DLC Review: Diablo IV – Vessel of Hatred
This is a review that I should have posted quite some time ago. I apologize wholeheartedly for the delay. But, as you know, sometimes real life has a way of robbing us of our free time. But, all that aside, today I’m going to discuss the first DLC expansion for Diablo IV, Vessel of Hatred.
As is always the case with modern games, Vessel of Hatred comes in three varieties: a Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Ultimate Edition. Thankfully, the differences between these options follow the original Diablo IV release model. Anything above Standard simply includes additional cosmetic items and a free battle pass. You can rest easy and know that the Standard Edition will give you full access to all of the new content this expansion has to offer, with the exception of a few vanity pets and outfits.
As an expansion, Vessel of Hatred requires the base Diablo IV game in order to play. It integrates itself perfectly into the existing game, adding a new playable class (Spiritborn) and an entire new region to explore. As you might expect, this new region introduces a ton of new lore and a handful of new quests to the main storyline. Naturally, there’s also a slew of optional side quests, dungeons, cellars, events, etc, that are introduced to the game via this expansion as well. One of the big selling points in this add-on is the inclusion of a new co-op endgame dungeon, the Dark Citadel.
Aside from just adding new content, Vessel of Hatred also updates a number of existing mechanics from the original game. Among these are a new level cap, adjustments to the game’s difficulty system, revisions to the Paragon system, and even an entirely new Party Finder – to making grouping up with other players easier than ever before.
Naturally, the one new addition that garners the most attention is the inclusion of the Spirtborn class. This is an entirely new class that’s never been seen before in the series. It’s custom-made for the new region that’s introduced in the expansion. In case I didn’t mention it, the new area has a very “South-American” theme to it. The people in this new area are very tribal and the vast majority of the new region consists of a densely packed jungles. This new class fits in with that aesthetic quite perfectly. When it comes to playstyle, the Spiritborn is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. It’s a close-ranged melee class, but one that’s extremely customizable. The class also allows players to summon a number of guardian animal spirits to help on the battlefield. Each spirit influences the way the class handles to a very large degree. This makes playing a Spiritborn anything but routine. I wasn’t sure what to think about this class when it first announced, but having had some time to try it for myself, I have to say that I’m quite impressed. I’ve always been a ranged-attacker when playing Diablo, but this class might change my mind. It’s that intriguing.
Looking past the new class and the quality of life changes, Vessel of Hatred is very much more of the same. I suppose some people will find fault with that. But honestly, the Diablo IV formula has worked very well so far, so I don’t see a big need to change it too much. For me, this expansion seemed to breathe little life into a game that I had largely forgotten about and it kept me playing for several months. Sadly, the friends that I played the game with at launch didn’t seem particularly enticed by the expansion, as none of them game back to give it a try. Even so, Vessel of Hatred does its job so well, that it’s now almost inseparable from the main game. The majority of those who are still playing Diablo IV are also playing Vessel of Hatred. In fact, the base game is now sold with the expansion for a single price – as it should be.
If you’re an existing Diablo IV player who purchased the base game at launch, upgrading to this expansion is highly recommended. It is the definitive Diablo IV experience.
Overall Impression: All things considered, this is a pretty solid expansion. The new additions and refinements expand on the existing game and keep it feeling fresh and fun.
Value: Those of us that played Diablo IV from the beginning have to shell out the price of a new game for this additional content, which sort of sucks. Whereas new players can get it at a discounted price. The Standard Edition of this expansion is $40, The Deluxe is $60, and the Ultimate is $90. Add that to the whatever you paid for the base game. – New players can snag the Standard Bundle for discounted price of around $70 (when not on sale). With this in mind, the bundle deal is definitely the way to go.
Main Game: Diablo IV
Other Reviews In This Series:
Diablo – Diablo II (Resurrected) (Reign of the Warlock) – Diablo III – (Reaper of Souls) – Diablo IV – (Vessel of Hatred)
