Summary
Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred has a lot going for it with its introduction of an original story and the Spiritborn class, but the new Nahantu region is one of its most appealing features — from a visual standpoint, at least. Originally fromDiablo 2, the Nahantu regionoffers players something much more thanDiablo 4’s Sanctuary has been able to, and it’s a step in the right direction.
Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion has revampedDiablo 2’s Nahantu region to reflect the DLC’s story, but it also has more life than it has ever had, thanks to modern technology. As players explore the depths of Nahantu, they are likely to have an experience unlike anything else that they’ve had inDiablo 4so far.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred’s Nahantu Region Is a Breath of Fresh Air
Diablo 4’s Sanctuary Is a Dark and Depressing Place
It’s no secret that the larger whole ofDiablo 4’s Sanctuaryis a dark and depressing place, and rightfully so, given the game’s premise. However, Sanctuary feels even darker afterDiablo 3, which was criticized for being a bit too flashy and colorful for what should have been a much more morbid experience. In Sanctuary, no matter where players are — whether it be a forest, a desert, or a city — everything is bathed in a thick, palpable darkness.
From a certain perspective, this serves to make all of Sanctuary feel the same, thereby robbing players of truly diverse environments in exploration.
In comparison to otherDiablogames,Diablo 4’s main world lacks variety in its presentation. BothDiablo 2andDiablo 3, for instance, split up their environments to ensure each one was different from the last. This not only encourages exploration but also helps players not to grow weary of each game’s visuals. It has just felt for some time likeDiablo 4needed a bit of a shakeup on its environmental side, and the new Vessel of Hatred expansion’s Nahantu region just so happens to accomplish that with aplomb.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred’s Nahantu Region Adds Brightness and Color to Sanctuary
From the moment the player character arrives in Nahantu during Vessel of Hatred’s story, it feels like both a literal and metaphorical breath of fresh air forDiablo 4. The forests are teeming with life, despite Mephisto’s corruption emerging in their deepest reaches. Those areas largely untouched by Mephisto’s corruption are beautifully saturated in rich greens and yellow undertones, offering a feast for the eyes that the rest ofDiablo 4’s Sanctuary just hasn’t provided since the launch of the base game. Riding a large feline mount inDiablonever felt so good as it does in Nahantu, as it is both fitting for the environment andVessel of Hatred’s new Spiritborn class.
It has just felt for some time likeDiablo 4needed a bit of a shakeup on its environmental side, and the new Vessel of Hatred expansion’s Nahantu region just so happens to accomplish that with aplomb.
There is also new music specifically composed forVessel of Hatred and the Nahantu region, which will occasionally play during combat and quest moments in the expansion. However, this new music isn’t as somber as the base game’s soundtrack has proven to be. Instead, it tends to inspire heroism and adventure with upbeat, progressive themes that make Vessel of Hatred’s intense combat all the more exciting. It’s a refreshing change of pace forDiablo 4, and an arguably much-needed one at that.
None of this is to say that Nahantu doesn’t have its dark moments, as it most certainly does. In certain areas throughout Nahantu,Mephisto’s corruptionis more prevalent, having transformed what was once lush greenery into putrid, black filth. However, at the very least, Nahantu’s initial introduction — and its explorable space at large — givesDiablo 4players something they haven’t quite had in the base game. Hopefully, futureDiablo 4expansions will continue to lean on variety in their environments for even more Nahantu-esque locations.
Diablo 4
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 campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or explore an expansive end game and shared world where players can meet in towns to trade, team up to battle world bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play, cross-progression, and couch co-op on Xbox.This is only the beginning for Diablo® IV, with new events, stories, seasons, rewards, and more looming on the horizon.
