Players of Darkness

Regretting the things we did can lessen over time; but regretting the things we didn’t do has no consolation. Perhaps this is the best description of the new addition to the game Diablo 4 that we will review today. We will provide this review from the perspective of someone who returned to the game with this addition after experiencing the original game when it was first released, our initial review here.

• Game Name: Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
• Developer: : Blizzard Entertainment
• Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
• Category:  Role-playing video game
• Release Date: 10/08/2024
• Platforms: PS5 – XBOX SERIES X/S – PC
• Review Platform: XBOX SERIES X/S
• For more information, you can visit the official game website

Storyline

This DLC builds on the foundations set by Diablo 4, as although the main story ending was good and concluded the story it wanted to tell, it left points that make you think about the ending and anticipate the new direction the book will take us in future releases. Well, you won’t have to wait much as in this addition, we will see what will happen to one of your companions who accompanied you in the main story and try to rescue them from a choice they made or did not make. I can’t say more about the topic to avoid spoilers.

This time, the story is different as your main goal is to save one of your friends and find out what happened to them, with a little fighting against an extremist religious group whose goal contradicts their initial principles (Destiny Mockery).

This addition presents a compelling and emotionally impactful story, especially with unexpected twists and a surprising ending for the player and the character together, even though it ends on a cliffhanger that raises more questions than it answers.

Although at the beginning of the review, I mentioned that you are going to save one of your friends in this adventure, you will face an old villain whose motives are closely related to Sanctuary’s past.

The game delves into defining hatred and tries to explain how it is born and what its repercussions are through stories of characters in the story and how if you knew the reason for each hatred, you might look at the character from a different perspective and say to yourself, “Ah, it’s true he is evil but I understand him and his thinking,” in a way that separates the wall between good and evil.

Gameplay

We can’t talk much about gameplay because it hasn’t changed. There is a new Class that allows players more options for different Builds, enabling more customization and strategy.

Personally, I didn’t like the new Class and found it weak with no synergy with many of its skills, despite enjoying it, which made me feel a little frustrated. Imagine, dear reader, that I switched between skills more than 5 times until I found a combination I trust, which was a mix of poison and electricity. However, we may see many strong Builds with this Class that people may explore even though I couldn’t.

There is also a new feature, Companions, who are NPCs that accompany you during gameplay. The new thing is that this time you can take them on all missions, not just the main ones. You can even customize them and choose their skills and even choose when to use their skills. To be able to command them and attract them, you must complete their missions, which are diverse and reflect the companion’s style.

One last addition I must mention is that I liked the rate at which items drop as soon as you finish an exciting mission or battle, you get meaningful rewards instead of the usual items that are only good for selling or breaking.

Visuals

Visually, this addition is the biggest confirmation of the series’ commitment to unique design. The new environments are crafted with great craftsmanship, from the jungles inhabited by primitive tribes, the mountains inhabited by monsters, to the temples and eerie tombs.

My only complaint is that in some places, I felt like the layout was repetitive, a strange feeling even though the designs of the places are varied.

It may be that my feeling is caused by the fact that I was finishing stages quickly, but I don’t think that’s a convincing reason for my feeling.

The cinematic scenes are exquisite and may be one of the best things the game offers. The darkness present in the game was embodied better than expected, and I found myself more immersed in the story when I reached a cinematic scene.

Sounds

The sound design in “Vessel of Hatred” deserves special praise for its ability to greatly enhance the gaming experience in the addition. The musical songs are carefully chosen and give the player the appropriate feeling in an influential way. This is not all as it contains a wonderful sound design for places like the monsters’ sounds that blend well with the surrounding environment, whether in a forest or a cave.

The voice acting is good as usual, with performances that highlight the depth of the characters in the story.

DLC Duration

It took almost 20 hours to finish the main story with a lot of exploration and completing side missions, not to mention the post-story content that will require a lot of time. The duration of the addition is realistic and I liked it very much.