Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred - Gamespot's DLC Review
Alexandre Jollier
In brief
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred masterfully concludes the Mephisto saga with a captivating 15 to 20 hour campaign and an endgame enriched with new gameplay systems. Despite a few bugs and increasingly complex mechanics, this DLC gives Diablo IV renewed purpose after three years of updates.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred wraps up the Mephisto saga, and it's a beautiful conclusion that takes its place among the series' best narrative arcs. As you'll have gathered, Gamespot's reviewer seems to have gotten his money's worth with this DLC. For once, we're not moving through darkness, but rather in a sunny, very bright setting, which offers the title a nice visual freshness while also bringing a better focus to the story. The journalist spent quite a few hours on the campaign with the Warlock and the Paladin, the two new classes, both of which are ultra deep.
The gameplay evolves very positively with skill investment going from 5 to 15 points, giving access to an ocean of possible builds. The talisman system brings a real shake-up to set bonuses, and allows players to modify armor and increase both flexibility and character customization. The loot filter allows targeting the desired affixes, making the endgame grind, while still time-consuming, much more addictive and less frustrating. In this nostalgia for difficulty levels that used to serve no purpose, with up to 12 difficulty tiers now offered compared to the previous 4, the endgame now devours our entire sessions, boosted by mechanics like the final masking on masterwork gear.
Visually very successful, the new Nahantu zone is promising with its varied environments and details.
Some bugs still persist, frustrating for immersion, though the sound design makes up for it with an epic soundtrack punctuated by demonic screams and intense orchestral music. The DLC's length is satisfying: a solo campaign of 15 to 20 hours awaits you, but above all an endless endgame for hardcore players.
Gamespot explains that this overabundance of upgrade systems quickly becomes anxiety-inducing, and that the narrative content, though tightened, no longer really manages to surprise.
In conclusion, Lord of Hatred thus succeeds in giving meaning to Diablo IV after three years of updates, even if it isn't completely beyond reproach.
Strengths
- New sunny region and captivating story
- Deep and fun Warlock and Paladin classes
- Enriched endgame with talismans, loot filter, and 12 difficulty tiers
- Ultra-flexible buildcrafting with 15 points per skill
Weaknesses
- Too many upgrade mechanics, risk of overload
- A few technical bugs and content that's a bit light for the price
Verdict
Lord of Hatred brilliantly concludes the Prime Evils trilogy with an addictive endgame and innovations that revitalize the loot loop for a long time to come.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to finish the DLC's campaign?
What are the two new classes introduced in Lord of Hatred?
What are the main gameplay changes brought by this DLC?
Are there any technical issues in Lord of Hatred?
Key takeaways
- The DLC delivers a truly excellent narrative conclusion to the Mephisto saga, ranking among the best arcs in the series.
- Two new ultra-deep classes, the Warlock and the Paladin, offer considerably expanded build possibilities.
- The talisman system and loot filter revolutionize character customization and make the endgame less frustrating.
- The new Nahantu zone brings visual freshness with varied, sun-drenched environments that contrast with the usual atmosphere.
- Up to 12 difficulty levels offer satisfying endgame progression, though the multitude of systems can become overwhelming.
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