As a loot-based game, Diablo 4 draws heavily upon elements of chance. This approach isn't perfect, especially in today's age of live-services and ethically questionable gacha experiences, but it can help make games like Diablo 4 a lot more interesting, leveraging FOMO to spur players forward and further engage with its mechanics.
But this reliance on chance can be somewhat controversial, and a lot of players, especially those who may prefer more structured or single-player RPGs, may find such randomness more annoying than fun. Nowhere is this conflict clearer than in Diablo 4's various Treasure Goblins who, as their name suggests, run amok throughout the map carrying sacks of loot. A slew of new Treasure Goblin types were introduced during this Spring's March of the Goblins event, including Fancy Old Fedric, AKA the purple Treasure Goblin. Fedric drops Mythic items and a Resplendent Spark, making him an appealing target indeed. The only issue is that he is unbelievably rare—potentially one of the rarest NPCs in gaming history—and few players have actually seen him. This rarity can make hunting Fedric difficult, but it's not the goblin's biggest issue.
Although new goblins like Fancy Old Fedric were introduced during the March of the Goblins event, during which they were more common, they are all permanent additions to Diablo 4.
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Diablo 4's Fancy Old Fedric Is Hard to Spot—Literally
Fancy Old Fedric's Purple-Ness Makes Him Overly Slippery
Fancy Old Fedric, as previously mentioned, is only part of several new Treasure Goblins added to Diablo 4 this year. The other Goblins, including the purple Curious Murl and blue Gelatinous Syrus, are much more common, and this poses a problem. A player could easily mistake either of these Goblins, but especially Curious Murl, for Fancy Old Fedric, as their hues are remarkably similar. Considering that these Goblins are typically on the move, and have a tendency to show up in mobs of other enemies, this lack of visual distinction is a problem.
Anyone could be forgiven for confusing Curious Murl's shade of purple for Fancy Old Fedric's, especially since the latter is so rare; players might not be on constant lookout for him, nor will they have a strong idea of what he looks like firsthand. Remember, Fedric is so rare that most have never seen him, so the overwhelming majority of players probably won't immediately recognize him even if they do cross his path.
But the problem could be even worse for players hard of sight or colorblind. For these players, the negligible visual differences between Fedric and a Goblin like Murl constitute an accessibility issue. Naturally, not every potential accessibility problem can be fixed, but the case of Fancy Old Fedric seems like an especially egregious one, especially since it would be so easy to fix.
How Diablo 4 Can Make Fancy Old Fedric a Bit More Enjoyable
There are a handful of ways that Blizzard could address the color-related problems of Fancy Old Fedric, the most obvious of which being a simple change in color or design. A Diablo 4 update could change Fedric's palette, pattern, or size, or add any number of other visual effects or elements to make him stand out from his "colleagues."
Alternatively, Blizzard could make Fancy Old Fedric less rare. This would make missing him less of a blow, and the demand for attention-to-detail less frustrating. Of course, this would also undermine the community-rooted mythology surrounding the character and the hype around actually discovering him, but discovering him would actually seem feasible. As it stands, a lot of players might write off an encounter with Fedric due to its rarity, or otherwise blow right past him because of his indistinguishability.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
