So, you patiently waited for the PS4/XO version of Diablo III, or Diablo III Reaper of Souls: Ultimate Evil Edition if we’re going with the full name. This new edition is stuffed with extra content, like the Reaper of Souls expansion, but you’re going to have to do some serious levelling before you can look the reaper in the eye.

For those of you that didn’t play the original Diablo III to death two years ago, we’ve put together seven top tips for all you new adventurers out there to make your life that little bit easier. Naturally, we’d love to hear any hints you might have whether you’re a Diablo regular or a newb with a hot tip.

Pick a simple class first

The Barbarian is the simplest class to start with, as they’re more melee-focused compared to the fancy-pants wizards. Why not take advantage of the Crusader though for added depth? The Crusaders are playable for the whole game now, after previously only being available in the expansion. Go on, they’re pretty badass.

Equip a range of skills

Try to ensure your moves can cope with a wide range of foes and positions. For example, my Crusader has a close-range swipe, a generously arcing flail attack to hit multiple enemies and a ranged attack that uses lightning to connect to nearby targets too. Having a move like a dashing shield bash is great for pushing through groups and there are usually some options to briefly stun or blind foes, giving you the chance to move back or get in a few unanswered strikes. Be sure to have a rich blend of attacks that generate and use the energy source required for specials (Wrath for Crusaders, Fury for Barbarians and so on) so you can flow between styles with ease.

Dodge roll!

Sometimes you can get a little too comfortable taking on wave after wave of enemies when you’re tooled up to the nines. But then tougher enemies appear or a boss starts kicking your ass. Well don’t forget to dodge! The console version of the game has a unique dodge roll assigned to the right stick, so be sure to look out for telltale signs of enemies gearing up for powerful strikes or use the roll to avoid ice bombs or fiery traps from the grating underfoot.

Adjust difficulty

The harder the setting the greater the XP rewards. So experiment with the settings to find a healthy balance of challenge vs reward. If you’re wading through most enemies with a couple of strikes, you should probably consider upping the difficulty. Seeing as you can do it from the pause menu at any time, there’s really no excuse. Go on, level 70 is a long way off.

Spoil your followers with loot

Early on in the game you can recruit followers when playing solo, giving you an AI companion to take into battle. There are certain weapons, rings and armour you can equip them with, so don’t sell/salvage everything that’s no longer of use to you as they could prove a big boost to a follower’s armour and damage output. Don’t forget to check out his equipable abilities too, many of them can provide vital health top ups.

Don’t buy weapons or armour!

Items in the shops pale in comparison to what you’ll find out on your adventures for free, so don’t waste any money in the stores. Save it for levelling up your local blacksmith in the hope that he’ll one day be able to forge something useful for you. It’s always handy to have a bag full of health potions from your local dealer too.

Play with friends

The AI followers are handy in a scrap, but they’ll never be as reliable as a friend. Diablo III is terrific fun in multiplayer online with games accommodating up to four players. I had the most fun playing local couch co-op though. Your friends are able to sign-in with their own PSN ID and they’ll even earn trophies at the same time. They can take their progress into their own save file too if they want to play alone and continue from where they left off. Be sure to have an agreement on how often to stop and play around with your gear setup as only one of you can do it at a time when playing locally, leaving the other person waiting around. You can also keep an eye on the mini details pop-up near your health when you pick up an item which gives you a rough indication of an item’s stats in comparison to the one currently equipped, which should stop the urge to stop and examine every piece you pick up. Maybe.