Diablo 4 has been drawing a lot of comparisons between itself and Path of Exile due to the latter's heavy Diablo 2 inspiration and their shared ARPG roots, which the upcoming launch of Path of Exile 2 exacerbated. While there is common ground between these two series, they have quite different approaches to the ARPG core gameplay loop of looting as well as hacking 'n slashing one's way to victory. These series have evolved in their own respective ways when it comes to their endgame offer, with Diablo 4 and other games in the series reinventing themselves as each title is released and Path of Exile improving its formula over the course of more than 10 years.
Path of Exile 2's early access is coming on November 15 of this year, making the release of Vessel of Hatred and this milestone for GGG's action RPG a one-two punch for fans of the genre. However, it also means that Vessel of Hatred is being heavily scrutinized ahead of Path of Exile 2's launch, for better or for worse. In the case of Diablo 4's new endgame content, Grinding Gear Games has a few things to note, particularly with the Kurast Undercity time trial.
Diablo 4's Kurast Undercity is The Epitome of Choose-Your-Reward Endgame
Why Kurast Undercity is One of The Best Endgame Approaches in Modern ARPGs
Available toward the end of Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred campaign, Kurast Undercity is one of two new pieces of endgame content in the game, with it being a timed trial that can scale both in difficulty and rewards. Players can run Kurast Undercity as is for a standard experience, but for those who have mastered the various new Torment difficulty levels and optimized their builds' potential, there's a lot to unpack. In fact, Diablo 4 not only allows players to tone up the difficulty with the addition of multiple modifiers, but it also allows players to customize the type and quality of rewards they get.
The harder the run, the more punishing the modifier, and the less time available, the more and better loot players will get. Since the whole experience is completely customizable, players don't have to fear wasting their time and resources as it can happen with Path of Exile endgame Maps - especially since Kurast Undercity rewards Wanderers with a bunch of items even if they fail the run. This is a very healthy approach to endgame content because players always walk away with something, and since the runs can be quite quick once the activity has been mastered, it can have an extremely positive loot-to-time-investment ratio.
Why Path of Exile 2's Early Access Should Draw Inspiration From Diablo 4
This is not always the case in Path of Exile, which can be quite demanding in terms of currency investment for high-end content such as T16 or T17 Maps, and unless one is using gear with farming-specific affixes, the best loot is usually toward the end or even after the final boss. However, players only have 6 attempts to clear each Map if playing solo, which can feel quite punishing, especially for newcomers. In general, the learning curve for Path of Exile is pretty steep, and endgame content can quickly snowball into frustration.
In Kurast Undercity, time penalties can be and feel harsh, but they reward good buildcrafting by providing even better loot and class-specific Uniques in Diablo 4.
As such, Path of Exile 2 could use an endgame mode that is more akin to the casual-friendly and highly customizable Kurast Undercity, even if running it is not free like in Diablo 4, and instead requires currency. This is something Path of Exile would also benefit from, but with the spotlights being set on Path of Exile 2 for now, it would make sense to implement it there first. Path of Exile 2 has many classes (more than Diablo 4) and is likely to be as complex as the original title, and an activity like Kurast Undercity could be a breath of fresh air for veterans as much as it can be enticing for new players.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
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 epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
