Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

“Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is a bit of a disappointment. After the story finishes, it feels like little has changed, though the structural systems of the game have had some upheaval. You hit max level far quicker now and, once you do, the fun of looting will evaporate for all but the most hardcore and dedicated loot hunters. Meanwhile, there's spam to buy loot in the chat constantly, the party finder invariably puts me in parties where my lower level character is useless and dies to a sneeze from a passing asthmatic, and the big co-op endgame dungeon doesn't really seem to understand what Diablo is. Why doesn't it seem to understand? Because this is an MMO, not Diablo.”

“A polished, bewitching upgrade that sinks its claws into you - featuring perhaps the best character class in Diablo's history.”

“While unlikely to convert any new adherents, Vessel of Hatred provides plenty of reasons to return to the dark world of Sanctuary. The Spiritborn class is the biggest draw here, but exploring Nahantu and delving into a dark new storyline make Vessel of Hatred worth the entry price.”

“There has been a range of mixed feelings about what Blizzard has put on offer with Vessel of Hatred. Just as the story starts to ramp up, it ends quite abruptly, leaving you with the sour taste of knowing you'll need to pay another $40 next year if you want the conclusion. Some of the new features, like mercenaries, feel a tad underbaked. And the new dungeons are still littered with the same choring events from the base game, with many of the same enemies and even the same layouts in some cases. But, the 4-6 hour story has some incredible highs. The new Spiritborn class is incredibly fun to play, and the game's artwork and music direction continue to be a strong suit for Blizzard. But too much of Vessel of Hatred's base experience is undermined by the story's pacing, which runs you through its major events and new characters with a breakneck cadence. And right at the end, it sends you back to grind out more Helltides and familiar dungeons, begging the question of how much here is actually "new." For every new angle in the endgame loop, there are new bugs and balance issues that frustrate the experience. Blizzard is working fast to correct them, but it's only possible to review what's on offer today, and what's on offer today isn't very polished.”

“Diablo IV: Vessels of Hatred is a showcase of the care Blizzard is putting into the Diablo franchise. It adds everything one would expect from an expansion, opening up a world of possibilities for players looking to get the most out of the title. One might expect a bit more attention to the narrative, but the gameplay remains absolutely incredible.”

“The Vessel of Hatred expansion meaningfully expands on the content offered by Diablo 4 with the game's most exciting class and captivating spins on the dungeon-crawling formula.”

“Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred continues the story of Diablo IV into its next inevitable chapter. The story continues in a satisfying way as players explore the new region of Nahantu. The Spiritborn class is a blast to play, the mix of a martial artist with different Guardian Spirits providing support has potential for numerous viable builds.”

“Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is a worthy adventure and a great reason to head back to Sanctuary - if you ever left in the first place.”

“Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred demonstrates that Blizzard Entertainment is following the right path with its ever-evolving action-RPG. The addition of a new region and class breathe new life into Sanctuary, and smart changes to progression and core systems only improve the baseline experience further. The story could have been more impactful, but this expansion still offers a journey worth taking.”

“The original Diablo 4 campaign ended with a promise that the worst was yet to come, and Vessel of Hatred ends the same way. It gives us a better idea of what that eventuality will look like, and raises the stakes in some pretty compelling ways, but some are going to walk away wishing they’d just waited for the full story to come out before diving back in. I’m glad I didn’t wait though, because I think this might be the moment Diablo 4 finally hooks me.”

“The plot of this expansion doesn't feel all that substantial and pales in comparison to its predecessors in other games in the series. Vessel of Hatred doesn't have the packaging of other expansions and while I appreciate Blizzard taking their time, in the end, if you want to continue with this story, you're going to have to pay again.”

“Without spoiling too much, I'll just say that I would've liked a different, more compelling epilogue to the expansion's storyline, but the new spiritborn class is still a nice addition to the formula and there are plenty of content to enjoy during your stay in Nahantu, if you enjoy some more Diablo IV.”

“Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred has Diablo 4 in its best form yet.”

“Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is a stellar expansion that hits all the right notes, but only feels like the first act to a larger adventure.”

“Vessel of Hatred gives Diablo 4 a beating heart: Compelling characters to root for, creative loot to chase, and fiercely expressive action.”

“Ultimately, however, Vessel of Hatred adds so much to the quality of the game. The story is deep and engaging, and offers many satisfying twists and emotional growth of characters; the Spiritborn class is my new favorite. I am eager to try out other combinations of skills with the Spiritborn and see what else Diablo 4 has to offer in the future.”

“Vessel of Hatred is the expansion that was needed to give a touch of novelty to Diablo IV, let's say exotic. With several substantial contents, a morbid attention to the co-op component and some new features with a strong personality, Vessel of Hatred is a succession of dark adventures and an unmissable expansion for every Diablo IV fan.”