Diablo 4 DLC Should Change Dark Citadel? - The Debate Between Cooperative And Single-player Mode
DLC Vessel of Hatred introduced some interesting new endgame modes to Diablo 4, including Dark Citadel. But now, according to official data, the retention rate of this optional quest began to plummet in the third week, far lower than the single-player mode Abyssal Verges launched in the same period. And some players think this forced multiplayer mode is boring and expressed the hope that it can be improved.
Therefore, as Vessel of Hatred’s iconic endgame mode, Dark Citadel quickly became the focus of players’ debate. This PvE mode, which requires mandatory teamwork, not only challenges Diablo series’ tradition of single-player priority over the years, but also triggers a philosophical debate about the experience of the game - should we stick to enjoying it alone, or embrace the social wave?
Compared with previous works, Diablo 4 has more MMO elements, and it has become more common for players to team up to complete goals together, but this kind of cooperation is more short-lived than other MMO games. Once the task is completed, this cooperative relationship will be disbanded immediately. And more players will choose to continue to explore the game alone and obtain Diablo 4 Gold and other resources to improve their strength.
In fact, most endgame modes before Diablo 4 were designed around this style of play. For example, although Nightmare Dungeons allow team formation, a single player can complete it.
But it is a special case for Dark Citadel, which focuses on team action. This mode requires players to form a team of two or four to join, and the system also sets a strict team verification mechanism. This is a good change for players who like to play Diablo 4 with friends. But for most solo warriors, the situation is just the opposite. Many people think that this setting has changed their original fun and calls for a return to the beauty of the game before.
Opposition
In the community, you can see many different opinions. Many people are more dissatisfied with this. They think that many players of Diablo 4 like to enjoy the game alone. Therefore, many times, especially at the end of the season, no one can be found in Social Hub. They are frustrated that they cannot find enough people to participate in this activity. Some players recorded that in the last two weeks of the season, the average time required to match the team even exceeded the time-limited challenge time of dungeon itself.
Many people, who believed that this was the only part of the game that must be cooperated agreed this statement, and it had no meaning. Because Diablo franchise has always been dominated by single-player mode, cooperation has never been required before. The charm of this game lies in the fact that it is based on a powerful fantasy, which is very suitable for players to experience by themselves. Cooperation with other players greatly reduces this experience.
At present, some players in the community suggest that developers can allow single players to bring their Mercenaries, which can still be counted as a two-person team; some people call for a single-player option for this mode. Both methods are suitable. We don’t know if the game developer will improve it later.
Support
Of course, some people think that it great to add this element, and the team mode makes the game more interesting. Some people are looking forward to more team content. Cooperative combat makes the game easier, and the addition of team elements reminds many players of traditional MMO games. It is a good way to have a nostalgic experience with less time cost.
Some players even said that he always preferred single-player games in the early stage of the game, but gradually began to use social tags to change the rhythm in the later stage. The team experience is very comfortable because no one screams into the microphone or forces the microphone to open, and it is much more fun than you can imagine. This stress-free social experience is because of the Action Wheel and Emotes. Players can complete basic communication through these, avoiding the embarrassment of voice chat.
Although Dark Citadel caused controversy in Diablo 4, this endgame mode can also be a refreshing change for players who have done everything else. Maybe the best way is to give the choice to the players? Looking forward to the developers can find a balance between solo and cooperation.
