Decapitations & disintegrations
While Diablo 3 had a more colorful, high fantasy theme, with Diablo 4, Blizzard wants to return to Diablo 2's more dark, gory roots [1]. This will include grotesque animations for monster deaths that include burning, decapitation, disintegration, pulverization, shattering, and more:
"It wouldn't be a Diablo game if we didn't have tons of crazy, over-the-top deaths for you to enjoy. We've actually tied deaths to skills, so it helps skills feel more impactful. For example, you can skin them with Upheaval, cut them into, smash them with Boulder. Decapitation. You can get burned. Disintegrated. We really want this stuff to feel super visceral."Jayne Johnston · Diablo IV Senior Visual Effects Artist ·
Gory boss death animations
In addition, Blizzard's visual effects team has created specialized death animations for each of the major bosses in the game. The animations portray behavior that's relevant to the boss:
"We're doing similar things with boss deaths. Not only is it an awesome reward when you see something die in this terrible way -- it's also a great way for the effects artists to reinforce the story and theme behind a boss. For example, if Ashava wants to use her breath attack one last time, but it explodes in her own chest. And the Sea Hag -- she's this bloated lady from the sea full of the ocean and she vomits on herself and disintegrates into her own body, returning to the sea."
Trying not to desensitize gore
One of the biggest challenges for Blizzard has been to not show too much gore. If you're always seeing it, you may start to ignore it. This is why Diablo 4's pacing has moments of incredibly dark themes followed by more calm moments [1]:
"We found that if we go too hard everywhere, you get numb to it. If we have corpses and blood everywhere, and everywhere looks like a death metal album cover, you start tuning it out. Cultist temples, Hell, and dark basements -- you're going to have these horific scenes. Once in a while, we're giving you these awe-inspiring moments, dark beauty, and tranquility, so then when you we show you disemboweled bodies, it'll really hit."
Xiphoid has been playing Diablo since the original's release in 1997. He made one of the largest Age of Empires sites in the late-'90s and early-'00s. Now, he runs MythicDrop.com, a premier Diablo 4 fansite.
Sources
| Article | Source | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2019 BlizzCon: The Art of Diablo IV | Blizzard | |
| 2. | Rhykker interviewing David Kim at 2019 BlizzCon | Rhykker | |
| 3. | BlizzConline 2021: Diablo Q&A | Blizzard |
Changelog
| Ver | Change | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Alpha | Added section on gore desensitization | |
 |
Alpha | Published original |
