Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Reviews
Vessel of Hatred gives Diablo 4 a beating heart: Compelling characters to root for, creative loot to chase, and fiercely expressive action.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred has Diablo 4 in its best form yet.
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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred is a solid expansion that is perhaps not heavy on content but more than makes up for it with many systemic changes that will elevate the whole game for years to come.
Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion offers a compelling new narrative for fans looking to continue the base game’s story. The new Spiritborn class is a joy to behold, and new features like Mercenaries and Runewords are a welcome addition, adding elements from older games that fans have missed.
Vessel of Hatred’s campaign, new region, new class, and new cooperative dungeon all significantly extend the base game’s appeal and depth. If you don’t already enjoy the near-constant, frenetic, often exhilarating, sometimes exhausting combat, Vessel of Hatred isn’t going to win you over no matter how impressive it often is.
If Blizzard turns the tuning screw a bit more here, then Diablo 4 will finally have the endgame it deserves.
Review in German | Read full review
A fantastic expansion with a very compelling set of features, including a new class, a far-better approach to bosses, and a few borrowed elements from their other MMO works. It's a big step in the right direction, and I can't wait to see what's next.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred introduces a wide array of new content and changes, most, if not all of which enhance the experience for the better. The story doesn't quite reach the same highs as the base campaign, but the new class and lots of endgame content should keep players coming back.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred from Blizzard is a worthy expansion that adds more than it subtracts. It continues a great story with compelling characters, introduces a new class, returns mercenaries, and provides additional content, making it more than just a simple DLC release.
Diablo 4 launched with Season 0 just over a year ago now, but with Vessel of Hatred’s release, the game today is nearly unrecognizable. Virtually every system has felt the gentle caress of the quality-of-life bat, and the game is far better suited for it. Season 6, the one just before the expansion’s launch, was absolutely the best the 4th installment in the storied franchise has ever felt to date.
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to return to Sanctuary, Vessel of Hatred is it. Just be ready to lose countless hours to its addictive gameplay and immersive world. The forces of Hell await, and they’ve never looked so good.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is fantastic albeit safe expansion to the already excellent Diablo IV. It's continuation of the story benefits from tighter pacing and a novel concept, all of which is bolstered by a unique new class and distinct region to explore. Coupled with some great new endgame content, and Vessel of Hatred is bound to please Diablo casual and hardcore players alike.
Despite some issues (jamming MMO into the gameplay, uneven campaign, some technical issues) I had fun for most of the time. It’s mostly due to evolution and upgrades from all the seasons, but Vessel of Hatred introduces a solid amount of good stuff. Still, it will not cure all Diablo 4’s ailments – you have to wait for updates and fixes.
Review in Polish | Read full review