Diablo 4‘s latest expansion, Vessel of Hatred, is a firm statement that Blizzard is and will keep evolving the game in the next few years. The DLC has managed to address some pain points from the game’s rocky launch and has brought in a plethora of big additions that gamers have desperately wanted.
It’s certainly a good direction for the game and is something Blizzard will keep on doing over time for most elements of the ARPG and improve on each of its pillars. While developing this expansion, the studio was on a completely new path, which allowed the developers to take it to the next level and set a new standard for how a DLC should be developed.
Blizzard’s Unique Approach With Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred
Vessel of Hatred is Diablo 4‘s first-ever expansion pack. Picking up where the base game left us, players must unravel the secrets of the iconic Nahantu region as they retrace the steps of Neyrelle on their quest to end Mephisto once and for all. Beyond that, the expansion also adds Spiritborn, a new class that is equipped with double-sided glaive and animal spirits to destroy foes.
Since Diablo 4‘s release, it’s been plagued by various gameplay issues, as well as technical hiccups. The latest expansion not only managed to resolve these issues but also brought in new aspects that gamers simply can’t get enough of.
In an interview, Diablo 4‘s Chris Ryder touched upon the development of the expansion and explained what makes Vessel of Harted a standout from the studio’s previous projects.
It changes and is modified based on the path the story is taking us on, because in this expansion is not the way you’ve experienced it in the past.
Ryder talks about all the elements Blizzard brought from the previous games in the franchise and how they modified them to fit in the Vessel of Hatred. What sets the expansion apart is the fact that its narrative evolves and modifies itself based on what one does in the game. The actions of a player can completely alter their journeys in iconic locations such as Nahantu.
Blizzard has opted for an approach that honors the franchise’s old lore while bringing new stories and experiences. The expansion’s strength comes from the fact that it brings such incredible narrative elements that now depend on player actions and not a predetermined path like the previous games.
Vessel of Hatred‘s Controversial Storyline
Even though Vessel of Hatred brings plenty of new things to dive into, its continuation of the base game’s storyline has proven to be quite controversial, with some in the community believing Blizzard has completely dropped the ball.
One of the major reasons why the expansion’s storyline has been met with criticism is that it never managed to accomplish what it set out to do. The story for the DLC is set up with Neyrelle passing through Nahantu jungle to eliminate Prime Evil Mephisto, which made players believe they’ll be battling Mephisto in his prime form at the end of the story and finish him once and for all.
For an expansion that’s focussed on Mephisto’s demise, it completely avoids the conclusion by making players face Harbinger of Hatred instead of Mephisto’s true form. This leads to an ending that sets the stage for the continuation of the fight with Mephisto in the next expansion.
This, alongside several other trivial plotlines such as Prava’s position against Neyrelle and the unchanged situation of Nahantu even after Maka and Eru’s death, has completely undermined the expansion’s storyline. The DLC would’ve been better as a campaign for the base game.
With that said, what do you think about the Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred expansion? Let us know in the comments below.
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