With “Immortals of Aveum,” a new single-player shooter has been released on Steam. However, the reviews are mixed, and many complain about the performance.
Immortals of Aveum launched on August 22, 2023, on Steam, but the reviews are only balanced. However, most of the criticism is not for the gameplay, but for the poor performance.
Some say the game was developed for the wrong hardware, but other players explain: The game doesn’t run smoothly even on high-end hardware, and the technical state is unacceptable.
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Immortals of Aveum Official Gameplay Trailer
Misconception about the typical gamer?
What does the community think? Among PC gamers, there are many dissatisfied with the state of the game. Some explain that the developers simply have the wrong ideas about the players. One person states in his Steam review:
If you don’t have an 8-core CPU or an RTX 3080 Ti, then do NOT buy the game! It seems the developers don’t understand that the average PC gamer does not have a 3090/4090. Based on other reviews, you can’t even get stable FPS with a high-end GPU.
I have a 3060Ti paired with an i7-11700F, and I couldn’t get more than 25 fps WITH DLSS! without massive stuttering.
Another explains: “Even with an [RTX] 4090 and a [Ryzen] 7950X3D, the game was very choppy.”
But even the wonder technology DLSS seems to no longer give games the performance boost it did in its early days. And users with older GPUs that do not support DLSS are left in the dust.
Many players are also unimpressed: The game lacks important settings, such as HDR options. For a game that is supposed to showcase the advantages of Unreal Engine 5, that’s quite little.
How has the year 2023 been so far? From the perspective of PC gamers, there have officially been plenty of exciting releases and games. However, the fewest could convince with good performance. Already Star Wars: Jedi Survivor launched catastrophically on Steam not because of bad gameplay, but because the technology was simply not good.
Games like
Wild Hearts (Mixed 47%)
Wo Long Fallen Dynasty (Mixed 47%)
RedFall (Mostly negative, 37%)
Forspoken (Mixed 60%)
all received bad reviews in a row because the technology simply could not convince. Many players also do not see why they should spend so much money on a bad port.
However, a few developers have already stated that these problems are likely never going to be solvable:
The Twitch streamer Asmongold has addressed Season 2 in Diablo 4. There is praise, but one point bothers him.
This is Season 2 in Diablo 4: During the gamescom opening, the new Season 2 in Diablo 4 was presented. It is called the “Season of Blood” and brings along fitting enemies: Bloodthirsty Vampires.
Season 2 is set to start on October 17, 2023, but a first glimpse was already given in the form of a trailer at gamescom. You can watch it here:
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Diablo 4 presents new Season 2, coming this fall – Blood & Vampires
Twitch streamer Asmongold also looked at the new announcement and the comments about it. In a stream, he shared his opinion about the content.
Asmongold says: You need new mobs
This is his criticism: Generally, Asmongold responds positively to the new content at first and says he didn’t want to judge too harshly, but: He has a problem with the shown enemies.
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His criticism: The streamer believes there is too little variety among the opponents and that the mobs are basically the same ones we already know – just presented differently. However, he hopes for new monsters.
In his video, he examines the opponents and ultimately recognizes in them reskins of familiar enemies: You can’t just repaint the same NPCs in the game and say: Oh, they are zombies? No, now they are vampires!
Asmongold wishes for more variety: You need to add new types of monsters. They don’t even have to be particularly difficult, they just need to look different and be cool (via Twitch).
He also compares this with the competitor Path of Exile, which from his perspective also adds reskins of mobs, but complements them with new ones: You need new mobs. It is strange that we have hardly seen any so far.
In Pokémon GO you can expect an extra raid hour today, August 24, 2023. We will show you the information you need for the event.
What kind of event is this? Usually, the raid hours in Pokémon GO take place on Wednesday evenings. But today, Thursday, there is an additional date.
If you fancy even more proto-raid, you should take an hour off this evening.
Additional Raid Hour on August 24 – Which Boss?
When does the raid hour take place today? The event starts at the usual time of 6:00 PM. It will be active for an hour and ends again at 7:00 PM.
Which boss will be there? In the event raids starting today, you will encounter Proto-Groudon. This Pokémon is of the ground and fire types and is weak against water and ground for those reasons.
Pokémon like Mega-Swampert and Proto-Kyogre are among the strongest attackers you can use in these raids. We have written a counter guide for you, where you can see the 20 best Pokémon you should use against this boss.
With a bit of luck, you might even find a shiny after the raid and get shiny Proto-Groudon. A real eye-catcher in your collection.
In the coming days, you will have another chance to catch Proto-Kyogre and Proto-Groudon. During the GO Fest, you can encounter the bosses again and get your chances to catch them.
Gangs of Sherwood is an online co-op that allows you to become the heroes from the tales of Robin Hood. Step into one of the four roles, rob the rich to help the poor, and defeat Nottingham’s army.
What is it about? In this unique interpretation of Robin Hood, the hero fights alongside his crew against the evil army of Nottingham.
The Sheriff of Nottingham has wielded the power of the philosopher’s stones and is now stronger than ever before. Now he waits for you in his flying castle.
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Gangs of Sherwood Merry Gang Trailer
You play as Robin, Marian, Brother Tuck, or Little John with fully customizable play styles. Set off together to plunder riches and help the poor, spending the remaining gold on your own equipment.
Utilize the different heroes to foil the tyrant’s plans and free the people of Nottingham.
When is the game coming out? The release is on October 19, 2023. The game will be available on Steam.
What does the trailer show? The current trailer gives you a closer look at the “Merry Gang”.
Robin Hood is, as expected, the archer of the group and showcases his famous accuracy at long distances in the trailer.
Brother Tuck seems to take on the role of a classic tank and in the trailer, you can see him smashing the sheriff’s troops with a mighty hammer.
You only get a brief impression of Little John, and his role is hard to determine from that. However, he definitely shows that he can hit hard.
Marian seems to take on the role of an assassin with initially unassuming knives. However, she gives us the first taste of the magic that will also play a role in Gangs of Sherwood. Because she throws lightning at her enemies with her knives instead of simply stabbing them.
The mix of magic, machines, and the classic medieval setting makes the game look like a truly interesting experience.
When Foamstars was announced, many initially thought of Splatoon, but for PlayStation. Our author Mark Sellner was able to play the colorful shooter at the gamescom and was pleasantly surprised.
What is Foamstars? Colorful and fast primarily, but one step at a time. Foamstars is a shooter that will be released for PS4 and PS5, relying on the hero formula. Similar to Overwatch, Valorant, and others, there are different heroes that you can play.
They all have different abilities and are divided into various classes. Here, there is a lot of choice from classic tanks to nimble attackers and precision shooters. How many of these heroes will be available in the release version is currently unknown.
In teams of 4, these “Foamstars” will play against each other. In the battles, similar to Splatoon, the goal is to color the battlefield as much as possible in your color. Because you can surf on foam from your team and move really fast, while enemy foam severely slows you down.
At release, the game is supposed to offer various maps and game modes; in the preview version at gamescom, we have only seen one map and one mode so far.
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Foamstars – A colorful team shooter where you fight each other with foam
The battles are not only colorful but also dynamic
How does fighting work? In fact, Foamstars is much more than it seems at first glance. Of course, the comparison with Splatoon is obvious, but there is a fundamental difference between paint and foam.
While in Splatoon you can only color the ground, in Foamstars you can use the foam to create three-dimensional structures, thereby changing the battlefield’s height. Here, a gameplay feeling arises that can best be described as a combination of Splatoon and Fortnite.
I can quickly build a wall of foam in front of me when an enemy approaches. I can build a tower to reach a higher sniper point or simply bury the unsuspecting opponent under an avalanche of foam, rendering them nearly immobile.
This plays out more tactically than initially expected and is still a lot of fun in the 5th round. With each round we played with our press colleagues, the game got better as we learned to use the foam more effectively.
Sometimes, fleeing is the only option
Who surfs right, wins
What makes the gameplay so dynamic? Aside from the constantly changing battlefield, it is mainly the surfing that makes the fights exciting. Because here it becomes clear who embraces teamwork, which is usually the path to victory.
The background to this lies in the death mechanic of Foamstars. When you get knocked out, you roll around the battlefield in a foam ball for a few seconds before you actually die and respawn in your base 5 seconds later.
As long as you are in this ball, both enemies and friends can surf through you. If a friend catches you, you respawn with low health in the same spot; if an enemy catches you, it means your immediate demise.
All these mechanics, combined with the heroes’ special abilities, make the game colorful, fast, and dynamic, but never confusing. Which is quite an achievement in this color spectacle.
When you can get your hands on it or when the title will be released is currently unknown. We only know that the game will be released for PS4 and PS5. The monetization of Foamstars is also still unknown.
However, the project leader revealed to us during the meeting that accessibility is prioritized, which would suggest a Free2Play model. Moreover, heroes should also be obtainable without spending real money.
What do you think of Foamstars? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
In retrospect, Stallone could tell from the video footage that an uppercut was the blow that caused severe damage since it “hit the ribs and struck the heart against the chest wall”.
“The next thing I know, I’m on a plane flying to the emergency room and lying in intensive care for four days. And there are all these nuns.” The actor spent a total of nine days in the hospital due to the injury.
The doctors told Stallone that the injury usually occurs in frontal collisions during car accidents. To which the actor replied, “Almost. I kind of got hit by a bus.”
In retrospect, Stallone could tell from the video footage that an uppercut was the blow that caused severe damage since it “hit the ribs and struck the heart against the chest wall”.
“The next thing I know, I’m on a plane flying to the emergency room and lying in intensive care for four days. And there are all these nuns.” The actor spent a total of nine days in the hospital due to the injury.
The doctors told Stallone that the injury usually occurs in frontal collisions during car accidents. To which the actor replied, “Almost. I kind of got hit by a bus.”
During the filming of Rocky 4, Sylvester Stallone wanted his co-star Dolph Lundgren to hit him for real. However, he underestimated the actor’s strength and ended up in the hospital.
In the boxing film Rocky IV – The Fight of the Century, Rocky, played by Sylvester Stallone, faces the tough competitor Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in the ring, and they deliver a spectacular boxing match.
However, Sylvester Stallone had to take a beating during the filming of the scenes and spent several days in the hospital.
Here you can see the trailer for the fourth Rocky movie:
“Just go out there and try to hit me”
When the two actors were filming the boxing scene, Stallone told Lundgren not to follow any choreography and just hit hard. “Just go out there and try to hit me,” was the instruction.
So Lundgren gave it his all and delivered a solid punch to Stallone’s chest. At first, the lead actor felt completely normal. But after several hours, Stallone noticed something was wrong.
Also, an actor from the live-action adaptation One Piece gave it his all for his role, as he mentioned in an interview:
In retrospect, Stallone could tell from the video footage that an uppercut was the blow that caused severe damage since it “hit the ribs and struck the heart against the chest wall”.
“The next thing I know, I’m on a plane flying to the emergency room and lying in intensive care for four days. And there are all these nuns.” The actor spent a total of nine days in the hospital due to the injury.
The doctors told Stallone that the injury usually occurs in frontal collisions during car accidents. To which the actor replied, “Almost. I kind of got hit by a bus.”
Starfield is supposed to offer a gigantic world full of mysteries ready to be explored by you. Not an easy task for players who can quickly become overwhelmed. For this reason, Bethesda gives you a tip on how to maximize your enjoyment of the shooter.
The game already offers a large amount of things to keep you busy, but it might overwhelm some players. GamesRadar conducted an interview with Bethesda’s Head of Publishing, Pete Hines, during an Xbox livestream.
Pete mentioned a point that you should not ignore on your travels in order to enjoy the game to the fullest.
A captivating trailer from Gamescom for Starfield can be found embedded here:
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Gamescom ONL 2023 Trailer Starfield
“Don’t ignore your activities”
What does Bethesda advise you? In his interview, Pete mentioned one thing he urges every player to consider, which are the activities you should not ignore.
According to him, this is a new way in which you can engage in Starfield. Pete does not elaborate further but says: “It feels like throwaway stuff that the game offers you, but there are some amazing things in it that don’t even feel like a real quest, but can lead you to some amazing places and some amazing stories.”
As with every Bethesda game, the developers want to encourage you to do what you feel like doing. Pete believes that every player should explore their path and not just blindly follow a quest. “Be the person you want to be in this world and see what happens,” is what he says.
When can I play Starfield? Starfield will officially be released on Xbox Series and PC on September 6. However, players who pre-ordered the digital premium edition can log in and play as early as September 1.
By then, we will know whether Pete was right and how the activities will affect your character. Did you complete the main story in Bethesda games, or were you a wanderer who finished all side quests and explored the world? Let us know in the comments.
At the Opening Night Live of the gamescom 2023, there was a wealth of new information and insights about games set to be released in the coming months. Among them was Warhaven.
What kind of game is this? Warhaven is a medieval war game produced by the Korean development studio Nexon.
Since Warhaven is set in a medieval setting with fantasy elements, the gameplay focus is primarily on fighting with melee weapons like a sword. However, there are also magical elements as well as powerful war machines and siege weapons that you can use during the chaotic PvP battles.
In Warhaven, various well-known modes such as Capture the Flag, Domination, and Team Deathmatch are played, which are mainly recognized from various shooters like Call of Duty and Battlefield.
In each match, up to 24 players (12v12) compete against each other. Previously, it was mentioned that there would be 32 players per match (16v16), but as Nexon announced during gamescom, the number of players has been reduced. There is also expected to be a smaller mode at release, where only 6v6 will be played.
You can watch the Warhaven trailer for the ONL of gamescom 2023 here:
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Warhaven announces the release date with a new live-action trailer at gamescom 2023
What do we know about the release? Warhaven is set to start on September 21, 2023, as a free-to-play title in Early Access on Steam. As for a possible console release, nothing is known at the moment.
What do players say about the new trailer? While some commentators on YouTube express their excitement for Warhaven, others are rather critical of the trailer – the criticism is not even directed at the game itself.
The music selection and some slow-motion sequences are not well received. One user sums up the sentiment aptly by writing: The game may really be good, but this trailer is absolutely terrible. Not only the slow-motion from 2010 that literally no one likes, but also the goddamn music.
If you now want to see a really good trailer for a medieval game that has excited fans, you should definitely take a look at Crimson Desert:
The South Korean horror series Hellbound premiered in 2021 on Netflix and immediately took the world series charts by storm. It raised the question of how people would react if they knew that something like hell really exists. Currently, a 2nd season is in the works, as a YouTube video revealed.
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, known mainly for Train to Busan, the horror and mystery series Hellbound was produced.
The series is based on the webtoon of the same name, written by Yeon Sang-ho himself and Choi Gyu-seok.
In November 2021, the 1st season was released on Netflix and immediately topped the Netflix charts as the most-watched series on the streaming platform worldwide at launch, as you can read here from our colleagues at Filmstarts.
Since the announcement in September 2022, fans have known for sure that the series will get a continuation. A YouTube video from August 4th then provided insight into the current work. Here you can see the teaser for the 2nd season of Hellbound:
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Teaser trailer for the 2nd season of the horror series “Hellbound”
The damned are sent to hell
What is Hellbound about? Suddenly, 3 creepy beings appear on Earth and burn people alive after beating the victims.
These mysterious events also occur in the South Korean capital Seoul, causing fear and chaos in the city.
Netflix released a video on YouTube providing insights into the work on the 2nd season of Hellbound. Here you can watch it directly:
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The victims are already warned in advance by a supernatural messenger that they will be sent to hell next.
The police attempt to investigate the backgrounds of the strange deaths, while a cult led by Jeong Jin-soo aids in the divine punishment of the damned. The lawyer Min Hye-jin stands against them and tries to save the people.
The future of World of Warcraft seems to be in good hands, as the “story legend” Chris Metzen appears to have his fingers deep in the next addon.
In the past 20 years, many developers of World of Warcraft have left the team at Blizzard, and there is almost always a discussion about whether there is still anyone from the veterans left.
But there is one who has returned: Chris Metzen. Originally hired as a “story consultant”, when WoW was pretty much down with Shadowlands, he seems to have a significantly larger role now – one that could shape the next addon.
Who is Chris Metzen? Chris Metzen is the original story chief behind the Warcraft franchise. He came up with the original story, created the background story, and is fundamentally responsible for Warcraft being what it is today. From “Vanilla” to “Warlords of Draenor,” he was the driving force of the story.
Besides that, players of the English version probably know him as a voice in the game – he voices characters like the shaman Thrall or the fire elemental Ragnaros.
Where does the information come from? The information comes from YouTuber Taliesin. Together with his partner Evitel, he has been reporting about World of Warcraft for a long time and consistently provides analyses and opinions on current events. Over the years, the two have built some contacts with the Blizzard team and therefore learn many internal things. Some of them never see the light of day because you obviously don’t want to endanger the employees, while others prove to be useful.
The explanation starts at minute 9:47:
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Just like in the current case: According to Taliesin, several employees from the WoW team have independently told him that Chris Metzen’s role in the WoW team is significantly larger than assumed.
Allegedly, Chris Metzen is spending a lot of time with Steve Danuser and Ion Hazzikostas to work on the future of WoW. Metzen is therefore currently an indispensable member of the WoW team and thus much more than just a “story consultant”.
This also aligns with a tweet from Mike Ybarra, who revealed that Chris Metzen will speak about the future of World of Warcraft at the upcoming BlizzCon.
That Metzen is taking on a larger role for the Warcraft franchise had already been announced beforehand. However, many had dismissed it as “PR” and did not expect anything substantial to come from it.
What does this mean for WoW? For all WoW fans who remember the “good old days,” this is likely a positive thing. If Chris Metzen has a greater influence on the story again, then we should – at least presumably – be spared story debacles like Shadowlands. Already, Dragonflight felt significantly more cohesive than the previous addon, and this could be a trend that continues.
There are still a few months until BlizzCon in November. But all “Metzen fans” should already be looking forward to the event – as it seems pretty certain that Chris Metzen will showcase what he and the team have been working on in recent months.
On August 22, the grand opening show of the gamescom 2023, the Opening Night Live (ONL), aired, showcasing numerous trailers for upcoming games. Crimson Desert also had a spot in the trailer storm on Tuesday night.
What kind of game is this? Crimson Desert is the latest game from Pearl Abyss, the creators of the successful MMORPG Black Desert. Crimson Desert was also announced in 2019 as a big new MMORPG.
Crimson Desert is set to be released for console and PC, but whether it only refers to PS5 or Xbox Series X|S or also PS4 and Xbox One is still unknown.
What is Crimson Desert about? In Crimson Desert, mercenaries fight for survival in a world based on European medieval times. They have access to swords and axes, as well as cannons and alchemy.
Since Crimson Desert is primarily about survival and not about hero status, there are numerous nasty opponents, including human NPCs, mystical beasts, and hostile mercenaries.
The new gameplay trailer for Crimson Desert, shown at the ONL of gamescom 2023, can be seen here:
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Crimson Desert used to be an MMORPG, is now a “totally own genre”: Shows a gameplay trailer at gamescom 2023
We would like to summarize some highlights of the new trailer below.
Trailer with a ton of gameplay mechanics
What does the new trailer show? The new trailer showcases various mechanics that Crimson Desert has to offer, as well as the medieval setting of the ambitious action game.
In addition to knights fighting with swords and shields, we also see the use of bows and the well-known dodge rolls. There are also numerous scenes where combat takes place on horseback.
Another highlight of the trailer was parkour gameplay like in Assassin’s Creed, with the featured character climbing along the wall of a house and performing a pole vault to overcome a small fortress wall.
Additionally, the character picked up a cat and cuddled with it – that’s a plus! A dog was also petted.
A bullet-point overview of some of the mechanics shown in the trailer can be seen here:
Close combat with sword and shield + dodge roll, ranged combat with bow and arrow
Movement using a horse including the use of bows and arrows while riding
Side activities: trading, stealing a carriage, fishing, gathering mushrooms
Interaction with animals: petting a dog, picking up and cuddling with a cat,
Making music (plays a flute)
Hot air balloon ride
Movement: parkour gameplay, pole vaulting with a stick, sliding down a mountain
What do the fans say? In the comments on YouTube, there are many positive reactions under the trailer. Especially the abundance of different gameplay mechanics shown in the trailer impressed many.
“The gameplay looks incredibly ambitious. It’s definitely one of those ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ games.”
“That was such a good showcase! Showing so many different scenarios that we can expect during gameplay was awesome, from side quests to boss fights to pure RPG features… more games should have trailers like this.”
“I’m overwhelmed by the amount of brilliant mechanics and subtle interactions.”
“This trailer was insane… hopefully, you [Pearl Abyss/Crimson Desert] can keep all of this.”
However, one wish was not fulfilled for the fans with the new trailer – there is still no precise release date. The last update was that it is supposed to be released in 2023. We are excited.
If you want to see what else was shown during the Opening Night Live of gamescom 2023, check out our live ticker from the evening:
Here you can get an overview of how ships in Starfield are built. MeinMMO shows you details about shipbuilding, the different systems, and images of ships that have already been shown in trailers.
The shipbuilding in Starfield is said to be one of the biggest features of the sci-fi RPG. Your ships will always accompany you and depending on which path you want to take in the game, the focus of your ship will be on different tasks.
smugglers need secure storage, protected from customs scanners. Pirate hunters should opt for mobile ships that can outmaneuver enemy hunters. Luxury liners should pamper their passengers with extra service.
We do not yet know all the details about shipbuilding in Starfield. But what has already been shown, we explain to you here in the overview:
We start with a few basic information about the shipbuilding feature:
You start with a “free” ship that you can upgrade – the “Frontier”
You can own multiple ships and have a main ship
Large ships or fleets are said to be possible only in the endgame
The feature is described as “expensive”; you need a lot of in-game currency
There are at least 10 docks where you can redesign your ships
Different docks offer different parts – also visually
You can control ships in third person or first person perspective
When you redesign your ship, you have to pass a “Flight Check”
You cannot land directly on every planet, but need certain equipment for some terrains
Hostile ships can be boarded, but must then be “registered” at a high cost
Jumps with the Grav-Drive can be interrupted by enemy (pirate) ships
You can take crewmembers who improve your ship
The ship has a total health (hull strength); modules come with their own health values
You can probably call your ship anywhere, like a mount in other games
If you don’t feel like building ships, you can upgrade existing systems or buy finished ships
The Frontier – Our first ship
By the way, all ships in the game were actually built in the ship designer, which is also available to players. However, that doesn’t mean that you can replicate the biggest ships in Starfield yourself.
How large your ships can actually become cannot be said for sure at the moment. However, the previously shown material on Starfield allows some conclusions to be drawn:
Your ship consists of 13 different module types, each with its own properties that change the values of your ship. At the various docks, you will receive modules with a different distribution of values.
Some parts you need to be able to perform certain actions – such as landing on special planetary surfaces. Other parts only bring visual functions.
Here are all known module types:
Cockpit
Provides hull points, space for crewmembers and storage
Habitat
Accommodations for more crewmembers
Shield Generator
Creates a shield around the ship
Cargo Hold
Increases your storage space
Engine
The engine determines speed / acceleration / mobility
Fuel Tanks
Stores Helium-3 for all drive applications: Must be refilled
Grav Drive
Enables lightspeed jumps, determines range (light years) and consumption
Reactor
Provides energy bars that can be distributed in subsystems
Weapons
Energy weapons / projectile weapons / lasers / electro-magnetic: Different weapons provide different advantages in battle
Landing-Gears
You can land on certain planets
Landing Bay
You can leave the ship on certain planets
Docker
For docking maneuvers in space
Cowling
Structural elements that change the appearance
The module overview
The appearance of the module types can vary greatly, allowing for countless combinations and a high degree of customization.
If you want to keep a module longer, you can upgrade it at a dock and thus increase its values. So you don’t necessarily have to buy a better module. However, it is still unclear whether there are stronger or only specialized modules.
Each module strengthens certain values. Additionally, the mass of the modules is important because you need to dimension your drive accordingly. A bulky freighter also needs powerful engines; otherwise, the cargo will never arrive.
Here is an example of the values of a drive from the showcase:
Engine module
Class
Max. Power
Engine Thrust
Maneuvering Thrust
Engine Health
Hull
Crew Capacity
Your drive thus affects different areas of the ship and can even increase the crew member capacity. Modules also come with their own health, which means they can be damaged independently of the ship’s hull.
It is still unclear how large our ships can be
Sub-systems & values – You determine the balance
How do sub-systems work? When you’re sitting in your cockpit, you have access to an energy distribution matrix. Your reactor module determines the amount of energy that you can freely distribute among your subsystems.
Want more thrust to flee from the space police? More energy on the lasers to toast the enemy’s shields? You can distribute energy freely and boost the following systems:
LAS / Laser
BAL / Ballistics
MSL / Missile Damage Strength
ENG / Engine
SHD / Shield
GRV / Gravity Drive
During your adventures in space, you will constantly be busy playing with the energy regulators. Energy management will be particularly important during combat against other ships – depending on whether you need shields because you are being pursued or weapon power because you are attacking.
The sub-systems in the cockpit at a glance
What values should you pay attention to? Below we show you a few values of the ships in Starfield. They are composed of your modules and the design of the ship.
You decide where to set your focus, in which direction you balance your ship:
Hull – health of the ship
Shield – more health / regeneration when not in combat
Cargo – how much stuff you can take with you
Shield Cargo Capacity – possibly space for contraband
Max. Crew – the maximum number of crewmembers
Jump Range – maximum distance with a Grav-Drive jump
Mobility – better maneuverability
Top Speed – maximum speed in a system
Mass – the mass of your ship
Particularly the mass is an interesting value that you need to pay attention to. Because the mass determines how powerful your drive must be. Maneuverability also suffers on large, heavy ships.
If you want to see the segment on shipbuilding from the deep dive of Starfield, you can find the English video here:
Start video
The Shipbuilding of Starfield – Segment from the Deep Dive
Customization options – Scope still uncertain
In principle, you can assemble all modules in the game as you wish. The only limits to your imagination are set by the size of a dock.
Different modules
You can apparently find visually different modules with similar values at different docks. The design of the modules depends on the respective planet where you buy the parts. The ship designer then allows you to assemble the modules freely.
Painting tools
The hull of your ship can be painted as colorful as you see fit. Individual parts can be customized, but you can also repaint the entire ship with one click.
Here is a small selection of ships that have already been shown:
Furniture and interior
Your ship can be set up by you. How deep the system goes cannot be assessed so far. The developers once mentioned a comparison with the construction system of Doom 2016. This would open up many possibilities. Check out the English video from the channel “Starfield Signal” if you want to know more about it (via youtube.com).
Ships and shipbuilding could make up a large part of your Starfield experience. Or not: If you don’t feel like using the ship designer, merchants offer finished ships that you just need to upgrade.
If you have any questions on the topic, feel free to drop them in the comments.
Tarisland (PC, Mobile) is a new MMORPG from the gaming giant Tencent. Although it strongly resembles WoW, the developers believe in its huge success, as they told us at gamescom 2023. This is mainly due to the mobile version without autoplay and pay-to-win and with a strong focus on instances. It is almost unique.
What kind of game is it? Tarisland is a theme park MMORPG in a comic style reminiscent of WoW. You create a character and follow a story while completing quests.
For classes, you can choose from warrior, paladin, mage, hunter, priest, bard, and a type of demon hunter with two glaives.
The combat system uses tab-targeting, but you only have 8 abilities that can be modified according to your wishes. Each class gets trees with 40 to 81 talents.
In the mid and endgame, there are dungeons and raids for 10 players.
The PvP is supposed to take place in arenas and battlegrounds and be “balanced”. There is no open-world PvP.
All of this is financed through a shop, which is supposed to completely avoid pay-to-win.
According to the developers, the goal is to appeal primarily to fans of theme park MMORPGs. However, their unique selling point is supposed to be the strong mobile version that allows Tarisland to be played on the go, unlike WoW or Final Fantasy XIV.
MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch was able to play a dungeon in the midgame during gamescom.
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Tarisland: Chinese alternative to WoW shows beautiful areas and exciting battles in the new trailer
Strong battles, strong dungeons
What makes Tarisland so interesting? The new MMORPG is said to be of very high quality and felt that way during the approximately 20 minutes of gameplay. The combat system was very fluid, and all abilities could be used while moving. I tried the warrior both as a damage dealer and as a tank.
The three bosses played in the dungeon had quite interesting mechanics, including a phase where all players were turned into sheep and had to flee from wolves for 30 seconds. If only one player succeeds, the phase is successfully completed. If everyone gets caught, there will be a wipe.
The first instances can be completed optionally with other players or a group of NPCs. However, players will definitely be required for the later raids.
By the way, the game offers a DMG meter for the group right from the start. According to the developers, this is important for learning from mistakes and getting better.
In terms of equipment, the MMORPG relies either on special drops that you can farm in the instances or crafting. Character development is also influenced by level, talents, and later inscriptions.
With inscriptions, you can modify skills. This allows you to adjust damage and effects, enabling each player to develop their own playstyle.
The highest quality MMORPG for Android and iOS?
Is that enough for a good MMORPG? The graphics, gameplay, and the first boss mechanics looked very solid. I wasn’t completely thrilled, but I also wasn’t disappointed at any point. It feels like a good MMORPG behind the big titles like WoW, GW2, or ESO.
Where the game has its strength is in the mobile version. Tarisland would not only be the best MMORPG for Android and iOS graphically, but it also completely avoids autoplay and pay-to-win in the shop. There, there are mainly cosmetics.
Additionally, there is crossplay between PC and mobile. You can play with your familiar characters on the go.
The developers stated in an interview that they see a huge market gap because there is simply no fair and simultaneously good mobile MMORPG in third-person view with a focus on instances. They want to impress right here.
This statement has a kernel of truth, as even in our list of the best mobile MMORPGs, mainly games in isometric perspective – like Albion or RuneScape – or titles with autoplay, such as Black Desert Mobile or Perfect World Mobile, are listed.
Is there a downside? I personally find the gender lock a bit bothersome. Each class only offers one gender – as a warrior, you are always male. This is unlikely to change anytime soon. According to the developers, it is very time-consuming to offer both genders for each class, as they would otherwise have to adjust all skins in the game.
However, additional classes are expected to come in the future that serve a similar role but in the other gender. This is also similar to Black Desert.
What do you think about Tarisland? Will you give it a try? And if so, will you play on PC or will you also test the mobile version?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Publisher EA announced cost-saving measures at the beginning of 2023 and is now taking action. About 50 employees at the studio BioWare (Anthem, Dragon Age) will be let go, and the contract with a game testing company will not be renewed.
In March 2023, EA announced that it plans to lay off 6% of its staff to respond to the uncertain economic climate (via gamesindustry.biz). This could mean between 700 and 800 layoffs.
Now, 50 employees from EA-owned studio BioWare have been affected. Contracts with a game testing partner are also apparently not being extended. What the responsible parties say about this can be found here on MeinMMO.
The mega event gamescom 2023 is currently taking place in Cologne. MeinMMO is on site; here is our conclusion about the ONL:
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We were live on site at gamescom 2023 – This is our conclusion on the ONL
Why is BioWare laying off people? In a detailed statement, BioWare’s General Manager, Gary McKay, addresses the 50 layoffs (via blog.bioware.com).
They want to meet “the requirements of our upcoming projects” and “continue to adhere to the highest quality standards.”
To achieve this, they need to become “a more agile and focused studio.” This will allow them to better utilize developers, foster creativity, and “have a clear idea of what we are building before development begins.”
McKay clarifies: They are restructuring the studio and want to “rethink the development approach.” Changes in the composition of personnel are “inevitable.” They want to offer professional support to the affected employees when they apply for another position within the EA group.
The BioWare head also promises: The layoffs will not impact the ongoing projects in the studio. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and the pre-production of an unnamed Mass Effect project are on track. Both games do not yet have a release date.
McKay says the news is painful for him, but the changes are necessary. He thanks the community, and the team looks forward to providing the first concrete information about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. However, he does not reveal when that will happen.
Why is the work with game testers ending? In addition to the layoffs at BioWare, publisher EA also announces the end of collaboration with game testing company Keywords Studios.
The Canadian company made headlines in June 2022 when parts of the workforce organized themselves into a union. Employees wanted to challenge the unilaterally imposed cancellation of remote work arrangements after the pandemic.
Keywords Studios wanted to bring the game testers back to the office, which would mean long commutes for some employees and could lead to costs of up to 10% of their salary (via labournet.de).
Unlike in Germany, unions are not a given in Canada or the USA.
According to venturebeat.com, EA stated that they could not agree on an extension of the collaboration. The contract will thus expire on September 27.
The studio BioWare was once considered one of the most innovative game developers in terms of storytelling. Its reputation has since suffered somewhat, partly due to statements from former employees:
In Pokémon GO trainers have been desperately searching for the new Zygarde cells for weeks. But now a player has found a new trick to ensure they never miss one of them. We at MeinMMO will show you what you need to do.
Which cells are we talking about? For about a month, trainers in Pokémon GO can use the new route function to walk routes submitted by other players. This way, you can also find the rare Zygarde cells that are currently frustrating many trainers.
But that could soon come to an end, as a trainer has found a way to ensure that the spawning cells are at least not missed so easily anymore. How this works, we have summarized for you below.
Restart causes Zygarde cells to respawn
How the trick works: As Reddit user Labosse85 reports in his current post, he has found a trick to secure the cells even after they disappear and shares the procedure with the community.
Follow these steps:
Close the game no later than 60 meters before the end of the route and restart it
If you missed cells along the route, they should now spawn near you
Then pause your route and explore the area around the target point; sometimes cells appear behind the target that you can catch this way
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In his observations, he found that the cells respawn when you restart the app. When you return to the game, they will appear on the map nearby, and you can catch them, no matter where they originally spawned along the route. And you should also use the pause function to quickly explore the area just before the end of the route.
And what if you still can’t find any cells? As Labosse85 also writes in his post, there are apparently faulty routes in the game where no cells spawn. This is particularly noticeable on longer routes that do not feature any special route spawns. He notes:
If at least one Pokémon does not spawn on a route (with a route symbol like the weather boost symbol), your route is most likely faulty, and you won’t get any cell spawn (except for very short routes under 600m, which can have a cell spawn without a Pokémon spawn). So try other routes.
What experiences have other trainers made? Other trainers have also tried these tricks and confirm in the comments that they worked for them. In particular, the pause function followed by searching the surroundings has already brought them some cells. Here’s what you can read there (via reddit.com):
NoLynx5885: I can confirm that. Outside of events, I just walk the route until I reach the last 100m, then I restart the app and in 90% of cases, I get a cell spawned. For the last 10%, I pause the route and go beyond the end while paused; sometimes there’s a cell there.
Paweron: I had a case where I restarted and saw no cell. I paused and walked towards the target and found the cell behind the target, where it would have been impossible to get it without pausing.
CandygirlDK: In my opinion, the best/most efficient way to get cells. Pause the route at 70 meters. Go to the endpoint and look for cells. If there are none, restart the app. Then walk back 30 meters and continue the route. I have 32 cells. Some were 150 meters from the end of the route, most near the endpoint while the route was paused, and only a few came after the restart.
Trainers are thankful for tips: Other trainers were previously unaware of this possibility and definitely want to try the trick. You can also read the following comments (via reddit.com):
kneel23: Ahh, these tips are very helpful. So especially for shorter routes, I don’t have to pay so much attention, just do it at the end every time?
Pep95: Unusually, I had a lot of bad luck with my cells today, but I had never heard of this last trick. I will try it next time!
Trainers still can’t find cells: However, there are also isolated reports from trainers who have still not been able to find any cells despite the tips. Here, Labosse85 assumes that the used routes are faulty and therefore neither special Pokémon nor the sought-after cells spawn. However, it cannot be said with certainty whether this is really the case or if there are other reasons.
What do you think of Labosse85’s tips? Have you tried them yourself? And were you able to find more cells because of that? Or do you have any other tips? Let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments.
Thus, Sweeney has also sought direct conflict with Apple and Google for Epic Games’ most successful game, the shooter Fortnite. Both took, like Steam, 30% of the revenue:
Thus, Sweeney has also sought direct conflict with Apple and Google for Epic Games’ most successful game, the shooter Fortnite. Both took, like Steam, 30% of the revenue:
Thus, Sweeney has also sought direct conflict with Apple and Google for Epic Games’ most successful game, the shooter Fortnite. Both took, like Steam, 30% of the revenue:
Epic Games has announced an offer to PC game developers that is hard to refuse. Anyone who brings a PC game exclusively to the Epic Game Store and not, for example, to Steam or the Xbox Game Pass, will receive 100% of the earnings for 6 months.
What kind of offer is this?
The program is called “Epic First Run” and was announced today, on August 23rd, by Epic Games. Those who participate in the program will receive 100% of the sales revenue from the game’s sales for 6 months. Epic Games is waiving its 12% share during this period.
The offer applies to developers who want to release a game on or after October 16th, exclusively in the Epic Game Stores.
They must refrain from publishing their game on PC through third-party stores (like Steam) or third-party streaming services (like Xbox Game Pass). On consoles, developers can do whatever they want.
Why is this such a problem for many gamers? Most PC gamers have their game collection on Steam, in one place. There, there are achievements and forums where they can discuss the games.
The Epic Games Store is hated for keeping “exclusive” titles away from Steam, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 or Borderlands 3.
For many gamers, the Epic Game Store is just a place to regularly pick up free titles that they don’t end up playing.
The first reactions on Twitter are partly negative. “Disgusting” is the behavior of Epic Games, it is said. Another user quips: “100% of 0 is still 0.”
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Thus, Sweeney has also sought direct conflict with Apple and Google for Epic Games’ most successful game, the shooter Fortnite. Both took, like Steam, 30% of the revenue:
Thus, Sweeney has also sought direct conflict with Apple and Google for Epic Games’ most successful game, the shooter Fortnite. Both took, like Steam, 30% of the revenue:
Many content creators from Twitch and YouTube are reportedly good friends behind the scenes, even if it sometimes seems chaotic in front of the camera, explains streamer Rachell “Valkyrae” Hoffstetter (31). Some viewers, however, do not understand this.
While gaming together, things can sometimes get a bit rough, and strong language might fly. This is also true for YouTubers and Twitch streamers. Some viewers seem to take these verbal battles a bit too seriously, says Valkyrae.
The conversation came up after a several-hour Valorant session with some of her streamer friends. The 31-year-old explains that, in reality, everyone is very good friends, even if it may not always seem that way to the fans.
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“Don’t tell him we’re friends!”
After Valkyrae finished her gaming session, she turned to her viewers to tell them how important her friends are to her. She hopes her fans understand that the mutual insults are just jokes. They joke around and prank each other all the time, but in real life, they are good friends.
The streamer reports that some viewers seem to take the mutual teasing too seriously.
I just feel like some people really become parasocial and wonder: “How dare they insult my streamer?” […] Some people really don’t know that. Some people are ballaballa. They believe what they want to believe.
Apparently, some fans go overboard when they want to defend “their streamers” and attack other creators on their behalf.
Valkyrae continues by listing who she is friends with, even if it might not seem that way at times. She really likes the Twitch streamer Blau, even if sometimes it may appear that the opposite is true.
However, Valkyrae doesn’t cope with the long gaming sessions with her streamer friends as well as she used to a few years ago. Between back pain and calls from her financial advisor, the 31-year-old recently felt that she might not have much longer left:
During the gamescom 2023, our author Mark Sellner had the opportunity to see about 30 minutes of live gameplay of the new survival MMO Nightingale. A battle in the open world particularly stands out positively in his memory.
What did I see? In a roughly 45-minute presentation at Inflexion Games, I was allowed to watch the first steps in Nightingale, as well as a battle later in the game. I wasn’t able to play myself, but it wasn’t pre-recorded and “beautified” gameplay; instead, the developers played live before my eyes.
Two highlights caught my eye. On the one hand, the extremely cool building system, with which you can build your house together with your friends. It works super easily and completely freely, offers many comfort features, and generally feels very varied and coherent.
However, a building feature is something that has already existed in many games. What I had never seen before was the fight against a so-called “Sun Giant,” which the developers showed me. And that was impressive.
By the way, there was a new trailer for Nightingale at the ONL of gamescom 2023:
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Nightingale has good and bad news for you at gamescom
A fight that would be scripted in any other game
How did the fight go? The developers discovered a Sun Giant while exploring the realm; these are truly huge creatures that initially don’t want to harm anyone. The giant lives up to its name and is at least 10 times the size of the player characters.
It is a peaceful and at least partially intelligent creature. It doesn’t attack immediately. Instead, it allows the players to offer it a sacrifice. After the telescope, which one of the developers held, seemingly didn’t please it, they prepare for battle.
They do this by building a small town around the giant. With towers to shoot from and bridges over the swamp to avoid the dangerous water where the Sun Giant is currently resting comfortably.
Once the small fortress is ready, one of the developers fires the first shot from his tower. A battle begins that I have never experienced in any open world.
Players fly, buildings shatter, and the giant falls
How do they defeat the oversized enemy? During the fight, one of the developers explains to me that the giant has various weak points that he tries to hit. This also inflicts significant damage on him.
But then the giant swings, and the developer’s character is hit. And flies really far away. As far as one would fly if a ton-heavy palm hit you. With the flying umbrella, you can avoid fall damage, but are now hundreds of meters away from your comrades.
One of whom, by the way, went down at that moment. While he tries to return to the scene, you can see the players’ towers collapse and shatter as the giant strikes at them.
The bridges also cannot withstand the giant’s magical beams and catapult one of the developers directly into the toxic water, which gives him a debuff.
In early access, new content will be added regularly. However, how long the game will stay in early access is currently still unknown. The developers are not sure either, as they assured me. It will take several years, according to the CEO.
What do you think of Nightingale? Are you looking forward to the game and these gigantic battles in the open world? Or do you simply miss the PvP in a survival game that Nightingale does not offer? Feel free to write to us in the comments here at MeinMMO.
After several deaths of all involved and a completely destroyed fortress, the giant falls and destroys the landscape beneath it.
On the left, you can see such a giant next to a player character
But too soon to celebrate: Before they can collect the enemy’s loot, they are surprised by the next opponents. Because now that the giant is gone, the actual swamp dwellers return and are not happy at all about the intruders.
Another fight ensues in the water and among the debris of the destroyed towers and bridges before the developers can finally collect their loot victoriously. A battle that will stay in my memory for a long time.
Nightingale launches in February in early access and is expected to remain for years
When can you play yourselves? On February 22, 2024, Nightingale will launch in early access on Steam and will then be playable for everyone. In the 6 months leading up to this, there is expected to be mainly fine-tuning, the CEO of Inflexion Games tells us in a conversation afterwards.
The game is complete in terms of features for the planned early-access release, but technically it is still not running perfectly, which was also noticeable in the gameplay shown. However, the developers still have enough time to take care of it.
In early access, new content will be added regularly. However, how long the game will stay in early access is currently still unknown. The developers are not sure either, as they assured me. It will take several years, according to the CEO.
What do you think of Nightingale? Are you looking forward to the game and these gigantic battles in the open world? Or do you simply miss the PvP in a survival game that Nightingale does not offer? Feel free to write to us in the comments here at MeinMMO.
With over 500,000 subscribers, “Jules” is one of the larger German YouTubers. On his channel, he posts elaborate videos about internet phenomena. Additionally, he regularly broadcasts on Twitch. Now, he shows how little actually comes out of it.
What’s the deal with the hourly wage? On August 15, 2023, Jules published a nearly 40-minute video about Elon Musk. The video received over 1.3 million views within a week. Those who think that should really pay off for the YouTuber are mistaken.
On August 22, Jules shared on Twitter how much money he earned with the video: 1,587 €. This corresponds to an hourly wage of 5.29 €, according to the YouTuber. Mathematically, this means he put around 300 hours into the production of the video.
However, this amount only refers to the ad revenue; sponsors are not included – without them, he wouldn’t even make such elaborate videos anymore, explains Jules.
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MontanaBlack suspects: “YouTube has a problem with you”
Why is it so little? Compared to other YouTubers, Jules publishes relatively few videos, which are quite long and elaborately produced. It seems that this type of content is hardly worthwhile anymore: “Nowadays, YouTube is just not made for that anymore,” suspects Jules.
Because on YouTube, a click is not necessarily a click. The so-called CPM value determines how much a content creator earns per 1,000 views. If this value is low, a YouTuber earns less money than a colleague with a similar number of views but a better CPM.
For Jules, that’s fine; he says that reactions helped make him big in his early days. Nevertheless, Twitch streamer GamerBrother has already offered to transfer his earnings from reactions to Jules’ videos (via Twitter).
Jules has not yet publicly responded to the offer; however, other Twitter users praise the streamer for this gesture. Although the YouTuber states that he makes the elaborate videos because he enjoys them and can also finance himself through sponsors, a fair payment would surely be in everyone’s interest.
Even Seth Everman, known as the man with the most likes on a YouTube comment, is not safe from these problems. His most successful video also brought him relatively little money. What’s behind it, you can read here:
During the gamescom, our author Mark Sellner visited Path of Exile 2 and was able to not only check out the latest class but also play the beginning of the ARPG himself. And it gets a lot right from the start.
What exactly did Path of Exile 2 show? At the beginning of the meeting with Chris Wilson, the studio founder of Grinding Gear Games and responsible for Path of Exile, I was allowed to see the new class first. It is the Druid, who promptly transforms into the classic bear form.
During a short demo, I learn that the Druid in Path of Exile 2 has much more depth than in his self-chosen comparison in Diablo 4. Because the Druid has, in addition to the bear form, also a wolf form and more. However, they did not want to reveal exactly how many.
Presenting me the bear form almost invites a comparison to Diablo 4. And that is worth it, because Path of Exile 2 has nothing to hide from Blizzard. I realize this a few minutes later when I’m invited to play the first hour of Path of Exile 2 myself.
It becomes very clear, even now, more than a year before release, that Path of Exile 2 does at least 3 things better than Diablo 4.
Who is writing here? Mark Sellner is an MMORPG expert at MeinMMO and especially loves Lost Ark, which combines the worlds of MMO and A-RPG. He has spent over 2,500 hours there. But he has also been able to accumulate several hundred hours in Diablo 3 and 4, as well as in Path of Exile.
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The atmosphere shows Diablo what really dark means
How does PoE 2 start? From the very first steps, it becomes clear that Path of Exile 2 can flex its muscles. I start as a Monk on a beach, unconscious. The screen and the surroundings slowly open up as the oppressive black gradually reveals the inhospitable coast.
It is night on the map and it is raining heavily. The raindrops bead off my character’s skin, and the wind rustles the scraps of my armor up and down. Despite so many effects, the game runs smoothly; however, I do not know what hardware is inside the PC I was allowed to play on.
In any case, the game makes it clear to me after a few seconds that it is a graphical powerhouse. Path of Exile 2 looks graphically worlds better than its predecessor and can easily keep up with Diablo 4.
What makes the atmosphere so strong? On the beach, drowned people are wandering around, and the Exiles are fighting for their survival, accompanied by a soundscape that reaches deep into your bones. Everything in this world is dark, dangerous, and inhospitable.
These nice characters await you in Path of Exile 2
This is already made clear by Diablo 4 within the first few steps, but generally the world in Path of Exile 2 feels more coherent, darker, and meaner. Although the story presentation cannot keep up with Blizzard, at least the first maps are designed at the highest level.
This strong atmosphere is also contributed by the first fights that are actually no walk in the park, on the contrary.
Path of Exile 2 already gives me a challenge in the first minutes
How is fighting? The combat system feels significantly better, especially in direct comparison to its predecessor. Many abilities have gap closers, allowing you to get several meters closer to the enemies without having to move actively.
This ensures that PoE 2 feels really fluid and fast in every fight. The new dodge roll fulfills the remaining part.
Already after the first 15 minutes, my Monk has found 3 abilities and jumps around the enemies as if he had been a gymnast at the Olympics once. It is really fun, but at the same time also very difficult.
The game takes me as a player seriously: Before I even find the first quest or the first NPC, I stumble upon a miniboss while exploring the map, who, and one cannot say otherwise, really knocks my lights out.
My Monk bites the dust despite healing potions because I thought a couple of times that I didn’t need to dodge. That was definitely my mistake, but it shows that the first enemies in Path of Exile 2 are already a challenge if I’m not careful.
Even with lightning and ice, the Monk bites the dust quickly.
I really like that and I missed it in Diablo 4. Of course, Diablo also becomes incredibly demanding at some point, at the latest the Butcher has proven that. But regarding fights, I always felt bored in Diablo during the first hours. Path of Exile 2 doesn’t allow that, so this point goes to Grinding Gear Games.
By the way, as a little half point for those who were wondering: Path of Exile 2 brings back the genre-typical transparent map of the environment, which you can use while running.
The Power Fantasy feels like even more power
What is the Power Fantasy? Uniquely, one of the selling points of Diablo 4. Blizzard likes to speak of the “ultimate Power Fantasy”, as also recently during the Opening Night Live. But in my opinion, Path of Exile 2 is far ahead here. To explain this, one must understand the skill system of PoE 2.
You have the option to equip 8 different skills. You do this, as in the predecessor, through skill gems that you find in the world. Each of these skills can then be supported by 6 additional skills, thereby enhancing, changing, or even automating it.
For example, from the gameplay: I have a little volcano that I can place on the ground. As another skill, I have a lightning storm available. Now I find the spell “Use on Cast”, which is a third spell.
My Monk already has access to this ability at level 2
Then I use the new spell “Use on Cast” in the volcano, which has another slot where I subsequently place my lightning storm. From now on, a lightning storm casts automatically around the volcano when I place one, without any further input from me.
Similar combos early in the game: Even my Monk at level three already has similar possibilities. So I quickly find out, and much more straightforward than in the predecessor, how I can turn a simple hit on the ground into jumping lightning that travels in lethal lines across the ground.
Additionally, there’s the possibility to distribute passive skill points multiple times and to bind them to each weapon set.
All in all, Path of Exile 2 not only provides me with the power fantasy of having absolute control and power over my character and his powerful abilities, but also visually the first spells already look so much more impressive than what Diablo 4 has managed.
Thus, Path of Exile 2 achieves that I feel both weak and challenged, as well as incredibly strong and powerful.
Conclusion after the first hour
How did I like the first hour? As you can probably tell from this text, it was fantastically good. If Path of Exile 2 manages to maintain the level of the first hours throughout the entire game, I have high hopes for the MMO.
The fights are fun, the skill system has not lost any depth, but has become significantly more accessible for newcomers, and the graphics are great.
Of course, everyone can have their own opinion about the title, but after the first hour in PoE 2, my anticipation for the game has only increased. For me, already a clear winner when comparing it to Diablo 4.
For those who can make compromises in terms of presentation and story and enjoy tinkering a bit longer with their character to find the strongest combinations, Path of Exile 2 is definitely worth checking out.
