Path of Exile Reviews

Author's Note: Cross-posted from my Gamefaqs account; originally published 4-12-18. I have made minor edits in order to adapt for TrueSteam. Enjoy

Diablo 2.5

Path of Exile is one of the latest Diablo 2 clones to come out in the last decade or so, following that highly successful Blizzard title’s 2000 release. That’s right, one of the biggest MMORPGs to come out is 18 this year. In that time, numerous D2 clones have popped up with varying success, such as Nox, Torchlight, Titan Quest, and others. It would be fair to say that PoE, the latest (having popped up as a free title in 2013) might be the best in the market. Despite taking many cues from D2, and could even be said to be a spiritual successor to it, PoE is a very streamlined and unique title in its own right

1. Story

The game begins with a lone exile, washed up on the shore of a distant, medieval fantasy world Wraeclast. While once the center of a large empire, the land is now a penal colony. The player character (choosing from 1 of 6 different classes) can band together with other exiles, or play solo and survive the harsh environments. Suffice to say, the story and smaller plot points are interesting, but are not necessary to understand in order to play the game from beginning to end. The game is broken up into individual acts, each with their own happenings and characters that provide the player with quests to fulfill.

2. Gameplay

As mentioned previously, the game takes many cues from D2, albeit taking that game’s formula and making an entirely new one as well. The game begins with character selection. The player can choose from 1 of 6 different classes, including the Templar (something of a monk from D&D), Shadow (like the rogue also from D&D), marauder (like the barbarian from D2), duelist (like the fighter from D&D), Ranger (like the amazon from D2 and the actual ranger from D&D), and finally the witch (like a caster from any RPG). What’s very unique about PoE though is the actual skill set for each class. The skill tree (which is really more of a ‘skill web’ that each class shares with each other – IE a witch can drop a skill point into a marauder’s individual skill tree) is purely a passive skill tree. That is, none of the 6 classes learn new combat feats or spells from the skill tree. Every single skill in the tree is passive, adding to STR/DEX/INT or increasing attack speed, damage with certain weapons, etc.

So how does each class develop into their archetype if skills aren’t derived from the skill tree? If a caster or support class can drop points into skills belonging to the melee classes, what makes any of the classes unique? The truth is, none quite are. For a character to learn new skills, they must acquire gems and insert them into socketed items the character can wear. Another cue taken from D2 is the use of gems and socketed items. While in D2 gems provided elemental damage (or life leech, or stun, etc), here in PoE they provide actual combat (and support) skills. Gems are broken down into three types. Red (for melee), blue (for casting spells), and green (mix between front and ranged combat). While this is a fairly strange take on the typical RPG formula, one can’t criticize the developers too much, as it is a free title. Still though, it works out quite well. Unlike D2, gems can be removed from items and switched around to work with the player character’s ever changing kit. As was mentioned before, while many gems provide melee or casting/ranged skills, other gems add ‘support’ abilities that enhance main skill gems. For example, my current character (the melee based duelist) can perform a leap attack (similar to the barbarian’s leap ability in D2) that was granted to him from a gem I placed in his helmet. Supporting that gem is another gem that adds extra elemental damage to the leap. Another gem I have gives my duelist a quick strike ability, and supporting that gem is one that adds an area of effect enhancement.

Every other facet of gameplay is taken straight from D2. There is a town in each act, with various NPCs with their own personalities. Each NPC in town offers quests, items to buy, and the ability to sell loot to. Waypoints and town portals allow for players to quickly travel from one region to another. Magic (blue), rare (yellow), and unique (orange) items are present (none of which have durability scales, unlike D2), and can be identified with ‘scrolls of wisdom’ (just like the scroll of identify from D2). Health and mana potions, which had to be continually used and picked up throughout adventuring in D2, are carried over into PoE but with a twist. Potions now have charges, which can be recharged as players fight and kill enemies (potions too can now also have magical enhancements, like armor and weapons). As usual, potions are used via the number keys, while the map can be brought up with tab (just like in D2). Combat abilities are relegated to the left, right, and middle mouse keys, along with the Q, W, E, R, and T keys, respectively. Alternate weapons can be switched to with X.

Currency. There is no gold, florens, etc, rather when a player sells loot back to NPCs they acquire various orbs, scrolls, and other small trinkets they can use to enhance their kit with. For example, one orb can change the color of sockets on an item. Another can add magical enhancements to otherwise normal items, while yet another can turn magical items into rare items. While most gear adds armor values, lighter gear instead adds an ‘evasion’ rating which has less strict requirements to wear. What else, what else…when a player begins a new character, they can also choose from various leagues to play in. Standard, standard hardcore (one life, no respawns), bestiary (capture beasts and then craft items from them) and bestiary hardcore. Guilds can be formed, and a mutual guild stash can be had as well between guild members. Additionally, players have their own stash too, with over three different sections to stash gear into.

Online play is a fairly simple process. Players pick a region gateway to play in, and they will drop into their last played zone. Towns, like common areas between all players, are the only areas where a player will see other player characters. To be able to play together, players must join a party with each other. Bots and trolls, common in D2, are thankfully absent from this title. PvP is now dedicated to strictly PvP matches, whereas in D2 troll players could drop into random games, declare hostility with other players, then ruin a perfectly good play session. Zones will ‘reboot’ after a time, allowing players to go back and gain more exp and loot if they wish, or simply continue on to the next area.

Lastly, there is something to be said about PoE being a free title. How do the developers keep it running? There have been multiple expansions (all free) to be had by all players, so how do the developers make money? Yes, there are micro transactions. No, it is not pay-to-win. No, they do not harass the player with incessant, annoying ads trying to convince them to buy anything. Rather, most of the micro transactions are cosmetic, adding purely superficial enhancements to a character’s appearance. Additionally, the guild stash (and additional guild storage sections) can be purchased, as it does not come with simply having a guild.

3. Cons

…None that I can think of. PoE is beautifully influenced by D2, but streamlined to ‘trim the fat’ off that now classic title. A lot of the now silly features (stamina, durability, declaring hostility, bots) are gone, making for a game that old players like myself (who experienced D2 in all its glory back in the 2000s) can truly appreciate. While the use of skills via gems is fairly odd, it does make for unique gameplay. If I create another duelist after the one I’m already playing, they won’t be at all alike, due to the entirely passive skill web and the random item drop element.

4. Conclusion

Every time I play, there’s something obvious or subtle about Path of Exile that makes me think of Diablo 2. While many games are carbon copies or bastardized black sheep of older classic titles, I am proud to say Path of Exile is a worthy spiritual successor to D2, and, might I say, even an upgrade. How could it not be? Everything is improved or streamlined. No bots, trolls, item durability, character stamina, or this that and the other. Meanwhile, everything else, such as waypoints, dungeoneering, combat, loot and gear, are similar if not slightly improved. Even various regions (especially underground dungeons or prisons) remind me heavily of Diablo 2. It’s fair to say that the developers were avid fans of that title, and it shows.

Path of Exile is a purely fun, FREE game that anyone can jump into. Whether you’re an old D2 player like myself or a newbie who’s never heard the terms ‘hammerdin’ or ‘trist run’ or ‘javazon’ before, this game is appealing and highly enjoyable to any type of player. If your friends can’t agree on what shooter or RTS to play together, Path of Exile is a perfect game to bring a whole group of friends into for coop play.