Review: Path of Exile 2 (Early Access) – My Experience so far

Genre / Tags: Action RPG, Hack and Slash, Souls-like, Action, Adventure, MMO, Early Access
Developer/Publisher: Grinding Gear Games/Grinding Gear Games
URL: Path of Exile 2 on Steam

I’ve been playing Path of Exile 2’s Early Access now for the last week or so, put a good 40+ hrs in and I wanted to give my two cents on the game in it’s current state from an ARPG enjoyer, but someone who put some time into PoE, but almost nothing into any of the ‘end game’ systems.

Personally, i’m not a huge fan of “paid early access” for a game that’s going to eventually be a free to play game. Because it’s not like other early access where you’re just buying the game and you get the cherry ontop of being able to play it early as well. That being said, PoE has a soft spot in my heart and I felt like not only supporting a developer that I think does great things, but get to play the game a little early as well.

(Image Credit: Steam / GGG)

I don’t typically put my rating in my reviews until the end of the post, but I feel like this one is a bit different from the others. I’m going to have to give Path of Exile 2 a solid 8.5. Easily best ARPG we’ve had in a hot minute. This rating, for me, feels a little low for how fantastic an Action RPG this game really is. No game that i’ve tried lately in the genre even come close to how this game feels. The appearance is vastly improved from PoE, it’s very modern and just feels good all around. I don’t have moments where I’m having troubles seeing things or knowing what i’m even looking at.

The story feels like a re-telling of Diablo 2. I don’t think I can do it justice without any spoiling of said story. But If you check it out, you’ll see it from act to act. Each Act has the same feel of each act in D2. Which honestly, doesn’t bother me. D2 is kind of people’s “benchmark” when it comes to ARPGs to this day. So why not take on the reigns if it works.

Complexity of builds definitely feels a lot less “all over the place” that PoE was. I feel like there’s been a lot of polish to the UI of the skill tree, being able to use the Search functionality is a godsend if you’re looking for a specific type of build, like minions or stun, etc etc.

I will say however, the game is pretty unforgiving and is SUPER dependent on dodge rolling. Until you get a build “working”, a lot of the bosses will just one shot you with some of their abilities, even if you’re the tankiest build you can make, if you don’t dodge roll out of some mechanics you’re just going to get one shot. And this is coming from someone that isn’t even in new game+ yet.

One of my biggest complaints thus far that I hope GGG fixes, is being pushed around via mob attacks. Maybe the mob just has a huge sword that swings through you and hits you, but because the sword is SO big, it actually physically pushes your character around into effects and such you weren’t even in, or dodging a completely different direction and you as the player push nearly no mobs around when you do your attacks or dodge rolling. As a warrior, I see this happening a ton, especially with a boss i’m currently trying to beat to progress. Almost every attack it does pushes me around and into it’s AoE slowing/damaging effect.

In Path of Exile 2, I’ve tried a couple classes thus far, Hunter and Warrior. I need to give more of them their fair shots to see which I really enjoy more then others. Realistically there’s just so many options you could go with a build that you could have like 4 different sorcerer’s and they all play completely differently. Something I feel almost no other game can really come close to doing in the same genre that i’ve seen.

(Image Credit: Steam / GGG)

I cannot recommend Path of Exile 2 any more, being brutally honest. I’ve wanted some ARPG’s like D4 and whatnot to blow me away and they just fall super super short. All i’ve wanted to do lately is just throw more time at this game, which is a great feeling to have. Not many games do that anymore, which is kinda sad.

Check out the latest trailer for Path of Exile 2’s Early Access, or take a look at the Steam Page!