Friday, October 04, 2024

Early Game Review: 'Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred'

The "Vessel of Hatred" expansion is just the injection of lifeblood the game needs to reclaim its spot atop the pantheon of gothic, loot-grinding obsessions.

Due out Tuesday, "Vessel of Hatred" includes a new campaign. You can access this from the jump if you choose the "skip campaign" option while creating a new character. 

The $40 expansion amounts to something close to a full-blown sequel. The Blizzard wizards delved into the DNA of the 2023 title and reinvigorate it in innumerable ways. 

Coinciding with a standard build update accessible to all players, as well as a new season of content, the launch makes the year-old game seem new again, and an enticing destination for lapsed players to squad up with old friends. Players who complete the Dark Citadel will be able to land the Nahantu Cat Mount with their weekly reward haul. There will also be weekly Twitch Drops, which will dispense cosmetic items Oct. 8 through Nov. 5.

Those who elect to hold off on the "Vessel of Hatred," though, will miss out on the bulk of the new experience. Descending into the jungles of Nahantu, you tangle against a new slate of enemies, challenging environments and labyrinthine dungeons that house tempting goodies. New characters and mercenaries invite distinct playstyles and challenge you to shake up your previous strategies in order to optimize the new flow. There is also a new slate of runes you can use to upgrade, enhance or unbalance your slate of attacks and defenses.

There is so much to explore in "Vessel of Hatred" that I feel I have barely scratched the surface of its darkly alluring offerings. One thing that's certain is I am every bit as hooked by "Diablo IV" as I was at the outset. The inspiring level of support Blizzard is showing to the game proves that it's as worthy an investment of re-upping for the expansion as it was for the initial purchase. There is much to love in this Vessel of Hatred.

Publisher provided review code.

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