Platform: PC
Genre: Action RPG, Dark Fantasy, Games To Play While You’re Listening To A Podcast

When it comes to action RPGs that is loot-driven and are already set in their template (kill things, go through randomized maps, get loot, rinse, repeat), any form of sound or feedback that triggers that dopamine inside your system is crucial in keeping you invested. That’s the magic of games like the Diablo series (funded by a bigwig developer) and its copycats, as well as even a top-down title like Vampire Survivors to an extent (a one-man team game). Whether big or small-scale, sounds matter in anything involving obtainable gear and role-playing game stats that bump up your numbers to nnth degrees.

The Early Access version of Path of Exile 2, made by action RPG wizkids Grinding Gear Games, maintains this with its presentation and sound alone. Every hit I land with each of the six classes available, whether it’s the ghastly blast from the Witch’s wand to the multiple thuds from the Monk’s quarterstaff, all feels satisfying when accompanied with particles of ice/fire/lightning that help make the dreary goth setting of the game’s world Wraeclast all the more bright. Because everything about this action RPG is dead set to be more in-depth than any of its contemporaries preceding it, even as a work-in-progress.

Wraeclast Rock

One of the many ways PoE 2 stands out among its peers is to allow PC players the choice of either mouse-driven controls or WASD keyboard settings. While at first you may be comfortable with the click-and-play style of action RPGing, later stages and enemy mobs of ascending difficulty may want you to rethink your stance. Playing the game with WASD controls let you be more precise when aiming your spells as you use your mouse to point the direction of your attacks. This is apparent with ranged classes like the Mercenary and Ranger who can move while shooting their crossbow bolts/arrows. Melee classes with some extra attack range and counters like the Monk also benefit from the WASD setup, as you can quickly aim at spots to lay out counterattacks at breakneck speed. It may seem like a small control scheme change to some, but it’s tailor-made for someone who is intensively focused on the genre like myself.

Like I said earlier, there are six classes at your disposal with various playstyles: spellcaster, ranged, melee, summoner, and so forth. But you’re not locked onto a class’ set of moves and passive skills; thanks to PoE2’s enormous Passive Skill Tree, you can use the skill points you earned from levelling up to branch out to different areas outside of your class’ norm. For instance, if I want my Warrior to start summoning skeletons like the Witch for extra support, I can just allocate skill points closer to the Witch’s section. Likewise with the Monk if he wants to get some ranged attacks action going on. The only issue with this flexibility is that respeccing when at higher levels will cost you loads of gold.

Yes, you now earn Gold instead of relying on a bartering system in part 2 this time. That’s a welcome change to get more people on-board. But there’s plenty more reasons to jump straight to this sequel without fussing over part 1; Grinding Gear Games strikes that balance between making the game accessible and easy to jump into while dishing out a major challenge that require you to gear up and start grinding action RPG-style.

All three Acts in the Early Access version have their own sets of bosses and challenges, as well as map sets to explore and areas to sort out. You also have access to Ascendancy Trials -stage gauntlets you go through to upgrade your current class with better skills- that require “tokens” to retry should you fail (and you will the first time). Said bosses range from former humans who turn into Bloodborne/Dark Souls-style monstrosities with new attack patterns to giants that hit really hard but have such obvious telegraphs, they end up summoning other enemies to harass you when they’re near-death. Make no mistake: Path of Exile 2 can come off as cheap at times, but you are given ample time and space to level up and grind for gear to buff up your character. And you can respec your skill tree a tad so that you deal more damage or get more protection; getting the gold to do just that is just a matter of farming, which is common practice for the genre.

Thankfully, the sounds and feedback I mentioned, along with the grim yet beautiful look of the game and its locales, are more than enough to get you hooked through its repetition. There’s always the “5 more minutes before I go to bed, oh wait it’s past 3am” routine with Path of Exile 2 because you have extra pips left before your next level up and passive skill tree point, or you’re sure that big boss you’re close to killing will drop a Unique that may help your current class. Coupled with the many endgame options to aim for once you’re level 65 -which involves a giant Atlas map with plethora of game modes to tackle and challenge you- and you have a 30+ hour action RPG you can sink your teeth into.

I should warn you that this is an Early Access game still. Despite all the good I’ve mentioned, there are technical issues, at least in the build I’ve played over the week. My game crashes 2 out of 5 times, usually after an hour or so of playing non-stop. In one damning instance, after a build update, I lost all my Skill Gems on my character’s skill panel, making me farm through enemies to regain uncut skill gems in past areas. Some enemy attacks bypass me, while others flat-out killed me even though I was clicks away from the intended radius of the attack. Lag spikes come on and off, with the game stuttering to the point where I can’t get certain attacks activated. I can’t speak for other media folks who played the game, but I do hope that whatever bugs I have encountered are ironed out in the first few months of launch.

Road To Renovation

Despite technical & network issues, Path of Exile 2 is clearly set on being the de facto soon-to-be-free-to-play (getting in now requires you to fork out RM130+) action RPG of whichever year it fully releases. The Early Access is already packed with so much to do and a lot to strive forward to, with multitudes of builds for the available 6 base classes, the passive skill trees they’re situated on, and the many Skill Gems, Support Gems, and other buffs & powerups that lead to crazy builds limited by your imagination and time constraints.

Grinding Gear Studios has outdone themselves in delivering a lot for just an “Early Access” game that can last you for 30 hours plus if you’re dedicated enough. It’s challenging, it looks and sounds damn good, and is still as high level as its predecessor; perhaps moreso due to its streamlining and readjustments of its core tenets. Just mind the bugs; you are after all paying to be a tester for what could be a game that will only hit 1.0 after 12 months.

Pros

• Detailed and visceral dark fantasy aesthetics.
• Challenging without being too brutal (until Cruel Difficulty).
• Tons of hours of gameplay (for an Early Access title).
• Plethora of class builds thanks to skill gem system & large passive skill tree.

Cons

• Loads of technical bugs.

Not-Quite-Final Score: 80/100

Early Access build provided by publisher.