Diablo 4's first major DLC, Vessel of Hatred, attempts to breathe new life into the game with a new region, a new class, and a host of gameplay changes. While it delivers some fun and engaging content, the question remains: is it worth the $40 price tag, especially when compared to expansions like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty? Let's delve into the details.
A Familiar Story, A New Location
The expansion takes players to the familiar region of Nahantu, a locale Diablo 2 veterans will instantly recognize. The story, however, treads familiar ground, sticking to the classic "good versus evil" trope that's a staple of the franchise. The campaign itself is disappointingly short, clocking in at around 5-6 hours, and feels more like a prologue to a larger narrative that will likely be continued in future DLC.
Exploring Nahantu: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Despite the lackluster campaign, exploring Nahantu offers some enjoyable moments. Long-time Diablo fans will appreciate the callbacks to iconic locations, and the new strongholds and legacy dungeons provide a decent challenge. However, the absence of a new world boss and the somewhat underwhelming rewards for finding Tenets of Akarat feel like missed opportunities to truly enhance the experience.
Revamped Itemization and Difficulty
Vessel of Hatred introduces a revamped itemization system, with Ancestral Legendaries offering more power and flexibility. Players can also now craft specific Mythic Uniques, providing a new path for chasing those elusive items. The difficulty system has also undergone a significant overhaul, with mobs scaling dynamically to your chosen difficulty level. While this provides more control for players, it arguably diminishes the sense of character progression that defines the ARPG genre.
New Mechanics: Runes and Mercenaries
Runes add an interesting layer of customization, allowing you to augment your skills with various additional effects. While not as impactful as their counterparts in Diablo 2, mercenaries provide valuable support in combat and a unique bartering system that adds depth to the endgame.
The Spiritborn: Powerful But Uninspired
The new Spiritborn class, a hybrid of Rogue, Barbarian, and Necromancer elements, offers a fun and undeniably powerful playstyle. However, it lacks a clear identity and feels somewhat overpowered compared to other classes.
Verdict: A Step in the Right Direction, But Not Quite There
Vessel of Hatred introduces some welcome changes and additions to Diablo 4. However, the short campaign, lack of significant rewards in the new region, and the overpowered nature of the Spiritborn leave much to be desired. While the expansion represents a step in the right direction, Diablo 4 still needs significant improvements to its core gameplay loop and overall design to truly live up to its potential.
The $40 price tag feels somewhat steep for the content offered, especially compared to other AAA expansions. Casual players are advised to wait for a sale, while even seasoned Diablo veterans might be left feeling underwhelmed.
