Diablo 4 has been atoning for its sins after a bit of a letdown at launch, slowly recovering via developer Campfire Chats to discuss feedback and future plans, churning out updates to improve the game, and culminating this process with the release of Vessel of Hatred. While Vessel of Hatred may not be the best Diablo expansion in the series, it does a lot of things right, from the addition of Diablo 4's best class yet in the form of the Spiritborn to a plethora of gameplay upgrades and new additions. Still, though the DLC makes good on the promise to improve its open world, it falls short at the very next turn.
When Diablo 4 first launched, one of the biggest complaints about Sanctuary was that it felt empty and tedious to traverse, both because there was little to do in between quests or Dungeons and because it felt like a slog without mounts. Blizzard eventually addressed these issues in the base game, and so Vessel of Hatred had a lot riding on its shoulders before it was released. Unfortunately, although Nahantu is a great region to explore and more than makes up for the "empty open world" problem, it also creates the opposite obstacle.
How Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Nahantu Makes Up For Sanctuary's Shortcomings
Why Diablo 4's Nahantu is a Good Starting Place For New Playthroughs
If players tackle the exploration of Nahantu while doing the main story quests from Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred campaign, then the region can feel much bigger and more lively compared to the rest of Sanctuary. Between multiple new Dungeons, all coming with exclusive Spiritborn Aspects that players won't have unlocked on their first playthrough, and narrow pathways filled with enemies, there's never a dull moment in Blizzard's action RPG. Nahantu feels like the perfect place to spend the start of a new story, and it's hard to ever deem it empty like the base game's Sanctuary regions.
This is great for first playthroughs because players can feel immersed in the game and always have something to do or new loot to chase, which the expansion is more generous with than the base game was at launch. Dungeons can be challenging when first starting Diablo 4's Season 6, as players won't have a lot of gear and other elements unlocked to crank up their builds. Likewise, questing doesn't necessarily feel like going from point A to B in a deserted land, and the addition of Mercenary quests helps further in this regard.
Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred's Nahantu is a Double-Edged Sword For Progression
However, Nahantu falls short on subsequent playthroughs or even in the endgame, as the region is so stacked with enemies that gradually become stronger (both thanks to Diablo 4's new difficulty options and leveling up) that it can be quite annoying to traverse. It still offers a lot of encounters with Elites and packs of monsters if that's what players are looking for, but otherwise, traversing the region to get somewhere can be more of a chore than anything else. Players may be constantly dismounted, and navigating those initially alluring narrow pathways makes for a frustrating experience when one is surrounded by aggressive monsters.
This also removes part of the beauty of Nahantu, a more colorful region in Diablo 4 that could be peaceful outside of the main social hubs, but never really is. While this is the nature of ARPGs, Nahantu tackles Sanctuary's biggest problem on launch with the opposite approach, which ends up creating a different kind of problem for players. With a campaign that is arguably not satisfying after Diablo 4's great Lilith-centered story, a Season 6 mechanic that can leave a bitter taste in the mouth, and hidden altars that do little compared to the base game's, Nahantu's shortcomings can be one of the reasons why one ends up putting the game down after a playthrough or two.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
