Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred comes a little over a year after the initial launch of Diablo IV and adds a significant chunk to that base game, akin to something like the expansions that came to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt back in 2015.
This is my first time dabbling in a Diablo game, so I had a learning curve as I ran through the base game almost non-stop to get through it all before tackling the DLC.
So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this novice telling you why you should pick this expansion up if you love Diablo IV.
Story and Gameplay
As with any good expansion pack, the game picks up where the base game leaves off. You are hot on the trail of Neyrelle, who had taken Mephisto’s soul stone, and she has fled to the new area of Nahantu, which has been added to the bottom of Sanctuary.
Without spoiling too much of what happens, it does add a significant amount of new plot to the base game with some impressive new characters and solid writing, as you would expect from Diablo.
However, while the actual characters and new area are gorgeous and well done, I was left wanting more. Like the base game, the story of Vessel of Hatred ends on a cliffhanger, as well as on a rather disappointing note.
While the main story of the new campaign is rather short, the other gameplay additions are brilliant. There are slight changes to the levelling and loot systems, which are superbly executed. The added dungeons and side quests do well to bulk out the playing time, and again, they were lots of fun to play and well worth your time.
The biggest addition to this DLC is the mercenary system. As a solo player whose friends do not play Diablo, this helped me get through some of the tougher battles throughout the DLC.
There are four mercenaries to choose from: Veryana, Aldkin, Subo and Rahier. These characters help out massively, and each one has their own introductory quests. The longer you spend with your chosen companion, the more XP you have, and you unlock new abilities and other rewards.
The other major addition is the new customisable class, the Spiritborn. This class combines a focus on long melee weaponry with thematic magic based on four jungle animals (centipede, eagle, gorilla and jaguar). You are free to pick between any or all of the above, with both specialisation and synergy earning great rewards. There is much room for advancement with the level cap now set to 60 and 300 Paragon levels, which are now shared across characters.
Added Area
In my opinion, the new location of Nahantu is my favourite part of the expansion. The artists at Blizzard have outdone themselves with a truly beautiful environment. From the deep jungles of Kurast to the desert of Teganze, it is all done with extreme attention to detail.
Overall, the new area adds to the diverse regions in Diablo IV to make them a worthwhile addition and not just a tacked-on bit just because the designers had to add a new world to facilitate the DLC, which I hope doesn’t sound like absolute waffle now I’ve written it down.
Conclusion
In my humble opinion, this new expansion does do enough to justify its price tag. When I compare it to other big expansion packs I have played in the past (mainly the ones in the Destiny franchise come to mind), it has enough new and innovative features to significantly impact your gameplay experience.
The new class system almost feels like a new way to play the game and a different way of approaching the world itself.
As this was my first foray into the Diablo franchise, whizzing through the base game and then this expansion, I can finally understand the hype these games have received over the years. The world and story built up during the base game is something to behold, and I’m disappointed in myself for not picking it up sooner.
In terms of what the DLC adds, and if I am putting myself in the shoes of a die-hard Diablo player, it is well worth the price of admission and sets up the game’s future in excellent stead.
Developers: Blizzard Entertainment, Blizzard Albany, Team 3
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Release Date: 7th October 2024
Gaming Respawn’s copy of Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred was provided by the publisher.
