Path of Exile 2 has attracted a wide audience since its early access launch a few weeks ago. The game has seen 350,000 to 500,000 concurrent players. It emulates Diablo 2 despite being released in 2024, 24 years after Diablo 2’s launch.
The core elements remain the same, which is mostly a good thing. Some outdated mechanics like limited inventory space have persisted. The campaign was enjoyable, even though it was just half of the Acts that will eventually be released.
The difficulty was balanced well for the most part. The bosses were engaging and could be frustrating but manageable. The story was satisfactory, but the gameplay, location design, and enemies stood out.
However, the game has some issues. Players must replay the campaign on Cruel difficulty to reach the endgame on a character.
Promising endgame with harsh penalties
This feels redundant and easier than normal mode due to better gear and skills. The skill tree in Path of Exile 2 is intimidating at first. Navigating it to balance damage, survivability, and build-specific amplifications is rewarding once you understand it.
The main issue currently is the lack of build variety, which is expected in early access. The endgame presents a sprawling map filled with upgradable nodes. This system is more compelling than stacking higher rift levels in Diablo.
Exploring the map and hunting down citadels with pinnacle bosses is enjoyable. However, the punishment for dying in endgame maps feels overly harsh. A single death can wipe progress, consume valuable items, and severely penalize experience.
Despite these issues, Path of Exile 2 is engaging, even unfinished and unbalanced. The game is expected to evolve with future updates and patches.
