Gracious to those who have spent over a decade mastering Path of Exile, I found myself tripled in playtime within weeks of the game’s Early Access release. Coming from a mainly Diablo background, I expected a more significant departure from the series’ darker core. However, even now, 24 years after the original Diablos 2 launch, PoE2 feels remarkably familiar.
The campaign is engaging, with a satisfying level of challenge that’s neither too easy nor too difficult. The story, while not groundbreaking, does its job in setting up the world. The true test lies in mastering the skill tree, which I find captivating despite its similarity to previous builds. While creativity can be stifled by the numerous powerful variations, this is an Early Access issue.
The endgame setup is innovative, with a sprawling map filled with upgradeable nodes and bonus rewards through towers or waystones. However, the punishment for dying is extreme – a single mistake wipes progress, eats items, and even affects XP. This takes the endgame experience too far and feels unfair.
Despite some balance issues, I genuinely enjoy playing PoE2, especially considering its unfinished state. With 40 hours spent on it each week, I’m hooked. Only time will tell if future patches improve the game enough to retain my enthusiasm.
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/12/31/thoughts-on-150-hours-of-path-of-exile-2-from-a-diablo-player