Path of Exile 2 is on a new path of destruction

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As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for action RPGs and a hard-earned tolerance for frustration, I found myself pleasantly surprised by Path of Exile 2. Coming from the relatively carefree loot grind of Diablo, the unforgiving combat encounters in PoE2 were a breath of fresh air. The dodge roll is nothing short of fantastic, and the enemies are relentless enough to make every fight feel like a true challenge.

Originally announced in 2010 as a modern successor to Diablo 2, Path of Exile didn’t launch until after Diablo 3, yet it gained popularity due to Blizzard’s contentious decisions and its own unique mechanics. Now, with Diablo 4 on the horizon, many see Path of Exile 2 as a return to what made Diablo 2 great in the Action-RPG genre. However, the competitive landscape is now more complex, and with both games existing simultaneously, it seems like Path of Exile 2 needs to distinguish itself even more. In its early stages, the game appears somewhat uncertain, leaning towards tradition while still showcasing systems that set the original apart. Yet, a subtle yet significant combat alteration gives Path of Exile 2 an edge, making my foray into the new feel worthwhile.

As a passionate gamer, I can say that while Path of Exile 2 may not excel in storytelling finesse, it certainly delivers an engaging and gritty narrative with a touch of youthful exuberance. The character selection process is unique, where you’re essentially choosing your fate among a lineup of medieval convicts on the gallows, each facing accusations that reveal their abilities. Choosing one dooms the others to execution, but luckily, your chosen character manages to break free and survive, ending up among a group of survivors.

A careful balance

I haven’t played Path of Exile extensively, as its initial game mechanics were complex and hard to grasp, despite being potentially rewarding for those willing to dive in. Unlike most Action-RPGs, PoE utilized equipment sockets for skill gems, which dropped as loot, allowing you to customize your skills and supports. Additionally, experience points earned from leveling went towards a vast passive skill tree, providing numerous options for upgrades and personalizing your character build. The sheer amount of information was overwhelming, and there wasn’t much guidance or onboarding provided, so my brain opted out. Given that I enjoyed Diablo 3 at the time, I chose to appreciate PoE from afar and focus on other games instead.

In Path of Exile 2, one major shift is distancing the connection between skills and gear. While it doesn’t completely depart from its unique style, it provides a more approachable interpretation of its “skills as loot” concept. Skill gems continue to drop, but they now reside in their own area where you can select from an expanding list of skills for your character class, and apply support gems to choose from a list of modifications, which fit into a predetermined number of slots for each skill. You still have plenty of choices, yet there’s a more organized framework that reduces the overwhelming feeling. I’m curious to see how veterans react, but as an individual, I find this compromise beneficial. The cognitive load previously absorbed by the socket system is now directed towards the passive tree, which remains vast and filled with intriguingly numerous options.

In the follow-up version, they’ve reintroduced the use of gold alongside the regular currency, which the initial release discarded to emphasize an item-based economy. Gold seems to be included as a concession for easier player onboarding, allowing them to purchase items like identification scrolls from merchants before they are ready to navigate the more intricate systems. As an outside observer, it’s hard to assess this change definitively, but it appears more like another compromise than a complete reversal or surrender to the ambition of attracting a broader audience. However, it does echo a challenge I experienced in the game during the initial stages.

Please game, give me a bow, no more staves, I am begging

As a gamer who’s got a soft spot for Diablo-style games, I must admit that Path of Exile 2 has a progression pace that feels rather sluggish from my perspective. Leveling up seems to take an eternity, but that wasn’t the biggest pacing issue I encountered – it was loot. Now, some of it might have been bad luck, as I kept finding items that didn’t suit my chosen class, while useful weapons were scarce, far and few between, and often not much of an upgrade from what I was already using. This left me in a quandary, unsure if boss fights were just tough cookies or if I was smacking them with a toothpick due to subpar loot.

During gameplay, the limited inventory space presented a challenge, forcing me to either leave loot drops on the ground or frequently return to the main hub. No options for expanding inventory were evident, and during my early access period, I couldn’t even visit the store to check. It was puzzling! Over time, I grew accustomed to teleporting after defeating groups of enemies as a solution. The loot drops were odd, containing various modifier items that allowed for stat adjustments on equipment. These were intriguing to experiment with, but they couldn’t quell the frustration caused by the absence of fresh experiences, particularly when long periods passed without altering my character’s appearance (an unfortunate aspect as basic customization was also absent). I learned from another player that transmogrification, a paid feature, had been introduced in the previous version of Exile, which somewhat dampened my initial enthusiasm.

That right there is a good dodge roll, folks

Despite some issues with looting, Path of Exile 2 truly excels during intense combat situations. It’s a fast-paced, gritty experience where enemies swarm like pests in Helldivers, dealing significant damage even to sturdy classes like the Warrior. As a Ranger, I frequently found myself precariously close to one-shot by larger foes’ accurate attacks. Bosses could reduce me to pulp if I didn’t stay alert. Although this level of stress might be higher than in Diablo, it offers a valuable tradeoff: an effective dodge roll! This isn’t the unnecessary or awkward dashing feature found in Diablo 3 or the gimmicky dashing in 4. Instead, it’s a genuine dodge roll with real invincibility and practical utility. Every combat encounter felt intense yet satisfying, even when I was cornered against a wall by a mob and forced to restart at a checkpoint after a brutal death. In contrast to another game I played this month, the challenges in Path of Exile 2 seem fair, enjoyable, and rewarding, despite occasional frustration with loot acquisition. Unfortunately, my session ended abruptly when I was unexpectedly logged out!

In Path of Exile 2, there’s a wealth of content yet to be explored that I didn’t get a chance to see during my playtime. Many new classes, storylines, endgame activities, and other features typical of long-running games are on the horizon. As a novice player, I find myself intrigued by these changes, even if I can’t help but feel a bit excited about them. Compared to the initial game that initially deterred me, Path of Exile 2 appears much more welcoming. However, I still see it as an alternative to the series that inspired it, maintaining its unique identity.

Path of Exile 2 will be released on December 6, 2024, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The author of this piece had a temporary pass to play the PC version beforehand, which was supplied by the publisher.

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2024-12-06 22:28