Vessel of Hate solves half of the 'dungeon crawler' equation

by

Key takeaways

  • Diablo 4 struggles with the dungeon-crawling elements, though it improves in other areas.
  • Vessel of Hatred improves exploration and boss fights, highlighting the need for more work on the dungeon.
  • While Vessel of Hatred focuses on dungeon exploration, Diablo 4 dungeons lack unique boss fights and interactions.



Diablo A series that has always remained within the dungeon-crawler genre, offering players many variations on the concept of dungeons as well as loot and action combat, and Diablo 4 It means following suit when it comes out. With a heavy focus on its open world, dungeon-crawling elements Diablo 4 A bit fell through the cracks, especially with its mainly objective-based dungeons split into different sections, each with a key mechanic to tackle before heading to the boss room. This slows the process to a slog, forcing players to backtrack and explore every dead end looking for mechanic-solving items. Vessel of Hate fixes this, but it still doesn't completely solve the “dungeon crawler equation”.


One might argue Diablo 4 Two Steps Forward and One Step Back is in many ways, as it improves on many aspects of the series or adds interesting new ones, but other original elements are left behind in the process. Experience the dungeon Diablo 4 In the latter category, what seem to be important parts of the game, such as Nightmare Dungeons, become frustrating for a long time. In this specific case, the problem was always the lack of a real dungeon-crawling experience, and while the vessel of hatred helps, there's more heavy lifting to do.

diablo-4-path-exile-vessel-hate-soul-class-build-diversity-replayability-subclass-bg3-climb-poe-poe2-good-why

related to

Diablo 4 Vessel of Hate Proves It's Time for Avalanche to 'Steal' Way of Exile's Best Build Feature

Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred launched with a new class, and while the game's crafting variety is better than ever, the path to exile system could help.

Diablo 4: Claw of Hate is the unsung hero of the dungeon DLC

Diablo 4's dungeon-crawling returns to classic design at the cost of exclusivity

Diablo 4's Nahantu dungeons are the expansion's unsung heroes in the sense that they walk the series back to its dungeon-crawling days with an experience focused on exploring dungeons and killing bosses. This is a nice change, as the game essentially removes the requirement to complete side gimmicks before you can access the boss room. What it does is kill two birds with one stone:


  • Exploration can be rewarded with the same side gimmicks that were once mandatory, but this time award more loot if completed and incur no penalties if skipped.
  • The action part of an ARPG doesn't stop periodically to take care of switches, keys, or similar objects, and instead, players can kill a boss when they're ready.

likewise, Diablo 4The Vessel of Hatred expansion focuses on this important aspect of the series, even more so on Nahantu itself. In fact, Nahantu has many narrow passages and small mazes that belie the idea of ​​clinging to the side walls of the dungeon to reach its end. The problem is that it's not the whole package.


Diablo 4's dungeons are still missing a spark

Diablo 4The endgame content has changed with Vessel of Hatred, and the shift away from Nightmare Dungeons is a good thing, another step back from the series' dungeon-crawling roots. Not only that, but Nahantu's dungeons being more “classic” in their design and philosophy also make them stand out much less from each other – especially without unique and mechanically interesting boss fights. This has been a huge pain point for the game for the time being, and hopefully, the next Diablo 4 Extension will address.

even then, Diablo 4The progression system of Nightmare Dungeons lacks the element of interconnection between dungeons outside of Sigil at the end, which only serves as a way to direct players to their next activity. What follows is a dungeon-crawling experience that feels bare bones for the most part, even as the game moves away from its side gimmicks. Closets inside Diablo 4 In the grand scheme of things they don't make that much sense, and while one might argue that in the Dark Citadel attack Diablo 4 Online dungeon crawling at its best, is not an activity most of the playerbase will experience. It's a start, but a real return to form may take longer than a DLC.


Leave a Comment