Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Expansion Preview – Darker Story, New Class & Enhanced Gameplay!

Over the past year, I’ve spent way too many hours on Diablo IV. It’s been like a digital addiction and I don’t want to count the hundreds of hours I’ve put into it. I have been playing every season and have kept up with the improvements that Blizzard has introduced over the years. For many, it’s been quite the ride as we’ve all gone from shock at the amount of content at launch to general disillusionment with progression and loot, and thanks to Loot 2.0 and several other improvements, Blizzard has somehow returned to form.

The stage is set for the first major expansion, Vessel of Hatred, which will land soon. Beyond the seasons and updates and fixes, this should be the result of all the feedback the developers have received about the game which is often rude. I’ve had the pleasure of getting early access to the expansion eight days before its official launch, and I’m ready for my experiences of the monster-infested areas of Sanctuary to share

The story picks up right where Diablo IV left off, picking up the dark tone of the main game. Brutality, abuse of power, corruption, evil – these are the only major themes that are a breath of fresh air in a world ruled by comedy and funny one-liners. Neyrelle, whom we met in the campaign, has taken responsibility for protecting Mephisto’s “Soulstone”, and frankly, it’s not going very well. In Vessel of Hatred, we have to find Neyrelle because, despite her best intentions, she can’t carry the burden of the stone in the long run, in other words, we have to be Sam for it Frodo. Mephisto is still trying to manipulate her into letting him go, but so far she is resisting. Your mission is to find it in the new area of ​​Kurast, which many Diablo II players will recognize. However, Kurast has gone through a huge expansion compared to what we saw in the third area in the second chapter of the series. I won’t give too much away, but if you enjoyed the dark and sinister atmosphere of Diablo IV, you will love Vessel of Hatred. Neyrelle’s story is deep, emotional and full of surprises, making it one of the strongest stories in the series to date. The cutscenes are beautifully done and ooze atmosphere. We need not go into details; this works in every way.

Here’s a hint:

Although Vessel of Hatred is a large expansion, the whole experience is a bit more focused than the expansive main game. This is evident in several side quests that feel more sophisticated than those in the main game. Where many of the side quests in Diablo IV felt repetitive – like running into a random area, killing a monster and returning – the quests in Vessel of Hatred feels much more meaningful. Some of them tell longer stories about the characters you meet in the area, and some of them lead to new dungeons where you can crush monsters and be rewarded with impressive loot. It’s clear that the side quests have been given a boost and that they add more to the game world and gameplay than just improving your reputation in various areas. Everything feels more thoughtful and far more fulfilling, making your actions more meaningful. The story flows smoothly with a successful mix of dark narratives and endless battles against hordes of monsters, and while the long-term challenges of repetition, challenge and progress are completely different, its The first encounter with these activities is a breath of fresh air. it is a great but monotonous content of the main game.

Speaking of gameplay, Blizzard has made some big changes. Vessel of Hatred feels like the expansion that will change Diablo IV forever, just like Reaper of Souls did for Diablo III. One of the most exciting news is the introduction of the new Spiritborn class. The Spiritborn is a type of primitive monk who can choose from four different beasts in the ability tree, each with their own unique fighting style. As with the other classes, you can mix and match different abilities, which often provide synergy with the equipment you find along the way. Although the class is not completely different from the others, it is still fun to play. I’d say it sits somewhere between Sorcerer, which is still my favorite class, and Necromancer, which unfortunately worries me because of its focus on autonomy and resilience. Spiritborn is well balanced, and when you find the right combination of abilities, it becomes a lot of fun to play. I completed four difficulty levels in one night and reached the new Torment difficulty where the challenges start to build. Even here, Spiritborn keeps his own, so everything points to the game keeping the same balanced meta achieved through a sea of ​​updates.

Here’s a hint:

One of the exciting new developments is the Torment difficulty level. Before torture, there are four difficulty levels, which basically just increase the strength of the monsters and improve the percentage gain to experience points and gold. But once you reach Torment, the special Ancestral gear starts to appear, marking the beginning of the true end of the game. Torment offers four levels in itself, where your armor and elemental resistance are greatly reduced, making the game a real challenge for those who reach level 60. Yes, Blizzard has cut 40 levels , and once you reach level 60, you will go to The Paragon Board System where you will upgrade your character with new attributes. Here, you suddenly start to feel very strong, and it is very happy. However, the road to level 60 can be a bit difficult at first, but at level 30 the game opens up a lot and you get access to all the systems that make your gear stronger.

Blizzard’s updated gear systems give you plenty to work with. The blacksmith can add additional abilities to your equipment, and the enchanter can give legendary properties to your legendary items by adding aspects. There are also new runewords that work differently than in Diablo II, but still give your gear exotic abilities. This whole gear puzzle is very satisfying for players like me, who love to change and optimize the gear. It’s easy to spend hours customizing and upgrading your equipment, which will add an extra dimension to your gaming experience.

But what can you do at Sanctuary? The Kurast region offers a lot of new content, including “super monsters” that require cooperation to defeat. Unfortunately, the server felt a bit empty when I played, as I only encountered two other players in the forty hours I played. This meant that I didn’t get a chance to try the world leaders, which look very promising otherwise. Blizzard has implemented a group finder, just like in World of Warcraft, but unfortunately it didn’t work without fellow players. I look forward to experimenting with this aspect when more players get a chance.

Blizzard has listened to the players, and much of the criticism that has come forward has been addressed and improved upon. The game now feels much more balanced, and the expansion adds a ton of new content that makes it even more fun than when it launched last year. While previously content was limited to those who reached level 100, there are now so many activities that even when you reach level 60, there will still be plenty to do. I can imagine that more difficulty levels will be added later, just like we saw in Diablo III, but already the eight difficulty levels are enough to offer hours of challenging play. And Phat Loot!