Is the Diablo Prime Evil Collection on Switch Worth It? Absolutely.
As an avid Diablo fan who has put hundreds of hours into these games across PC, console, and now the Nintendo Switch, I can definitively say the Diablo Prime Evil Collection is well worth the $49.99 price tag. With two fully-featured Diablo games, their expansions, and extra goodies all bundled together, this is an incredible value that provides endless hours of demon-slaying action.
In this hands-on guide, I‘ll break down everything included in the collection so you know exactly what you‘re getting. I‘ll share details on the games themselves, how they perform on the Switch, and why I believe this is an essential pickup for hack-and-slash fans new and old alike. Let‘s dive in!
Here‘s Everything You Get in the Diablo Prime Evil Collection:
The Diablo Prime Evil Collection is made up of two major Diablo games along with expansions and extra DLC content:
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Diablo III: Eternal Collection
- Base Diablo III game
- Reaper of Souls expansion
- Rise of the Necromancer DLC
- Exclusive Zelda and Ganondorf transmog items
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Diablo II: Resurrected
- Fully remastered Diablo II
- Lord of Destruction expansion
- Updated visuals, cinematics, music and QOL improvements
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Diablo III: Hatred‘s Grasp Wings DLC – Cosmetic demon wings
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Diablo III: Mephisto Pet DLC – Mephisto companion pet
You‘re getting two complete Diablo games that would normally cost $59.99 each, plus expansions and extras for only $49.99. That‘s incredible value right out of the gate.
Here‘s a detailed breakdown of everything included in the collection so you know exactly what you‘ll be getting…
Diablo III Eternal Collection – The Definitive Modern Diablo Experience
Diablo III had a rocky start on PC back in 2012. Between server issues, the controversial real money auction house, and complaints about simplified gameplay, it‘s safe to say it wasn‘t as well received as previous Diablo games.
However, with the Reaper of Souls expansion and years of updates, Diablo III evolved into an absolutely phenomenal action RPG. Here‘s an overview of everything you‘ll get in the Eternal Collection:
All Five Acts of the Core Diablo III Campaign
This covers 20+ hours of gameplay across five distinct chapters:
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Act I – Takes you through the cursed Tristram Cathedral where Diablo first emerged in the original game. You‘ll battle cultists across New Tristram and learn of the demonic invasion.
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Act II – Brings you to the deserts around Caldeum as you seek out the fallen star that signals Diablo‘s reemergence. Face off against the witch Maghda.
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Act III & IV – Enter the battle-torn city of Bastion‘s Keep and discover the sinister secret behind the Soulstone shards. Fight through the shadows of Heaven itself.
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Act V – Journey to Pandemonium Fortress in the Burning Hells to finally confront the Prime Evil Diablo himself. An epic conclusion.
Diablo III delivered a grand tour across Sanctuary and the High Heavens. The environments and gameplay steadily ramp up in scale as you battle demons, rogue angels, and sinister cultists alike.
Replayable Adventure Mode and Bounties
Once you beat the campaign, Adventure Mode opens up. Here you can freely explore every area and take on randomized Bounty objectives for loot rewards. Adventure Mode adds a ton of replayability through varied challenges and allows you to farm specific items or regions.
Rifts and Nephalem Rifts – Endless Loot Grinding
For maximum loot rewards, take on procedurally generated Rifts that are populated with random enemies from the game. Nephalem Rifts crank up the challenge but offer Legendary items and Blood Shards for gambling even more gear. You‘ll spend hundreds of hours grinding these.
Paragon Levels and Legendary Sets – Always New Goals
Once you hit max level with your class, Paragon levels offer unlimited progression. You can then focus on gathering specific Legendary item sets that unlock new playstyles and push you to higher difficulties. Diablo III has fantastic depth of progression at endgame.
Seven Distinct Class Options Plus the Necromancer
Diablo III launched with six classes – Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, Witch Doctor, Wizard, and Crusader. The Necromancer DLC adds the iconic pet and undead themed class as well. Tons of build variety and playstyles here.
Polished Visuals and Controls Optimized for Console
As a PC gamer first, I used to play Diablo III exclusively with mouse and keyboard. However, the console and Switch version work shockingly well. The controls are tight and intuitive on a gamepad. Plus you get cool controller-triggered moves and effects. Visually it‘s stunning with detailed 3D models and environments.
This covers the key contents of Diablo III Eternal Collection. From the epic campaign to near endless endgame grinding, you‘re looking at hundreds of hours of gameplay under the hood.
Diablo II Resurrected – The Timeless Classic Reborn for a New Generation
After the more divisive launch of Diablo III, Blizzard revisited the franchise‘s roots with a full remaster of the beloved Diablo II and its Lord of Destruction expansion. Let‘s see what awaits in this return to Sanctuary‘s dark, gothic roots:
Faithfully Preserved Iconic Gameplay & Setting
I still have fond memories exploring the eerie world, dangerous dungeons, and monster lairs 20+ years ago. Diablo II Resurrected retains the classic gameplay while enhancing the graphics and presentation. Blizzard took great care to maintain the feel of vintage Diablo.
The music also received a full remaster with live orchestra recordings. Hearing the haunting Tristram theme with actual strings and brass gives me chills.
Five Distinct, Deeply Customizable Character Classes
One of Diablo II‘s strengths was the extent you could customize your character through skills and attribute points. The five classes each have deep skill trees:
- Amazon – Ranged fighter specializing in bows and javelins
- Barbarian – Melee berserker who wields giant axes and swords
- Necromancer – Commands the dead and poisons foes
- Paladin – Holy warrior adept at defense and auras
- Sorceress – Elemental magic master skilled in fire, cold and lightning
I‘ve replayed Diablo II over a dozen times experimenting with new class builds and skill combinations.
Addictive, Impactful Loot System
While Diablo III expanded into crazy Legendary effects, Diablo II‘s loot system sticks to grim, gothic themes. Sets like Tal Rasha‘s Wrappings and unique items like The Grandfather sword feel impactful.
Runewords add another layer where socketing certain runes into items grants big bonuses. Legendaries like Enigma and Infinity enable completely new builds. The loot grind is incredibly rewarding.
Timeless Visuals Enhanced with Modern Tech
The 2D sprite graphics have held up remarkably well, but Diablo II Resurrected takes it to the next level. You can toggle between the classic and new visuals with a button press. The fully 3D models and environments look incredible while retaining the dark atmosphere. Plus you get support for 4K resolution and dynamic lighting.
It‘s a treat both for Diablo veterans and newcomers experiencing it for the first time.
Performance on Nintendo Switch – How Do These Games Run In Handheld Mode?
Let‘s get into the technical details on how both these games perform when playing in handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch:
Diablo III Eternal Collection
- Target Performance: 60 FPS docked and undocked
- Resolution: Dynamic scaling, stays crisp in handheld
- Loading: Comparable to PS4 and Xbox One
Diablo III runs buttery smooth at 60 FPS in all modes. The dynamic resolution will occasionally dip when things get hectic, but recovers quickly while still looking great on the smaller screen. Load times are roughly on par with other platforms and entering rifts or town portals feels snappy.
Couch co-op holds up nicely aside from minor framerate dips when too many effects are overlapping in Greater Rifts. But general exploration, bounties, and rifts perform excellently – perfect for on-the-go demon slaying.
Diablo II Resurrected
- Target Performance: 30 FPS handheld/900p docked
- Resolution: 720p handheld, scales down to 480p temporarily
- Visuals: Detailed and atmospheric, excellent 3D lighting
For an older title, Diablo II Resurrected impresses with detailed 3D models and environments stretched across the Switch‘s compact screen. It runs smoothly at 30 FPS making the combat feel responsive.
Local co-op can tax the system leading to framerate drops, but the core visuals and gameplay hold up. It‘s a remarkable port that stays true to the dark gothic tones.
Both titles push the Switch‘s capabilities while providing a great handheld experience. Between casual bounties or short rift runs on Diablo III or dungeon diving in Diablo II, these are ideal pick-up-and-play titles for gaming on the go.
Breaking Down the Value – You‘d Be Crazy Not To Pick This Up
To recap, here‘s everything you‘re getting in one tidy package for just $49.99:
- Diablo III + Reaper of Souls + Necromancer DLC
- Diablo II + Lord of Destruction Expansion
- Exclusive transmog items
- Two DLC cosmetic packs
Considering Diablo III Eternal alone is priced at $59.99 and Diablo II Resurrected at $39.99, you‘re essentially getting both flagship Diablo experiences and change back from a $50 bill. That‘s bonkers value.
I‘m a huge Diablo fan – I‘ve purchased Diablo III across 3 platforms and sunk 500+ hours into it. I also own various versions of Diablo II dating back to the early 2000s. Yet I happily paid full price for the Prime Evil Collection.
For new fans or anyone even remotely interested in ARPGs, paying $10 less than the normal asking price of Diablo III for two full Diablo games and expansions is an absolute no brainer. This is quite frankly the best valued bundle I‘ve ever seen in gaming.
An Essential Pickup – Here‘s Why You Should Buy This Collection
As you can tell, I‘m pretty enthusiastic about the Diablo Prime Evil Collection. Here‘s a quick rundown of why I think this is a must-own title for all Switch owners:
- Incredible value – Two full Diablo games for cheaper than Diablo III alone
- Hundreds of hours of content – Massive replayability across two games
- Genre classics – Experience both modern and retro Diablo
- Great performance – Smooth framerates for handheld demon slaying
- Perfect for on-the-go – Great in short bursts or long play sessions
- Couch co-op – Adventure with friends on one Switch
- Awesome extras – DLC wings, pets, transmogs all included
As a hardcore Diablo fan, I find myself gaming on the Switch more than my high-end PC these days due to the portability and convenience factor. And the ability to seamlessly transition between Diablo III rift runs and nostalgic Diablo II dungeon dives is a dream come true.
For genre newcomers, this collection lets you experience both the modern refinement of Diablo III and the vintage gothic appeal of Diablo II. Whichever you prefer, hundreds of hours of content await.
At the crazy value of $49.99 with two full loot-filled RPGs, the Diablo Prime Evil Collection is an absolute must-own title. This will be the next permanent fixture in your Switch library, trust me.
The Bottom Line – Absolutely Get This If You Have Any Interest in Diablo
Let‘s recap why the Diablo Prime Evil Collection on Nintendo Switch is totally worth it:
- Unbelievable value – two full Diablo games for under $50
- Diablo III Eternal – The pinnacle of modern Diablo with silky combat
- Diablo II Resurrected – A gorgeously restored classic ARPG gem
- Hundreds of hours of content across both titles
- Fantastic performance even in handheld mode
- Couch co-op support to slay demons with friends
- Appealing to veterans and newcomers alike
As both a lifelong Diablo fan and an avid Switch owner, I couldn‘t possibly recommend the Prime Evil Collection more. For any ARPG enthusiasts, this purchase is a complete no-brainer.
Even for those new to the genre, this provides hundreds of hours of content at an unbeatable price. If you own a Switch, do yourself a favor and pick this up – you won‘t regret it!
Let me know if you have any other questions about what‘s included or how these iconic games play on the Switch. Until then, stay awhile and listen…the demons of Sanctuary await!