It's only been a year since the release of Diablo IV, but if you've gotten tired of the grind for more power, now might just be the best time to dive back into the fray. The release of Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred should reignite some passion for the game, as it comes with sweeping changes that make it feel like a more whole, comprehensive experience.
Continuing just about right where the previous campaign ended, players will once again have a pivotal role in the history of the Sanctuary. Along with said sweeping changes come brand new inclusions like the jungle of Nahantu, as well as the Spiritborn, which might just be the most fun you'll have with a Diablo class yet.
The Fate of Sanctuary Continues in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
Some players are here for purely the loot, but me? I'm all about Diablo IV's story. I'm pleased to see it continue in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, because it's clear Blizzard has much more to say in this saga. Old characters make an appearance, while new ones take the spotlight during key moments in the story.
While most of Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred takes place within a brand new, jungle zone of the map called Nahantu, you'll begin the story in Kyovashad. Here, we'll get a first-hand look at the direct consequences of the battle that took place in Hell in the previous campaign. There's a new, fanatical sect of the Holy Cathedral that takes a critical look at religious fanaticism.
As I said, Nahantu is the main setting, so we don't see all that much of this fanatical sect. Seeing a rift between different parts of the Cathedral could be an intriguing topic to explore, but this particular plotline feels a little underbaked. That said, Nahantu is and always was the main focus, and we'll spend just about the whole campaign within the confines of this new area.
This jungle is also home to the Spiritborn, so it thematically coincides with this expansion's brand new class. I was captivated by the worldbuilding of Nahantu, and I couldn't help but admire the various inhabitants and settlements -- it feels culturally distinct from the likes of Kyovashad and Ked Bardu -- and it's almost as if the jungle itself is a character of its own.
One of Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred's main characters is Eru, a Spiritborn and also a leader among his people. Voiced by the talented Lou Diamond Phillips, Eru is a complicated but likable character who does a lot to elevate the appeal of the story.
I'm trying to be very vague here so as not to spoil, but despite liking the setting and characters, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred's story failed to captivate me as much as the main campaign. Many of the main quests felt a bit like filler, in that you arrive at your destination, only to find you need to complete another objective first. There's meandering that seems like padding, rather than serving the narrative.
Welcome to the Jungle
As for Nahantu itself, it's a beautiful and lush jungle full of dangerous monsters with corruption setting in, threatening those who live within. Nahantu is Diablo IV's best area yet, trumping the marshy wetlands of Hawezar and the snowy plains of the Fractured Peaks. It's very fun to explore because it feels like a jungle, in that there are so many winding pathways and hidden secrets.
Blizzard certainly knocks it out of the park in terms of visual presentation. If you're brave enough to knock those graphics up high, the intricate details of the various ziggurat-like structures along with reflections from the rain of the damp jungle -- well, it's a visual treat -- not to mention an auditory treat for the ears with its soundtrack.
We don't quite reach the same highs as the original campaign in terms of bombastic visual moments, and there are fewer cinematics (to be fair, it is an expansion, and not a full game), but there are several key sequences that are breathtaking. I only wish the tone and look of the jungle was a bit darker, as it errs more towards the side of Diablo III rather than Diablo II.
Diablo IV's Best Character Class Yet?
Before Diablo IV launched, class fantasy was a big focus for Blizzard. While the classes in the base campaign were fun, I didn't gravitate toward anyone in particular. After playing Vessel of Hatred's Spiritborn, I'm convinced this is my main for as long as the servers remain up.
In terms of capturing that class fantasy, yes, Spiritborn absolutely delivers. It helps that Nahantu, an area inhabited by other Spiritborn, is the focus of the story, but in terms of abilities, the various, beautifully rendered spell effects reflect the immense amount of power a Spiritborn draws from.
With four main spirits: Jaguar, Eagle, Gorilla, and Centipede, and abilities revolving around these aspects, it's easy to craft a build with Spiritborn. I opted for Eagle, which is this highly mobile, evasive class that uses lightning-based attacks and spectral feathers. Others, like Centipede, will focus on poison, so it's very easy to tune your build around a specific spirit.
However, Spiritborn is highly versatile in that there are advantages to mixing and matching the various spirits, meaning you can have a Gorilla/Jaguar-based build, or an Eagle/Jaguar build. There are certain abilities and legendary affixes that incentivize this mixing and matching, meaning there is potential for a ton of variation while still remaining viable.
Complementing your build are mercenaries, not unlike those in Diablo III. You're able to unlock them via a questline, so mercs are unique characters rather than randomly generated. They come with a skill tree, and said skills will act as a supplement to your own abilities. There's now even more potential for synergies via these trees, leading to so many different possibilities.
One mercenary is active at a time, but another can act as backup. You can dictate how this backup merc acts. So for example, I can make the backup use their ability only when I cast a specific spell, sort of like an "if/then" statement. As one might expect, this leads to potentially enhancing your own skills by combining them with those of the merc.
I had a lot of fun experimenting with the various legendary affixes for Spiritborn, and I am very interested to see how crazy builds can get once other players have a chance to use this class. The review build, I'm told, was a little more difficult than intended, so I'm hoping classes perform a bit better at launch. Nonetheless, the difficulty is nothing a bit of grinding for loot can't overcome.
And if you're grinding for loot, well, you're in for a plethora of options -- it may as well be a buffet. There's Dark Citadel, a cooperative-only mode players can run with friends. It requires more coordination so it's akin to a dungeon or raid in an MMO. I didn't get a chance to test this one, but it seems to have been received positively by other reviewers playing.
If you're more of a solo player like me, don't fret: There are other options. Kurast Undercity is a time-attack mode that asks players to frantically fight through a few tiers of a dungeon, accumulating greater rewards along the way. Build up attunement to get the biggest reward, though said reward is only granted after killing the boss at the end.
Undercity was fun, if a bit thematically repetitive. It felt like a Greater Rift from Diablo III; essentially, a race against the clock while fighting droves of enemies. I could see myself going through this a lot at launch, but it's my hope it remains rewarding even in the higher tiers of difficulty.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Review | Final Thoughts
There's so much more to Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred that it's almost overwhelming; one may as well call it a brand new game. On top of existing content from various seasons, there's a new level cap, different ways to enhance gear, Paragon level changes, new abilities for existing classes, and... look, we'd be here all day if I had to go over everything. Rest assured, said changes make Diablo IV feel fresh.
Diablo IV is in a good place, and Vessel of Hatred contributes to that immensely. The story isn't as strong as the original, but most people are staying for the grind for better loot. On that end, it won't disappoint. If I had to guess, Diablo IV is going to be remembered fondly, so long as we keep getting more quality content like Vessel of Hatred.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred was reviewed on PC and PS5 with a copy provided by the publisher over the course of 25 hours of gameplay - all screenshots were taken during the process of review.
Review Summary
Pros
- Nahantu Looks and Sounds Beautiful
- Spiritborn is a Great New Class
- An Almost Overwhelming Amount of Improvements
- More Endgame Content
Cons
- Story Didn't Captivate As Much As Other Diablo Stories
- Feels Lighter in Tone than the Diablo Standard