Steam Community :: Wolfc

614.6 hrs on record (42.8 hrs at review time)

As someone who poured over 1000 hours into Path of Exile 1 (and proudly survived the endless cycle of inventory Tetris and "just one more map"), I can confidently say that Path of Exile 2 isn’t just a sequel—it’s a pilgrimage for ARPG enthusiasts. Grinding Gear Games looked at my sleepless nights and said, "What if we gave you more skills, shinier graphics, and even fewer reasons to have a social life?"

Let’s talk about the new campaign. It’s an entirely fresh story—like a rich, buttery croissant compared to the rugged baguette of the original. The graphics are jaw-dropping, making me wonder if I was playing PoE 1 with my monitor brightness set to “potato.” Every enemy death is a little cinematic masterpiece, with particle effects that scream, "Your GPU shall know suffering."

But it’s not just about looking good. The combat feels tighter, more responsive, and—dare I say—more forgiving. Except it’s not forgiving at all because this is Path of Exile, where your hubris is always met with the cold embrace of death (usually from something offscreen). The new skill gem system lets you skip the old socketing shuffle, which I appreciate because now I can die faster without worrying about whether my boots have the right colors.

The addition of shape-shifting? Genius. One minute I’m a human wielding a giant axe, and the next I’m a bear, also wielding a giant axe. It’s the kind of feature that makes you wonder if you were born to be a druid all along.

Let’s not forget the loot. PoE 2 doesn’t just give you loot; it dumps a glittering mountain of it at your feet, then has a boss steal half of it while laughing in your face. It’s a love letter to masochists everywhere—and I’m all in.

Of course, it’s not perfect. The learning curve is still steeper than Mount Everest, and the community is as helpful as it is full of people posting 15-paragraph build guides with math equations I haven’t seen since high school. But you know what? That’s the charm of it. PoE 2 is not here to hold your hand; it’s here to eat your free time like a ravenous exile consuming a full stack of scrolls of wisdom.

In conclusion, Path of Exile 2 is everything I wanted and feared. It’s an upgrade, a reinvention, and an invitation to lose another 1000 hours of my life. But hey, who needs sleep when you’ve got maps to run and gear to farm? See you in Wraeclast—just don’t ask me for a portal scroll.

Posted 9 December, 2024.

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