Path of Exile 2 isn’t the Diablo 4 killer, it’s something more

As Path of Exile 2 rears its head for the primary time in an extended whereas at ExileCon 2023, it does so in a world the place the action-RPG is extra well-liked than ever. Within the decade since its predecessor launched, these top-down, loot-driven video games have grown to grow to be a few of the hottest and finest RPG games. Now, alongside the likes of Diablo 4, Misplaced Ark, and the upcoming Final Epoch, Path of Exile 2 proves that Grinding Gear Video games continues to be pushing the style ahead in thrilling new methods.

GGG exhibits off its new-look sequel in a reside stage demo at ExileCon, its personal official Path of Exile conference in Auckland, New Zealand. PCGamesN was given the prospect to observe this presentation forward of time, and I used to be actually impressed by what I noticed. We’ve seen glimpses of Path of Exile 2 beforehand and it appeared principally like extra of the identical – which is not any unhealthy factor, provided that the primary PoE stays maybe one of the best ARPG on the market – however I used to be blown away by the dramatic adjustments on present right here.

These variations begin proper on the prime – Path of Exile 2 will now be a separate recreation from the primary. For these of you who haven’t been following its growth intently, the unique plan was that PoE2 would launch as an enlargement to the primary recreation, with gamers in a position to play each campaigns in the identical shopper and a shared endgame.

Now, the 2 video games will likely be totally separate – PoE1 will proceed on, and the pair can have their very own distinctive mechanics, stability, endgames, and leagues. Path of Exile 2 artistic director Jonathan Rogers does affirm, nonetheless, that every one previous and future microtransactions will carry between each video games – new PoE2 cosmetics will even work in PoE1, so long as they match on abilities and objects that exist in that recreation.

“PoE2’s scope has continued to develop and develop,” Rogers says, noting that “over 100 builders” are actually on the PoE2 staff, far eclipsing the scale of the primary recreation’s present staff helmed by his co-founder Chris Wilson. “It’s excess of an enlargement with a brand new marketing campaign. It’s totally new monsters, abilities, mechanics, courses; every little thing you’d count on from the following technology of ARPGs.”

It actually seems prefer it. Our demo takes place within the recreation’s third act, beginning out within the depths of a jungle, the place we’re launched to the primary new character class, the Monk. Rogers explains that “lots of the new abilities we have been attempting to design didn’t actually match thematically with the prevailing courses that we’ve.”

As such, you’ll now have two decisions for every class; as an alternative of being locked into Templar as a Energy/Intelligence character, you generally is a Druid – a spellcaster with the choice to show right into a bear. Dexterity starters can select to be a spear-wielding Huntress as an alternative of the Ranger, and Dex/Int gamers have a alternative between the previous Shadow and the brand new Monk. As with PoE1, quest rewards are tailor-made to your class and every has its personal Ascendancies (PoE’s subclass equal), however you’ll be able to take your construct wherever as soon as you start.

The Monk affords us a take a look at the overhauled Path of Exile 2 melee fight: the place it was beforehand probably the most underloved set of abilities within the first recreation, getting bodily right here seems superb. Mark’s Monk flips, dashes, and dodges his approach by means of crowds of enemies in ways in which look extra akin to an motion film than a standard ARPG.

“Virtually each melee ability in PoE2 has some type of motion to it,” Rogers remarks, explaining how most abilities permit gamers a second to redirect them whereas casting with a flick of the mouse, or to show and transfer throughout channeled assaults to remain on the right track. “Typically talking, you by no means lose management of your character in PoE2.”

Additional to this, and core to everything of PoE2’s fight in actual fact, is the brand new dodge roll. By urgent house, now you can roll with each character. This isn’t a panic button like Diablo 4’s evade, nonetheless. Rogers notes that “there isn’t any cooldown, no limitation; it even has a little bit of pathfinding so that you don’t get caught on issues.”

The ensuing impact bears nearer resemblance to the likes of Elden Ring or Monster Hunter, though crucially Rogers factors out that “Once you dodge roll, you aren’t invulnerable.” Nevertheless, rolling does trigger projectiles and melee strikes to overlook you – so, whereas you’ll have to roll fully out of space results, “anybody swinging a sword or throwing a fireball goes to overlook.”

You may also use dodge roll to “cancel out of just about any ability at any time,” one thing else that helps abilities with lengthy forged occasions or channels to really feel rather more viable. It additionally permits for intelligent positioning – in our demonstration, the Monk freezes an enemy with a melee ability, then rolls again to make use of the slow-moving Glacial Cascade, which explodes in a devastating spike at its finish that shatters frozen targets for bonus harm.

A Sorceress joins the sport, and we get to see the brand new caster weapons, which lose their ineffective melee stats for a “built-in, free-to-cast spell.” We’re proven Unleash, which is actually a triple-cast in your subsequent spell, and we additionally see how weapon switching works – to encourage gamers to really use a number of weapon sorts, now you can set particular person abilities to make use of a selected weapon and have your character change on the fly, with only a very quick swap delay.

Complementing this additional is a change to passive abilities – now, factors granted from Ability Books (which Rogers tells PCGamesN must be round 20 factors in whole alongside round 100 customary factors) gives you two units of factors for every of your weapon slots. This implies you’ll be able to ability one weapon down an ice tree, and one other down a lightning tree, permitting for rather more versatile experimentation than the min-maxed singular focus of most present PoE builds.

You’re going to wish all of those instruments, too – Rogers says Path of Exile 2 options “over 100 bosses” by means of its marketing campaign, every with their very own distinctive mechanics, with a minimum of one in each space. Watching simply a few these in motion, I’m struck by simply how enjoyable the encounters look – the primary Path of Exile’s boss design was already one of many recreation’s strongest factors, and PoE2 seems to be constructing on this even additional.

To return to an earlier comparability, these boss fights take a look at occasions virtually extra like watching an Elden Ring showdown from a special perspective than a standard ARPG encounter. With using the dodge roll and your enhanced skill for actually exact positioning and motion, PoE2’s fight appears to be on one other stage even in comparison with its predecessor – and definitely a step up from a lot of Diablo 4’s non-campaign bosses, which may really feel quite hit-or-miss.

With all that mentioned, Grinding Gear Video games doesn’t really feel prefer it’s attempting to “beat” Diablo 4 at its personal recreation with Path of Exile 2. And why would it not, given how beloved the primary nonetheless stays amongst its devoted fanbase? As a substitute, the staff is sticking to its weapons: “We don’t wish to really feel like we’re dumbing the sport down for folks, we wish to be sure that all that depth continues to be there – it’s extra essential that we don’t lose the viewers that we’ve.”

Path of Exile 2 positively looks as if a greater jumping-on level for newcomers, although, and Rogers tells me that he hopes they’ll discover it rather more welcoming out of the gate. “We’re significantly better recreation designers now – the start of the sport is way nicer for brand spanking new gamers to expertise,” he says.

I actually hope that’s the case; whereas it may actually be a bit extra intimidating, Path of Exile has quite a bit to supply even for a extra informal participant who isn’t trying to dig into each final mechanic and system. PoE2, in the meantime, seems to be pushing the format ahead in some genuinely thrilling methods. Over the course of the demo, my common curiosity quickly blossomed right into a determined must attempt it for myself.

All of this makes the ultimate information from Rogers sting only a tad. The Path of Exile 2 closed beta will start on Friday June 7, 2024, he confirms. “We’re extremely excited to close the end line,” he says, “however we’re not fairly there but. We’re decided to not rush this, and ensure we get it proper.” It’s going to be an agonizing 12 months ready, however I’m now firmly of the assumption that it’ll be nicely value it.

For now, we’ll must accept the upcoming Path of Exile 3.22 league, then. Alternatively, have a look by means of one of the best games like Diablo for much more loot-grinding enjoyable, or browse one of the best free PC games, the place you’ll discover loads of nice methods to spend your time.