The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred DLC.
While Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred DLC contains plenty of new content, including the new Spiritborn class, it also introduces a continuation of the story of Diablo 4 that follows Neyrelle into Nahantu on her path to destroy Mephisto. Unfortunately, despite what seems like a compelling premise, Vessel of Hatred's story hasn't been well received by a significant portion of the Diablo 4 community.
Some of this controversy is arguably warranted, although Vessel of Hatred's story is still worth witnessing. The main issue many have taken up with the story of Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion is not that it isn't good but that it isn't finished.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Tenets of Akarat Explained
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Tenets of Akarat are new collectibles added with the expansion that essentially replace the base game's Altars of Lilith.
Why Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred Story Is So Controversial
Vessel of Hatred Seemingly Never Accomplishes What It Set Out to Do
One of the primary reasons Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred expansion has been met with such controversy is that it never actually accomplishes what it originally set out to do. The story for Vessel of Hatred is set up with Neyrelle venturing into the depths of the Nahantu jungle in an effort to destroy the Prime Evil Mephisto, which would justifiably lead players to believe that they would eventually be battling Mephisto in his prime form at the end of the story and bringing him to an end once and for all.
However, by the time the final scene of Vessel of Hatred's story concludes, it becomes clear that the journey has only just begun.
Specifically, for a story that is so bent on seeing Mephisto destroyed, it avoids that conclusion by having players face the Harbinger of Hatred rather than Mephisto's true form. Inevitably, this leads to an ending that suggests the fight with Mephisto is far from over and will continue (hopefully) in the next expansion. Akarat's mortal body is eventually shown being consumed by Mephisto's corruption to become his new vessel. While this is a major plot point in the Mephisto storyline, it is a highly controversial one due to its placement, as it arguably might have been better off serving as the halfway point in Vessel of Hatred's campaign rather than the ending.
Not Much Has Changed When Vessel of Hatred's Story Ends
Something else that has inspired controversy is Vessel of Hatred's apparent penchant for playing it a bit too safe. For example, fortunately, Neyrelle's bond with the soulstone is severed just over halfway through Vessel of Hatred's story, freeing her and bringing her back to what appears to be full health. However, during one of the story's final dialogue exchanges between Prava, Neyrelle, and the player character, Prava indicates that, although Neyrelle's connection to the soulstone has been broken, her connection to Mephisto remains, implying she will play a significant role in his eventual demise.
Ultimately, this suggests that one of the main vehicles of Vessel of Hatred's story, which sees players relentlessly tracking Neyrelle down to save her, was largely for nothing. Yes, she is no longer bound to Mephisto's soulstone, but she is apparently still bound to Mephisto himself. Her journey into Nahantu was to defeat Mephisto, and yet by the end of Vessel of Hatred's campaign, he remains, and Neyrelle and the player character are right back where they started at the end of Diablo 4's narrative.
This, in addition to several other trivial storylines, like Prava's continued antagonistic position against Neyrelle and the player character and the unchanged politics of Nahantu, even after the death of Eru and Maka, undermine the expansion's credibility, somewhat suggesting it might have been better off as part of Diablo 4's base game campaign, a free update, or only half of a fuller expansion. Nevertheless, this is where Diablo 4 is at currently, but hopes are that whatever is next for the game will take it further and provide some much-needed closure.
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
