
80
MONSTER
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
Expand for full analysis
74
While praised for nostalgia, character depth, and lore expansion, Vessel of Hatred crashes under uneven pacing, a rushed plot, and an anticlimactic ending, leaving fans frustrated by its placeholder-like structure and unfulfilled potential.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
74
Positive Reviews (80-100)
41%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
53%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
5%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
While praised for nostalgia, character depth, and lore expansion, Vessel of Hatred crashes under uneven pacing, a rushed plot, and an anticlimactic ending, leaving fans frustrated by its placeholder-like structure and unfulfilled potential.
Gameplay Mechanics
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86
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred delivers a thrilling expansion with the Spiritborn class—a dynamic, versatile addition praised for its depth and build variety—while new systems like Runewords and co-op dungeons boost replayability. Despite balance issues, underdeveloped mechanics, and repetitive elements, critics call it a bold, immersive upgrade that revitalizes Diablo IV’s core, offering fresh challenges and creative freedom despite minor flaws.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
86
Positive Reviews (80-100)
79%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
21%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred delivers a thrilling expansion with the Spiritborn class—a dynamic, versatile addition praised for its depth and build variety—while new systems like Runewords and co-op dungeons boost replayability. Despite balance issues, underdeveloped mechanics, and repetitive elements, critics call it a bold, immersive upgrade that revitalizes Diablo IV’s core, offering fresh challenges and creative freedom despite minor flaws.
Graphics and Visual Design
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85
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred dazzles with jaw-dropping visuals, especially Nahantu’s lush jungles, eerie swamps, and Aztec-inspired ruins, hailed as a masterclass in atmosphere and detail. Critics rave about its cinematic quality, nostalgic nods, and ecological diversity, though some call parts repetitive or underdeveloped—still, the expansion elevates Blizzard’s art direction to new heights.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
85
Positive Reviews (80-100)
73%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
27%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred dazzles with jaw-dropping visuals, especially Nahantu’s lush jungles, eerie swamps, and Aztec-inspired ruins, hailed as a masterclass in atmosphere and detail. Critics rave about its cinematic quality, nostalgic nods, and ecological diversity, though some call parts repetitive or underdeveloped—still, the expansion elevates Blizzard’s art direction to new heights.
Music and Sound Design
Expand for full analysis
86
Critics hail Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred's sound design as a masterclass in immersive atmosphere, with glowing praise for its dark, cinematic score, technical polish, and emotional resonance—though a few noted minor hiccups in memorability compared to the series' legacy.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
86
Positive Reviews (80-100)
75%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
25%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Critics hail Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred's sound design as a masterclass in immersive atmosphere, with glowing praise for its dark, cinematic score, technical polish, and emotional resonance—though a few noted minor hiccups in memorability compared to the series' legacy.
Voice Acting
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79
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred’s voice acting shines with rich character depth, stellar multilingual performances, and cinematic flair, but struggles with tonally flat player dialogue and uneven direction, leaving some immersion gaps despite overall praise.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
79
Positive Reviews (80-100)
75%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
13%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
13%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred’s voice acting shines with rich character depth, stellar multilingual performances, and cinematic flair, but struggles with tonally flat player dialogue and uneven direction, leaving some immersion gaps despite overall praise.
Technical Performance
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71
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred delivers strong, consistent performance on Xbox but struggles with PC instability, ray tracing glitches, and crashes, highlighting uneven optimization and lingering bugs that demand post-launch fixes for a polished experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
71
Positive Reviews (80-100)
35%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
65%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred delivers strong, consistent performance on Xbox but struggles with PC instability, ray tracing glitches, and crashes, highlighting uneven optimization and lingering bugs that demand post-launch fixes for a polished experience.
Replay Value
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80
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred delivers a massive boost to replayability with fresh endgame content, inventive mechanics, and class customization, but its co-op focus, loot stagnation, and grindy repetition risk alienating solo players and casual fans.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
80
Positive Reviews (80-100)
59%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
41%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred delivers a massive boost to replayability with fresh endgame content, inventive mechanics, and class customization, but its co-op focus, loot stagnation, and grindy repetition risk alienating solo players and casual fans.
Overall Verdict
80
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
80
Positive Reviews (80-100)
80%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
20%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred earns high praise for revitalizing the franchise with bold new content like the Spiritborn class, Runewords, and engaging endgame features, but struggles with a predictable story, balancing issues, and rushed pacing—proving a strong update overall, despite flaws.
80
MONSTER
Reviews
115 reviews found100
Eurogamer Germany
Oct 20, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes that Vessel of Hatred is a worthwhile expansion for fans seeking new features and gameplay mechanics, though the story may not satisfy those prioritizing narrative depth. It balances praise for content and improvements with critiques of pacing and storytelling.
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95
Gaming Nexus
Oct 4, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes that Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is a strong expansion worth returning to, with abundant content and improvements that re-engage even casual players.
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95
Stevivor
Oct 4, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises Vessel of Hatred as a redemption for Diablo 4, highlighting its transformative changes and improved systems. However, it notes some lingering issues that need addressing, concluding with optimism about the game's future.
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95
God is a Geek
Oct 4, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A superb continuation of the original campaign with quality of life improvements, a fantastic new class, and engaging gameplay, despite some minor issues with the new biome and mercenary system.
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92
Merlin'in Kazanı (Turkey)
Oct 4, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises Vessel of Hatred as an enriching expansion that enhances Diablo 4 with new mechanics, a deeper story, and strategic elements. However, it acknowledges some flaws, such as technical issues and the need for more content, resulting in a generally positive but nuanced conclusion.
90
Malditos Nerds
Oct 21, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A highly praised expansion that improves Diablo IV in all aspects, offering fresh content and enhancing the original experience. Recommended for fans and newcomers alike.
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90
GINX TV
Oct 17, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The expansion is hailed as a resounding success, fixing Diablo 4's endgame issues and delivering a satisfying experience with minor flaws. It is praised for its depth, systems, and ability to rekindle the player's passion for the franchise.
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90
The Games Machine
Oct 4, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes that Vessel of Hatred is a successful expansion that revitalizes Diablo IV with new content, improved mechanics, and fresh challenges. It emphasizes the game's depth, variety, and appeal to both newcomers and veterans.
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90
MMORPG.com
Oct 4, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Vessel of Hatred is praised as a strong expansion that improves upon Diablo IV’s foundation. It offers fresh content, new mechanics, and sets up future growth. The review recommends it for both newcomers and returning players.
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90
PCGamesN
Oct 4, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes that Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is a complete Diablo experience that surpasses the base game, blending elements from previous titles while introducing new features and classes, ultimately leaving the reviewer more excited for the future of the series.
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