To Path of Exile 2, a new trailer and 20 minutes of gameplay have been released. The action RPG impresses with its gameplay as well as its beautiful graphics. Thus, it becomes a strong competitor to Diablo 4.
What can be seen in the videos? The trailer and the gameplay focus on the second of a total of seven acts that Path of Exile 2 is supposed to have. In this, the player follows his enemies through a desert, which is also the main hub of the act.
Throughout the gameplay, the scenery changes, so the player also has to fight through a cave and ancient ruins. Various weapons, enemies, and a miniboss are shown.
The beautiful graphics of the game immediately catch the eye. Especially the lighting, particle effects, and the general environments look great. In addition, there are sound effects perfectly matched to the actions.
Sound and graphics are also praised by viewers below the video.
Better Boss Fights and a New Gem System
What can be inferred from the video? In the 20 minutes, you can not only admire the environment, the fights, and the enemies, but also get some general information about Path of Exile 2:
- The act 2 of Path of Exile 2 will not be linear. Thus, there are 4 quests shown in the video that players can complete in any order.
- Mobility seems to play a big role. The player has to dodge repeatedly to avoid dying. With the spear, there is a skill that allows one to jump into enemies and then jump back out again.
- In general, various skills of spear and crossbow are presented.
- The bosses in the game are supposed to become more varied and, for example, interact more strongly with their environment. In the gameplay, there was a miniboss who collapsed a cave. At the same time, sunlight enters the cave, marking safe spots in the fight.
Another major innovation compared to its predecessor is in the game’s gem system. Previously linked to armor pieces, this meant that one had to go to a town after getting a new armor drop to rearrange the sockets and adapt them to the current build.
In Path of Exile 2, they are now detached from the equipment.
How are the reactions to the gameplay? The official gameplay video has over 63,000 views after just 12 hours and has been commented on more than 600 times. The comments are mostly positive:
- The user Seriöser Kanalname is particularly impressed by the graphics: “The visuals look stunning and the art style of PoE never disappoints. I especially love the contrast between the relatively muted desert background and the colorful spell effects and the blood.”
- The user Guillaume BProg noticed a special detail: “Did anyone else notice that the UI and HUD reflect the different light effects? I’ve never seen this kind of detail in a game before. Very cute.”
- Rhyas9 is pleased with the gameplay changes: “Skill gems that are tied to the character and not to items. The one change I’ve longed for all these years.”
A special highlight that users discovered on reddit is the permanent health point display for bosses. This is also received very positively by many.
Criticism is generally only aimed at the fact that the player character with the crossbow keeps shouting what kind of bolts he is using.
Path of Exile 2 is set to release in 2022 and will be strong competition for Diablo 4
What is Path of Exile 2 anyway? Path of Exile 2 is not a successor in the traditional sense, as it shares much content with its predecessor. It mainly expands the existing Path of Exile and overhauls many old game systems, including the equipment and classes.
The game is set to release in 2022, although there is still no exact release timeframe. Path of Exile 2 will be Free2Play.
Why is the game a competitor for Diablo 4? Path of Exile is known for its complex skill system and the many regular updates that the first part has received. In this, and in the fact that they are building on the first part, the head of Grinding Gear Games, Chris Wilson, sees a big advantage.
Especially the balancing, the design of the classes, and the mentioned skill system are already based on an existing game that has proven itself. Diablo 4, on the other hand, comes with completely new content that has not been tested as intensively.
With the new gameplay of Path of Exile 2, the developers have also shown that they can operate on a higher graphical level than was the case with the first part.
2022 could potentially see a showdown between the two games, even though it is still unclear when the release of Diablo 4 is planned. Both titles already launch with a certain fanbase and both are ambitious. For ARPG fans, this can only be a good thing.
However, for those who can’t wait until then, here on MeinMMO, you can find a long list of other action RPGs that you can play until the release of both titles: Games like Diablo – Here are 11 current alternatives.
