Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition Review Roundup

Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is now available on consoles, bringing Diablo III to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for the first time and expanding the experience already available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. While many of the changes seen in Ultimate Evil Edition (which consists of Diablo III and the Reaper of Souls expansion) have already been available on PC for some time, this is in many ways a different game on consoles; as such, we've gathered up some of the first reviews for your below.

Among the biggest changes and additions in Reaper of Souls are the increased level cap (it's now 70), the Crusader class, Adventure mode (providing a much different way to play), and a fifth act (complete with new enemies, areas, and items). There's a huge amount of content here, and Blizzard has committed to releasing regular updates for the Xbox One and PS4 versions in the future.

Those who have played the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions have the option of transferring their progress to their choice of the Xbox One and PS4 versions. Both current-gen versions run at 1080p, thanks to the release of a patch for the Xbox One version that brings its resolution up to par with its PS4 counterpart.

Check out the first sampling of reviews below. For more, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

• Game: Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition
• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3
• Release Date: August 19
• Price: $59.99 (Xbox One, PS4); $39.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)

GameSpot -- 9/10

"Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition feels like the happy conclusion of a two-year public beta, with the initial purchasers on PC bearing much of the grief with the auction house and the slow pace to reach level 60. Those who have held off up to this point will benefit the most, while those who got a head start on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 versions will be able to transfer their saves to their new gen console of choice. It's just a shame that some newcomers won't appreciate what the early adopters went through to make the fantastic game it is today." [Full review]

Quarter to Three -- 5/5

"This latest release, glumly named the 'Ultimate Evil Edition,' for next-gen systems includes all the awesome stuff from Reaper of Souls that finally upgraded Diablo III from a game I really liked to a game I loved. Now it's here on the platform of choice for local gatherings and couch gamers, and it's even got a few lagniappes that the PC version doesn't get. New rewards for killstreaks, gifts to send along to your friends list, a nasty nemesis that dogs you and your friends just to remind you all that, hey, you're each still playing Diablo III even though it came out two years ago and this is probably your fiftieth time killing the skeleton king. That's the real magic of effective entertainment, executed so carefully, so precisely by the folks at Blizzard: familiarity that isn't stale." [Full review]

USGamer -- 5/5

"In many respects, D3 is unabashedly old-school, yet is imbued with enough modern niceties and oomph to compete with any contemporary game. Even though much of it feels straight out of the 90s, it's still thoroughly riveting. Whatever class you pick, and wherever you go, you'll have an endless parade of stuff to kill, and a variety of entertaining options to help you do the deed, whether you're casting crazy Witch Doctor swarms, or smashing through things with a Barbarian's heavy arsenal." [Full review]

Giant Bomb -- 4/5

"It's great with a group and fine if you're playing alone, but I'd still say that, if you're able, the PC version is the one to get unless you're specifically looking for a local co-op mode. Barring that, though, the console versions of Diablo III are well-built and adapted to a controller quite well, so at some point it becomes a matter of preference. If you're excited about the genre and love to smash enemies to watch a series of numbers go up as you collect better and better gear, this is a good way to fulfill those needs." [Full review]

The Escapist -- 4.5/5

"A fantastic dungeon-crawler that is still mercilessly addictive two years after the fact, Diablo III turns out to be a surprisingly good console fit. Most of the content will have been seen before if you have a prior version though, so don't feel pressured to rush out and get it." [Full review]

Official Xbox Magazine -- 8/10

"Ultimate Evil Edition is full of great ideas and wonderful refinements: it wants you to want to play it, and it makes itself as open as it can to doing so. For those that have played Diablo III to death and yearn to explore the fifth act, Ultimate Evil Edition is a no-brainer. The same unconditional recommendation applies to total newcomers, especially those with friends (or in a pinch, someone who will kindly press and hold the A button on a second controller from time to time). But if you're in the middle, a person with experience who's starting a new class, the early stages will be a cakewalk. Grind and bear it. Ride the hamster wheel. In the end, Diablo can take over your life. You don't even have to have a pre-existing tendency for dungeon crawlers to 'get' its appeal. Crank it up to the toughest setting you can and don't look back." [Full review]