Path of Exile 2was long teased to feel different from its predecessor, and one aspect of that is becoming a hybrid soulslite. The highly anticipated sequel launched into early access and has already seen success. Though the content will be incomplete during the six months, and some issues will need to be worked out, it still shows promise.
One of the otherlargest differences from the first gameis how skills have changed. These gems are no longer limited to armor sockets, instead getting their own inventory page that can fit up to nine. Each skill can also have up to five support gems equipped to drastically alter the stats and mechanics of each. Combining this with the increased flexibility between classes,PoE 2has created a game with endless build potential.
Path Of Exile 2 Works As A Soulslite
A Bold New Step
ThoughPoE 2has retained the vast majority of its ARPG mechanics, and even improved on them, there is one area in the game that is different.Combat now feels more akin to a soulslike game blended into an ARPG. Challenging bosses truly put players to the test, often requiring both skill and patience to take down.
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This has largely worked for the game, adding a new layer of thinking, positioning, and boss creativity. This may deviate from the standard “spin-to-win” idea of an ARPG, but it is a bold step in a new direction that could pay off in dividends and confirmPoE 2as theDiablokiller.
How Path Of Exile 2 Has Changed
Step Wisely Exile
These combat changes have impacted the game in numerous ways. The first thing many experienced players will notice is the decrease in regular enemies.This has been compensated by regular enemies having more health and more abilities that require movement. Standing still and trying to chip away will lead to death more often than surviving. A change like this may seem jarring at first, but makes sense given how much stronger characters can get inPoE 2.
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Bosses are where the biggest impact will be felt.Path of Exilealways had large creative bosses, but the ones in the sequel feel like a whole new level. Abilities are frequent if not constant, and many can lead to an instakill.Some battles even have untold rules that can make hour-long slogs. In this regard, following boss patterns and having proper movement/dodge ability is crucial. This unforgiving style has arguably given the bosses ofPoE 2more memorability and replayability than its competitors.
The Drawbacks Of Path Of Exile 2’s New Combat
Though these changes have been a net positive so far, they have not been without backlash.The most common criticism is the difficulty of boss fights and divergence from the genre. The latter point is somewhat understandable coming from a genre where the whole goal is to easily sweep through hordes of enemies. However, the counterpoint to this is that innovation is never a bad thing, especially when it further sets itself apart in a genre that has felt lacking in recent years.
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The boss’s difficulty has been the fairer point. Thisranges from fights with little time to do damage to those that seem completely unfairfor evenPath of Exile 2’s best solo classes. It would not be surprising if some of these more notorious boss fights do get some nerfs, whether that’s reducing the health of the boss, damage from the boss, or the number of minor enemies. However, a fine balance will need to be found to not completely trivialize these well-crafted fights.
Luckily, some changes have already been made or are planned to be implemented in response to player feedback. A prime example of this is the dodge mechanic, a crucial and helpful escape tool. The issue was that it was often getting stuck in large groups of enemies, making it impossible to escape. Grinding Gear Games has already commented on this,saying it will be tuning the numbers of the dodge so it has an easier time escaping from groups, but not to the point where it becomes a free escape button.
An overview of planned changes can be found on the officialPath of Exileforum.
Overall, this soulslite change is likely to stay given how much of the game already feels tuned to it. There is also the possibility that when more of/the full game is available, players will be able to get even stronger, so the difficulty doesn’t feel as punishing. Regardless, bold changes like this can, when done correctly, help a highly-anticipated game likePoE 2stand out even more in a crowded market. The new soulslite feeling inPath of Exile 2might not be for everyone, but it ultimately works well and should be a good change in the long run.
