes or specific skill sets. Many die-hard Diablo I and II fans will find this hugely disappointing, as this was a very big draw for the previous 2 games.
5) The auction house is a joke. Not only does it show how greedy Blizzard has become, but why would you want to pay REAL MONEY for items when the game is so darn easy? This is a game that a 5 year-old could win. No, I'm not exaggerating. It's really that easy.
6) The campaign is somewhat short - you can beat it in 8 hours or so. The fact that you pay $60 for a game that is inferior to Torchlight, a $20 game, is a crying shame. You do NOT get your money's worth here. Not even close.
If cons 2 and 3 weren't a factor, I'd probably give this game a 7.5, as there are some fun moments to be had here (too bad the easy difficulty also makes the game quite boring at times.) If customization was better, this game could even get an 8.5. But, Blizzard really screwed the pooch here. A game with huge potential is instead only mediocre, even though there are moments of brilliance that shine through on occasion. The project leader for this game should be FIRED.
I used to trust that I could buy any Blizzard game before the reviews came out, because I felt Blizzard was truly committed to making quality games. How this game got past Blizzard's QA department is beyong me. Blizzard has lost my trust and I will probably wait a week or so after release (to be able to read a few thorough reviews) before ever again buying a Blizzard product. What a shame!