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Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Review (BattleNet/PC)

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Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Review, Uncover what evil lies ahead in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred. Battle as the all-new Spiritborn class and embrace the mystical Spirits entwined with Nahantu’s ancient civilizations. Continue your fight to thwart the diabolical plot of the Prime Evil, Mephisto. Expand your map to the new region of Nahantu and traverse through its lush jungles. Recruit new mercenaries to fight alongside you, and take on new enemies, dungeons, PvE co-op challenges, and more. Plus, explore a plethora of base game updates that will introduce new power and continue to enhance the world of Diablo IV.

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Review Pros:

  • Gorgeous graphics.
  • 119GB download size but this does include the base game.
  • New own in-game achievements.
  • Full controller support.
  • New Spiritborn class with eight presets for the character creation, you can do further customisation though.
  • ARPG gameplay.
  • A new area called Nahantu looks fantastic from the above-ground jungle world to the underground tombs and dungeons.
  • Powerful memorable soundtrack.
  • Cutscenes still look like a top-tier movie, you also get in-game interactions and set pieces.
  • Amazing-looking bosses and new enemy types.
  • The new class Spiritborn is a real game-changer.
  • I like how the different animal essences your Spiritborn uses are color-coded to help you keep to the one essence though you are free to mix and match.
  • As you hit level 20 you do a special one-off quest the Spirit Hall which delves into the Spiritborn class, you learn the origins and unlock passive skills which again can be changed.
  • The Spirit Hall event can be played in co-op.
  • A new skill tree for your character and you can refund points and sell back certain unlocks at will.
  • A lot of optional lore can be found around the world.
  • The DLC story is really good and does continue the story amd references previous events.
  • Nahantu has to be discovered and revealed, you get the map bonuses for this like before so extra potion uses, bonus exp, etc for discovering everything.
  • New memorable characters that aid you on your journey.
  • Mercenaries can be unlocked and this is an old Diablo 3 mechanic. You can (when playing solo) hire a mercenary to play alongside you, each offers unique abilities and attacks and can buff you.
  • Quests are all split up into areas and styles of quests like main story, optional side missions, class-specific quests, etc.
  • I’ll mention it as it’s across both the game and DLC but the auto pin objective option is a game-changer! Now you can just keep plowing on with the story without worrying about finding the objective on the map amd then clicking back.
  • In Coop, each player gets a color dot under their name and that is what color their pin and trail are as you can see every player’s pin line.
  • Many secrets and points of interest to find in the Nahantu region.
  • Really memorable set pieces and sequences.
  • In Co-op, if your players have auto pin enabled it will take from the host’s progress and match it.
  • Nahantu is not just jungle mind, it has a corruption washed over it that makes it look spectacular but also brings in other enemy types.
  • You can not only use your mount on town, you can also use your speed boost now.
  • Zakarum remnant is a seperate faction that you level up by collecting fragments from Realmwalker portal events.
  • The Undercity gets unlocked and is a new high replayability activity whereby you have to light braziers, and kill enemies, all whilst the timer goes down, killing elites and certain bosses can reward more time. A loot chest is given at the end and you level it up by killing enemies.
  • Each mercenary is unique but you have to do a quest to recruit each one.
  • New level cap – 60.
  • The Pit of Artificers is a new endgame mode, You need to kill enemies within a time limit to trigger the boss fight, it is like an updated take on the Rifts system in Diablo 3.
  • You can do more upgrading and customizing with your Paragon glyphs and use nightmare modifiers for the Pit of Artificers.

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Review Cons:

  • Still has a lot of missions that are just standing here and fighting waves of enemies for very little payoff.
  • A detailed or brief pop-up of what’s new since the last time you played Diablo 4 would have been good.
  • As is always the case, learning a new character takes a long time.
  • Bullet sponge boss fights are annoying anyway but here they do that and add in ones that disappear and go invulnerable so tedious builds.
  • The Zakuram Remnant activity is just a re-skin of the last time they did this with the Wolf camp.
  • You never get a screen saying the DLC is complete.
  • Lag is very bad, built-up areas mean objects and enemies wouldn’t spawn in or it would just pop in. I know it’s because it’s new but it makes the experience really rough.

Related Post: Predator Hunting Grounds Yautja Edition Review (Steam)

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred:

Official website.

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment

Store Links –

BattleNet

  • 9/10
    Graphics - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Sound - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Accessibility - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Length - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Fun Factor - 9/10
9/10

Summary

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred impresses with its gorgeous graphics and a substantial 119GB download size that includes the base game. The game introduces new in-game achievements and offers full controller support, enhancing the overall experience. The addition of the Spiritborn class, with eight presets for character creation and further customization options, is a significant highlight. The ARPG gameplay remains engaging, and the new area, Nahantu, is visually stunning, featuring diverse environments from above-ground jungles to underground tombs and dungeons. The powerful and memorable soundtrack, along with top-tier movie-like cutscenes and in-game interactions, adds to the immersive experience. The bosses and new enemy types are visually impressive, and the Spiritborn class, with its color-coded animal essences, offers a unique gameplay dynamic. The special quest, Spirit Hall, available at level 20, delves into the Spiritborn class’s origins and unlocks passive skills, which can be changed. This event can also be played in co-op mode.

The game introduces a new skill tree for character development, allowing players to refund points and sell back certain unlocks. Optional lore scattered around the world enriches the narrative, and the DLC story continues the main storyline while referencing previous events. Nahantu, which needs to be discovered and revealed, offers map bonuses for exploration, such as extra potion uses and bonus experience points. New memorable characters aid players on their journey, and the reintroduction of mercenaries from Diablo 3 adds a nostalgic touch. These mercenaries, each with unique abilities and attacks, can be hired to play alongside solo players. Quests are categorized into main story, optional side missions, and class-specific quests, providing variety in gameplay. The auto pin objective option is a game-changer, allowing players to focus on the story without constantly checking the map. In co-op mode, each player gets a color dot under their name, matching their pin and trail color, enhancing coordination.

Nahantu is not just a jungle; it has a corruption that adds a spectacular visual element and introduces new enemy types. Players can use their mounts in town and benefit from a speed boost. The Zakarum remnant is a separate faction that players level up by collecting fragments from Realmwalker portal events. The Undercity, a new high replayability activity, involves lighting braziers and killing enemies within a timer, with rewards for killing elites and bosses. Each mercenary requires a quest to recruit, adding depth to the gameplay. The new level cap is set at 60, and the Pit of Artificers, a new endgame mode, challenges players to kill enemies within a time limit to trigger a boss fight, similar to the Rifts system in Diablo 3. Players can further upgrade and customize their Paragon glyphs and use nightmare modifiers in this mode.

However, the game has its drawbacks. Many missions involve standing and fighting waves of enemies for minimal payoff. A detailed or brief pop-up of what’s new since the last play session would have been helpful. Learning a new character takes a considerable amount of time, and bullet sponge boss fights, especially those that disappear and become invulnerable, can be tedious. The Zakarum Remnant activity feels like a re-skin of a previous event, and there is no screen indicating the completion of the DLC. Lag issues are significant, with built-up areas causing objects and enemies to spawn slowly or pop in unexpectedly.

In summary, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred offers a visually stunning and immersive experience with its new Spiritborn class, engaging ARPG gameplay, and the visually diverse Nahantu area. The game introduces several new features and improvements, such as the auto-pin objective option and the reintroduction of mercenaries. However, it also has some drawbacks, including repetitive missions, lag issues, and tedious boss fights. Despite these issues, the game provides a rich and enjoyable experience for fans of the series.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!