Diablo 4has gorgeous visuals and captivating enemies, yet players can’t help but feel let down by some of the mobs ported over fromDiablo 2. Though legendary in numerous ways, the tremendous legacy ofDiablo 2also rests in the sound design and music that came from the brilliant minds of Scott Petersen and Matt Uelmen. Eachmonster type across allDiablo 2Actshad a distinct audio identity that was instantly memorable, from the shrill shrieks of a Storm Caster in the Chaos Sanctuary, to the dying grunt of a Quill Rat being skewered open by a Barbarian’s axe.
In this sea of iconic monsters, two have arguably made an impression onDiablo 4fans like no other: the Goatmen and the Fallen found in the early zones of Act 1. Venturing out into the wilderness away from the safety of the Rogue Encampment, players would soon come across a skittish sea of crimson devilkin yelling the battle cries of Rakanishu. Similarly, the Moon Lord goatmen in Stony Field boasted a memorable bleat upon death that hadDiablo 2players giddy with glee as they continued their hunt for Diablo.
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Unfortunately, when placed against theirDiablo 2counterparts, the Fallen and the Khazra leave a lot to be desired. Many players such as nubileiguana find the versions inDiablo 4to be bland and devoid of character. Though visually interesting, the Fallen in the sequel don’t behave like theirDiablo 2selves. They don’t rout as much, they’re less skittish, they don’t sound memorable – they’re generic foot soldiers of Hell, and for a game that overall has high-quality sound design, it comes off as a headscratcher to the majority of fans. Exploring theworld of Sanctuaryis immersive, but fighting against the Burning Hells needs some work.
Though Blizzard certainly has bigger problems to fix such as itemization, level scaling, and a general lack of quality-of-life features inDiablo 4, players can’t help but lament the loss of identity for many of these iconicDiablo 2monsters. A similar complaint was levied againsttreasure goblins inDiablo 4, as the new version not only is far less generous with its loot, but is also missing its cheeky laugh. Some fans have even gone as far as to claimDiablo 3had the better monster variety, citing Mallet Lords, Lacuni, and Tongue Lashers as standouts.
Ultimately, while mobs may lean towards the generic side barring a few exceptions like the Skeleton Turret, Blizzard will have a chance to regularly expand on monster variety throughseasonal content inDiablo 4. Furthermore, its expansions will likely introduce several new enemy archetypes to the base game, as all signs point toDiablo 4revisiting old locations in its future Regions.
Diablo 4is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
