Path of Exile 2 Review: What's the Ultimate Spiritual Successor to Diablo 2 Like?

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With the release of Path of Exile 2, comments appeared on social networks and YouTube that this event would be the end for Diablo 4. However, after the start of Early Access, general enthusiasm gave way to disappointment. The competition between the games didn't produce the expected results. Both projects, like their predecessors, successfully coexist in the market. Each game has its own unique challenges and peculiarities. Against this backdrop, some gamers are beginning to discover other games in the genre, such as Last Epoch, Titan Quest, and Grim Dawn, or rethink familiar projects, finding new value in them.

Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4, despite their similar genres and intense competition, are aimed at different audiences. In Diablo 4, Blizzard creates an atmosphere in which players enjoy the visual effects of skill combos, accompanied by vibrant sound effects. This experience immerses the user in a state of relaxation and comfort. The sounds that occur when "legendary" items drop act as soothing music, and the game mechanics are designed to prolong this feeling of pleasure. In this context, the game resembles a cozy ride in a warm commuter train on a cold winter day. Players can get lost in the gameplay, and even if they miss important events, there will be no need to regret it.

Created by Grinding Gear Games, Path of Exile has a unique philosophy based on trial and error and survival in harsh environments. In this world, players may encounter situations where one moment they feel unthreatening from enemies, and the next they find themselves in the midst of a brutal attack. While Diablo offers players detailed tours and explanations of game mechanics, Path of Exile allows players to figure out the nuances on their own or refer to guides. This creates a unique experience where each player can explore and discover new aspects of the game, immersing themselves in a deep and complex system that requires skill and strategy.

The differences in the approaches to the games do not allow one to definitively say that one is better than the other. They simply represent different concepts. This comparison can be made between Path of Exile 2 and the first Path of Exile. Each game offers a unique experience and gameplay variety.

Some may argue that the changes are minor. However, the essence remains the same: you still need to choose a character and their equipment. Delving into an extensive skill tree and calculating the necessary skills to create an effective build remains relevant. You'll play through a story campaign, and then repeat cycles of activities where powerful bosses and rarest items await you. At first glance, all this is true. However, differences manifest themselves in both small details and larger systems. At the start of Early Access, not all changes can be considered positive; Some of them represent a rejection of previously existing principles.

Let's start with the positive aspects. The number of improvements that make the process more enjoyable, accessible, and interactive is truly significant. These changes significantly improve the quality of interaction and allow users to enjoy a more efficient and convenient experience.

The character selection screen in Path of Exile 2 creates a unique immersion into the game atmosphere from the very first seconds. Unlike other games, where heroes are arranged in a semicircle around a fire or wait in pensive poses, in Path of Exile 2 players are faced with the exciting spectacle of a medieval execution. This visual design not only sets the tone of the game but also emphasizes its dark and tense atmosphere. Character selection becomes not just a formality, but an important part of the gameplay, which makes it more engaging and memorable.

Angry peasants gather at the scaffold, awaiting the execution of the sentence. The executioner with an axe stands silently behind them, instilling fear with his presence. Meanwhile, six heroes, each representing a unique class and personality, are on the brink of execution. Please note that changing character gender, as in Diablo 3 or 4, is not possible. Clicking on the chosen hero will reveal the accusation and prompt the player to enter a name. Once selected, all other heroes perish, and your character, showing ingenuity, leaps into the river. From this moment on, a thrilling journey begins, filled with adventure and challenges. Players will explore the world, encounter enemies, and uncover secrets, all while developing their heroes' unique abilities, making each game unique.

The plot and narrative in the sequel have been significantly improved. In the original Path of Exile (PoE), the story was so complex and confusing that many players might lose track of key moments. Even after playing through, reviewing, and studying materials, information could easily fade from memory, making it difficult to explain what happened to friends. Some may argue that plot is unimportant in ARPGs, but it is actually crucial to immersing players in the game world. Due to the original game's lack of structure, it was noticeably inferior to its competitors, despite having a compelling story. Now, with improved storytelling, players can better understand and appreciate the storylines and characters, making the gameplay more engaging and memorable. In Path of Exile 2, the writers took inspiration from the structure of the first three acts of Diablo 2, while retaining the key elements and principles of the original. They masterfully placed emphasis and created a cohesive narrative that captivates players and immerses them in the world. As a result, the game's story becomes more dynamic and immersive, allowing players to gain a deeper understanding of character motivations and unfolding events.

The result is truly impressive: you are completely immersed in a dark fantasy atmosphere, gradually discovering a wonderful world. You always understand exactly what actions to take, where to go, what side quests are available in the surrounding area, as well as who the key characters are and how they relate to each other. This clear script allows you to delve deeper into the lore and enjoy every moment of the adventure.

The hero constantly reacts to events, which makes them more alive and realistic. Upon seeing a rune, gaining a level, or encountering another character, they will definitely express their thoughts. Just one phrase creates the feeling that the character has their own personality. These lines accurately reflect your thoughts and emotions at the moment, which helps avoid the traditional ludo-narrative dissonance found in ARPGs. Thus, player motivation is harmoniously integrated with the story's development, making the gameplay more engaging and immersive.

The game's villains aren't cartoonish characters like in Diablo, and they don't fall at a glance. Facing them becomes a true challenge. The Count in Act I, Yamanra in Act II, and Doryani in Act III—each of these enemies is capable of depleting the player's morale and health. Their arsenal includes powerful attacks and combos that can easily deplete your entire health bar with the slightest mistake. The Count is interesting in that he creates a confined arena where you must simultaneously fight wolves and dodge his surprise attacks. Yamanra uses a multitude of spells in the second phase, requiring the player to maintain high concentration. Doryani, on the other hand, assembles a giant mech and puts on a spectacular laser show, making the battle even more exciting. These characters not only add complexity to the gameplay, but also add depth to the story, making each encounter unique and unforgettable.

The first time I tried, I failed to defeat any of them, but that didn't demotivate me. The villains' designs are eye-catching, and the structure of the fights with them is unique. Their action patterns are sometimes unpredictable, and many events happen in the arena simultaneously, making the battle dynamic. The usual click-bait tactics give way to active maneuvers and dodges. The fast pace of the battle is combined with a fair difficulty. If the enemy proves stronger, there's a checkpoint near the arena, which allows you to avoid long runs after defeat. Just take a deep breath and return to the fight.

The setting of the locations, which differs from the level design, perfectly conveys the atmosphere of the game. The developers managed to transform the desolate landscapes, which usually cause despondency, into something exciting and captivating. Players feel as if they're traveling through Mars, once inhabited by majestic titans. This masterful use of setting not only enhances the gameplay but also immerses players in a unique world that leaves an unforgettable impression.

Each level in the game has its own unique character and atmosphere. Each zone features additional tasks and objectives, clearly marked on the map. Completing these tasks not only earns additional points but also increases one of the game's key stats. This makes the game more engaging and allows players to become more immersed in the game world.

The game's monsters are varied and differ significantly from level to level. Most are confined to specific locations, adding an element of exploration. The game design principle remains the same: light infantry, riflemen, and giants are always waiting for the player. However, the developers skillfully combine them, using various mechanics and abilities, eliminating the possibility of boredom. Each encounter with an enemy becomes a unique experience, opening up new tactical possibilities and strategies in the game.

One of the significant innovations, which pleases me as a parent, is the instant pause function. It can be activated at any time, even in the midst of battles. In addition, if you temporarily leave the game for 20 minutes, you are not kicked from the server. If you do leave, the game saves not only the level map but also the portal from the city. This level of comfort is a real treat, especially in the context of a hardcore game with vast locations where navigation can be challenging. Finding an exit or door in such conditions can often be difficult.

The positive changes don't end there. While leveling, you have the option to reset all skills from your skill tree. This is certainly not cheap, especially considering the limited amount of gold you can find (and this is after an update that reduced the cost of point re-distribution by 40-50%). However, it now feels much more reasonable and accessible.

Previously, the cost of a mistake while leveling a character significantly impacted gameplay. If a player made a mistake with a build, it was impossible to completely fix the situation—only a small part could be changed. The only option was to create a new hero, which seemed absurd, as most players are not willing to sacrifice time for the potential success hundreds of hours later. As a result, the audience quickly adapted to playing according to guides, and newcomers often did not want to learn the nuances of leveling. If every decision feels wrong and there is no way to fix it, motivation is lost. The introduction of the talent point reset mechanic was a necessary step to attract a new audience. This allowed players to experiment more freely with the build and improved the overall game experience.

This isn't the only nice bonus that significantly improves content accessibility. Now, when unlocking new moves, you can see their effects thanks to a short demonstration video located under the ability description. Additionally, when learning items, you have the opportunity to review descriptions of all stats and understand how they function. These improvements make the learning process more efficient and informative, allowing players to better navigate the game's mechanics.

One significant innovation in the ARPG genre is the introduction of WASD controls. This is an improvement that players have long been missing. Using a keyboard layout, players gain greater control over their character compared to using only a mouse. A simple sideways movement can be decisive in dodging enemy attacks, creating a truly immersive experience. These positive feelings are enhanced by the high-quality implementation of hitboxes in the game, which makes interactions with the game world more responsive and precise.

Some players find the overall pacing of the game slow and ponderous compared to the first Path of Exile. This can be attributed to the emphasis on WASD controls and the overall game design principles. However, as you progress, the game begins to pick up speed, especially when you unlock boots that increase movement speed or find passive skill stones. These elements significantly improve the dynamism of the gameplay and allow for faster exploration.

Path of Exile 2 requires refinement in several areas. The philosophy of late-game activities contradicts what players learned during the story campaign. This is especially true for the Atlas mechanics and all related elements. It's important that the tutorial and gameplay are consistent across all levels to ensure a smooth transition from the early game to the advanced content.

The Atlas in Path of Exile 2 is a key mechanic, unlocked after reaching level 60, near the end of the main campaign. Players begin earning waystones, which can be compared to maps from the first Path of Exile. These waystones unlock individual levels where you'll complete various quests, the main goal of which is to defeat all rare monsters and, if present, a boss. As you explore the Atlas, you'll also encounter unique Strongholds. These adventures culminate in a battle against a powerful version of one of the campaign bosses. Defeating him will reward you with one of three fragments of a special resource needed to defeat the Arbiter, the main enemy in Path of Exile 2.

You only have one attempt to complete each map. In patch 0.1.1, the developers plan to increase the number of attempts to six, but this change will only affect Arbiter mode. If you die, you'll lose a significant amount of experience, and the portals to the main boss will close. To return and try again, you will have to seek access to the Strongholds again and clear them of enemies.

Instead of trial and error, you'll experience a harsh punishment system. Death is very easy—just take a critical hit that comes unexpectedly. Even high magic resistance is no guarantee of safety, as there are mechanics that cannot be avoided. Players must be attentive and careful, otherwise death is inevitable.

Randomness plays a significant role in achieving game goals, especially when it comes to finding Strongholds. Currently, they are quite difficult to find, as they appear in random locations on the Atlas. In the future, Strongholds will appear within reach, making them easier to spot. However, there is another difficulty—the one-death rule. Choosing the wrong build significantly reduces the chances of success. If a player dies, they must search for a Stronghold on the Atlas again and make their way to the Stronghold boss, and then to the Arbiter. This approach causes dissatisfaction among many players, leading them to leave the game. To successfully overcome this challenge, it is important to carefully consider your strategy and choose the appropriate build to increase your chances of success.

Even if you manage to survive in difficult conditions, this does not guarantee the receipt of useful items or consumables. In Path of Exile 2, as in the first part, the loot system is completely random. Sometimes you can find unique items for other classes, but not for your own. If you are lucky, the item you receive is often unusable. Fortunately, you can check the quality of an item by hovering over it while it is on the ground. However, this does not make the situation any easier. Without high-quality equipment, which is the main source of a character's strength (passive skills and abilities do not have such a significant impact), progression through the game becomes difficult.

The user has three options: participate in the auction, craft equipment, or knock out items with a parameter that increases the rarity of found items. Experience shows that it is desirable to have this characteristic on all items. Even with a rarity level of 186%, there is no guarantee of success, but the lack of this parameter leads to low level and quality of loot, and the reward does not correspond to the effort invested. Therefore, it is important to strive to improve the rarity of equipment to increase the chances of obtaining valuable items.

Crafting in Path of Exile 2 should solve a number of problems, but it's currently limited. Early in the game, it feels like a casino, where players can spend resources without much benefit. Crafting efficiency only increases later in the game, when unique essences become available and drop later. This leads to players struggling to upgrade their items early on, which reduces overall interest in the crafting mechanic.

The auction house raises a lot of questions for me. First of all, its system seems outdated. Users must go through several steps: go to a special website, select equipment, return, agree on the details in chat, and then make the exchange. Secondly, traders working in groups undermine the entire game economy, leading to a shortage of valuable items and the availability of most others for insignificant amounts. Are the developers taking any measures to address these issues? Unfortunately, no, the situation remains unchanged.

The developers should return to the foundations laid down in the first game. It's important that playing in a group doesn't provide a significant advantage in obtaining equipment. They also need to implement an effective and understandable crafting system, replacing mechanics that only drain players' resources. This will create a more balanced gaming space and improve interaction between participants.

There are others Services that allow you to exchange items for real money, unlike the official platform, where such transactions are impossible. Traders with the necessary knowledge and experience can earn between 100,000 and 250,000 rubles per month. Players often resort to such services because they are unable to obtain the necessary equipment to successfully complete complex in-game activities on their own.

Balance issues in the game are most noticeable among players who have spent more than 50 hours playing. However, newcomers face completely different challenges related to abrupt balance changes. The first act of the game is fairly simple, especially if you follow a pre-made build. Otherwise, if you have created your own build, the likelihood of successfully reaching the Count may be low. The second act is characterized by a significant increase in incoming damage, which can negatively impact your gameplay, even if your build initially appears strong. This is especially true for players who lack the necessary items for protection from the elements and adequate armor. While these challenges can be overcome, doing so requires significant resources, making savings and hoarding nearly impossible.

In the future, when Grinding Gear Games completes the final touches on Path of Exile 2, the game has every chance of becoming the perfect successor to Diablo 2. It possesses the key elements necessary for success: a unique atmosphere, high difficulty, accessibility, diverse characters, exciting bosses, and impressive gameplay mechanics. However, for now, the game is recommended only to dedicated fans of the genre. Other players should wait a few years before diving into the world of Path of Exile 2. Otherwise, you risk not returning to the game after its official release. The project offers many interesting and worthwhile solutions, but they are juxtaposed with outdated elements that can detract from the overall experience.