Gaming

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred review: Returning to hell is fun

The new Spiritborn makes it worth playing

Published

October 21, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

I’ve played Diablo III for hundreds of hours, and I can safely say that Monk was my favorite class in that bunch. There’s just an indescribable satisfaction when the Monk’s ultra-fast DPS causes bodies to ragdoll out of the screen. When Diablo IV launched, no one really matched up to the Monk. Now, the new Vessel of Hatred expansion is spicing things up with the new Spiritborn class.

Enter the Spiritborn

The new expansion includes a new region and a new campaign. However, the biggest spotlight is rightfully on the new class. Tagged as a blend between the Monk and the Witch Doctor, the Spiritborn touts a speedy DPS build with the ability to call on different spirit animals for additional burst damage.

From the outset, the Spiritborn is absurdly fun to play. The class balances damage output with durability. It manages to replicate the intense close-combat adrenaline of the Monk. Plus, the four Spirit Guardians available — Gorilla, Jaguar, Eagle, and Centipede — allows players a wide variety of playstyles to choose from and mix-and-match with.

For example, the Centipede, which happens to be my personal favorite, builds on poison and fear abilities for maximum crowd control. Meanwhile, the Gorilla, Jaguar, and Eagle focus on defense, attack speed, and ranged attacks, respectively. Each Guardian also has its own ultimate, which spawns the Guardian itself and shreds enemies.

I’m having a lot of fun playing the new class. If you grew tired of the original game’s roster, the Spiritborn easily rekindles the freshness with a consistent feeling of power and the flexibility of experimentation.

Making the game more rewarding

Besides the new class, the Vessel of Hatred expansion also brings a ton of new features and overhauled systems. They’re all welcome changes, too.

As much as I love the franchise, the initial launch of Diablo IV quickly devolved into a grinding nightmare that lacked the feeling of making players more powerful with every battle won. The new patch that comes with Vessel of Hatred overhauls this system and makes levelling much easier, while also raising the level cap to 60 and the paragon level cap to 300.

When I got the expansion, I started a new character. To my surprise, my new Spiritborn reached maximum level in practically no time. More than that, I feel like legendary items drop more frequently with this update. The overhauled system streamlines most of the grinding to favor what really matters most: becoming powerful and showing off new loot against more difficult hordes.

The update also introduces more difficulties. While I haven’t dabbled in the more nightmarish ones, the more streamlined progression lets me access more difficulties and, hence, stronger rewards.

Mercenaries to keep you company

The new mercenary system is also gratifying. While the initial launch introduced an open world where you can meet and fight with other players, Diablo IV was still a largely solo experience. Unless you have friends playing with you, no one is really helping you with the game’s dungeons.

Taken from previous games, the new mercenary system ensures that you’re never fighting the hordes of hell alone. Currently, the game has four available mercenaries to choose from. Each have their own abilities, specialties, and personalities.

For me, the new mercenaries are literal lifesavers. They do help in conquering the more difficult dungeons. At the very least, they provide some much-needed companionship for long gameplay sessions.

A Nahantu vacation

It’s impossible to talk about Vessel of Hatred without talking about the new story and the region. As I mentioned in my previous review, the different regions of Diablo IV are varied enough to offer different flavors, despite being open world.

Nahantu is no different. The new region takes players to a jungle locale, offering up new enemies and dungeons to get through. It’s a refreshing change from the frosty wastelands of Fractured Peaks and the deserts of Kehjistan.

As for the expansion’s story, Vessel of Hatred puts the focus back on one of the more underrated Prime Evils, Mephisto. After prevailing against Lilith, the Prime Evil is on a quest to return and terrorize the world again.

To be clear, the expansion does not conclude Mephisto’s story just yet. Blizzard still has more updates planned for the Prime Evil. Regardless, the story’s pivot to a new antagonist is much welcomed.

Should you play Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred?

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is more than just a story expansion. It’s also a spirited effort to rebalance the game, making it a lot more fun for new and returning players. If you loved the Diablo franchise, especially the fourth one, Vessel of Hatred is a must-play.

Related Topics:Diablo IV Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

Gaming

Resident Evil Requiem is out now

30 years later

Published

February 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

Resident Evil Requiem is now available worldwide, marking the ninth mainline entry in Capcom’s long-running survival horror franchise.

The game launches today on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store, and GeForce NOW. Set 30 years after the Raccoon City Incident, the story returns players to the ruins of a city that defined the series’ legacy.

This time, players follow two protagonists: newcomer Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst investigating a string of mysterious deaths tied to her mother’s murder, and returning fan favorite Leon S. Kennedy. As their paths converge at the center of a new outbreak, both must confront the lingering trauma of Raccoon City and uncover the truth behind the incident that changed the world.

First-person or third-person

For the first time in the series, players can freely switch between first-person and third-person perspectives, blending immersive horror with more dynamic action. Multiple difficulty settings are available, including a Casual mode with aim assist and a Standard (Classic) mode that reintroduces the Ink Ribbon save system while playing as Grace.

Editions available

Resident Evil Requiem is available in Standard and Deluxe editions. The Deluxe edition includes five costumes, four weapon skins, two screen filters, two charms, and additional bonus content. A Premium Steelbook Edition bundles the Deluxe content with a limited-edition lenticular card, available while supplies last.

Capcom is also celebrating the launch with a slate of collaborations and collectibles. These include a themed Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, the franchise’s first-ever amiibo figures of Grace and Leon arriving July 30, 2026, limited-edition watches designed with Hamilton, a one-of-a-kind Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT created as Leon’s in-game vehicle, and 1/6 scale collectible figures launching this fall.

Resident Evil Symphony of Legacy

To mark the series’ 30th anniversary, the Resident Evil Symphony of Legacy orchestral concert series will tour Japan, North America, and Europe later this year. Meanwhile, Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition and Resident Evil Village Gold Edition also arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 today, alongside a Generation Pack bundle exclusive to the platform.

With a return to Raccoon City and a new chapter in survival horror underway, Resident Evil Requiem ushers in what Capcom calls a new era for the iconic franchise.

Gaming

Tales of Berseria Remastered is out now on consoles and PC

A tale of emotion returns

Published

February 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced that Tales of Berseria Remastered is out now. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

The remaster brings back the 2016 action RPG with visual and quality-of-life upgrades tailored for current-generation platforms. A new launch trailer accompanies the release. It offers a fresh look at Velvet’s journey, her party members, and her fateful clash with Altorius.

In celebration of the launch, fans in Southeast Asia can join an exclusive giveaway for a chance to win signed memorabilia from their favorite cast member. Details are available via Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia’s official Facebook and Instagram pages. A special video featuring the voice cast has also been released as part of the festivities.

A revenge story returns

Originally released in 2016, Tales of Berseria stood out as the first entry in the long-running franchise to feature a solo female protagonist. Players step into the role of Velvet. Her once gentle nature gives way to a burning desire for revenge after the death of her younger brother.

The remastered edition preserves the emotional weight of that story while refining the experience for modern hardware. Players can now toggle enemy encounters in fields and dungeons and view clearer destination icons for smoother navigation. The familiar Grade Shop is also unlocked from the start, allowing for a more flexible playthrough.

More than 70 pieces of DLC from the original release are included, ranging from character outfits inspired by previous Tales titles to helpful equipment for early adventures.

Game editions and bonuses

Tales of Berseria Remastered is available in both physical and digital formats. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game, a Battle BGM pack, a digital artbook and soundtrack, and a Super Growth Support Herb Set.

Early purchasers and pre-order customers receive the Super Adventuring Assistance Set, which includes Apple Gel x10, Grape Gel x10, Life Bottle x10, and Panacea Bottle x10.

Physical copies also feature a reversible inlay with two different cover designs.

Gaming

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves will launch in 2027

The region is based on Southeast Asia.

Published

February 27, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The tenth generation of Pokémon is here! Kicking off the franchise’s celebration for thirty successful years, The Pokémon Company announced the next mainline games: Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves.

The announcement trailer started with a nostalgic reminiscing of a Pikachu across all the different generations over the years. A sudden knock on the door breaks the protagonist’s reminiscing. At the door are two Pikachu dressed in vacation clothes, standing outside a beach house on stilts.

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves isn’t just another trip to another roaring urban-to-rural region. Rather, the generation’s yet-unnamed region wants you to take a vacation in a place inspired by Southeast Asia.

Because of its tropical locale, a lot of the Pokémon featured are more nature- and animal-based. You won’t see a lot of the newer creatures inspired by objects here.

The region will also have a variety of biomes including a forest, a beach, and even an underground volcanic section. And, making a comeback for the first time in years, there will seemingly be an underwater biome filled with aquatic Pokémon.

Highlighting the new generation are three new starter Pokémon: Browt, the Grass-type bird Pokémon; Pombon, the Fire-type dog Pokémon; and Gecqua, the Water-type gecko Pokémon.