I played for a while about 9-12 months ago and am just now revisiting it. They have smoothed out alot of the rough edges and added a great deal since I have last played. I am impressed with how far it has come. I would give this game a 9/10 easy.
The combat makes me not want to play this game sadly.
Wish it had the fluid combat of D3.
Other than that the game is pretty good, but yeah gameplay is everything for me when playing a game the combat of PoE is just total crap...
Got to lvl 49 then just quitted.
That's the problem right there. Blizzard sells polish...that's it. Gameplay means more than fluidity. PoE has 20 people on staff. 20. Diablo 3 had thousands and the fact that 20 people can pour their passion into a product and it, without a doubt, destroys the product of over 1000 holier-than-thou blowhards is amazing. It's a shame you quit, because this game is going places that Diablo 3 never will. That's a shame too because i like D3's fluid gameplay as well. Too bad Blizzard brought nothing else to the table.
Ultimately while offering innovation in the eyes of many, such innovation simply could not have been brought to the Diablo franchise.
A highly praised feature such as the skill tree could simply not work in the Diablo games due to one very significant design choice, distinct classes.
That is a feature which is reliant on each class in effect being only minor variations of each other rather than each being specialised and unique.
This is not as people put it, "the game Diablo 3 should have been", but the game Diablo 3 could not have possibly been while still being a Diablo game.
And really just how much of the tree is truly optional, if anything taking a leaf right out of the book of the old talent system in World of Warcraft where certain "talents" are made up of multiple points, each increasing some effect by a certain amount. Each additional point meaning less than the one before it, because its bringing nothing new.
The vast majority of most, if not any build will look a lot simpler if you strip out the repitition or duplication where it boils down to a few simple things. Keystones, weapon supports, and core stats necessary for your choice of damage sources.
Leaving a lot less wriggle room than you might anticipate once you have a direction in mind.
Agreed. Pretty much nailed it. There's some interesting information in the as well. Good post.
Have your pick of some the others Blizzard should become a case study to show what can and does go wrong when you mix corporate management with games development.
Ultimately while offering innovation in the eyes of many, such innovation simply could not have been brought to the Diablo franchise.
A highly praised feature such as the skill tree could simply not work in the Diablo games due to one very significant design choice, distinct classes.
That is a feature which is reliant on each class in effect being only minor variations of each other rather than each being specialised and unique.
This is not as people put it, "the game Diablo 3 should have been", but the game Diablo 3 could not have possibly been while still being a Diablo game.
And really just how much of the tree is truly optional, if anything taking a leaf right out of the book of the old talent system in World of Warcraft where certain "talents" are made up of multiple points, each increasing some effect by a certain amount. Each additional point meaning less than the one before it, because its bringing nothing new.
The vast majority of most, if not any build will look a lot simpler if you strip out the repitition or duplication where it boils down to a few simple things. Keystones, weapon supports, and core stats necessary for your choice of damage sources.
Leaving a lot less wriggle room than you might anticipate once you have a direction in mind.
Sorry, i just flat out don't agree with any of this. Especially the part about the passive skills. It's not a skill tree. Just look at it. There's 1300+ choices to make. Judging from everything you said here, it is clear you haven't played the game or have played 3 levels of it. That passive tree blows things wide open. I have made a slew of different characters, some of the same "class", and they couldn't be more different because i was able to make a whole lot of different choices along the way. There's more wiggle room in this game than any other out there. You would know this if you played.
Ultimately while offering innovation in the eyes of many, such innovation simply could not have been brought to the Diablo franchise.
A highly praised feature such as the skill tree could simply not work in the Diablo games due to one very significant design choice, distinct classes.
That is a feature which is reliant on each class in effect being only minor variations of each other rather than each being specialised and unique.
This is not as people put it, "the game Diablo 3 should have been", but the game Diablo 3 could not have possibly been while still being a Diablo game.
And really just how much of the tree is truly optional, if anything taking a leaf right out of the book of the old talent system in World of Warcraft where certain "talents" are made up of multiple points, each increasing some effect by a certain amount. Each additional point meaning less than the one before it, because its bringing nothing new.
The vast majority of most, if not any build will look a lot simpler if you strip out the repitition or duplication where it boils down to a few simple things. Keystones, weapon supports, and core stats necessary for your choice of damage sources.
Leaving a lot less wriggle room than you might anticipate once you have a direction in mind.
Nice write up and I agree with you. I mean how many times must I take plus 10 x stat on my way to one of the big circle talents. I do enjoy the game for the most part though it has started to get boring to me in the 30's for I feel like I'm doing the same thing over and over again as the progression slows down a lot.
Considering how much coverage PoE has had, I don't think I'd call it a "Hidden Gem". Usually I'd reserve that name for a very good game that's barely ever talked about.
Definitively a decent game however. It's what Diablo 3 should've been.
The reviewer gave it a 6 for innovation based on the fact that it looks like Diablo, but didn't mention the skill gem system or the passive skill tree (which are both new additions to the hack n slash genre).
Whoever wrote this review is, frankly, not worth paying.
I think you are missing the point of lack of innovation, game not only looks like Diablo it also plays like Diablo, they have done nothing to progress the basic game play beyond what we've been doing in Diablo 2.
Gem system, skill tree are auxiliary elements of the game, the core gameplay has no innovation.
Imagine if PoE had aerial combat - that would be innovation for example. Or maybe mounted combat? You know things that we have not seen in arpgs before - innovation.
I'm not missing the point at all. I think you don't actually understand what the term "innovation" means.
Innovation is, by definition, iterative. It takes ideas presented in one instance and expands upon them.
Take, for example, the skill tree system. GGG took the old, relatively linear skill tree system and expanded on it to allow a directed but far more diverse build system that previous ARPGs have enjoyed. They expanded on the work started in whatever FF game had the Sphere system; they iterated on two skill system to deliver something unique to PoE.
Then there's the active skill gem system. GGG took the old "class skill system", and detached it to such an extent that - like gear - the skills were open to all classes. Witches, for example, can use dexterity skills that would normally be reserved for Shadows and Rangers. They can even build to make them effective in fights. Totems, which are a strength gem designed primarily for melee classes, can again be used by Witches... and they can again build to buff them. The active skill gem system is an innovation.
The currency system, the importance of currency as usable items (that hold their value not only as a reflection of the value of gear but also as a reflection of the inherent value the items have for their uses) is also innovative.
I'm not suggesting that PoE is the most innovative ARPG every made, because it isn't. It is by far the most innovative ARPG of this generation however, much more so than either TL2 or D3 (which are both far more derivative than PoE).
The "core gamplay and mechanics" of PoE are inclusive of ANYTHING that effects them. The passive skill tree and active gem system aren't sideshows. They are part of the whole that makes up the "core gameplay" of PoE. Removing the skill system from any concideration of the gameplay the game has to offer is like judging a car based on everything but the wheels, and expecting that judgement to hold water; you can't drive a car if it doesn't have wheels. You can't play PoE if you ignore the passive and active skill systems, the gear, etc, etc so on and so forth.
Regarding the arguments that the skill tree system in PoE is pointless: I would like to point something out that many people on both sides of the fence seem to totally ignore when arguing about this subject...
Path of Exile's skill system, like any skill system, ISN'T going for an "all you can eat, mix 'n' match" affair.
Build diversity isn't about allowing players to do whatever they want at any turn, and anyone who thinks that will ever be the case is simply ignorant. Build diversity is about allowing players to iterate on, to render, a role in a variety of ways. Within a skill system that has actual diversity, you'll always note that you're not being allowed to "do what you want". There are certain roles and archetypes that are clear, and you are simply iterating on that role.
Take Witches, for example: there are MANY roles out there a Witch can go for. You can go pure summoner, fire deeps tank, cc cold deeps, fire-summoner hybrid, cold-summoner hyrbid, totem deeps, summer-totem deeps hybrid, low deeps tank, etc, etc. All of these build "archetypes" work. Within those archetypes, there are a variety of ways to actually achieve your end. I, for example, and in Act 3 Cruel right now. I was led to believe by other Witches that I would need to take life nodes as I got through Cruel to mitigate damage coming in. I found that to be untrue; I have taken NO life or shield nodes. On the Witch forums on the PoE boards right now, there are about 8 threads (I can be bothered to look for) that have builds similar to mine. 2 of them are very similar, 3 of them are kind of similar, and 3 of them are simply "generally" similar. They ALL work. They ALL function. The 9 of us playing those characters are playing in a similar way, using similar skills, and filling a similar role; yes, there are even skill points that we arguably have to take to play that way, to achieve our build goals, but that's always going to be the case. There are however stark and subtel differences across the board. Where one person has gone for + life, another has taken Burning Damage instead. Where one has taken + Life nodes for minions, but no damage nodes, another has taken both the life and damage nodes. Etc, etc so on and so forth.
My point is this: build diversity is not about letting you do what you want. It's about letting you do what the game tells you to do in a variety of ways. Build diversity simply means giving you a variety of options to deal with the information the game gives you, and nothing more.
Mathematically optimum builds will always be around, but it's important to note that a "sub-optimal" build will work. Some people will gravitate to and utilise the MO builds, many will not. Many will simply make their own build and if it works, whether it is the most optimum build they can use or not, they will likely continue to use it.
POE is a great game. Its fun, addicting, challenging, and LONG. I think they really did a great job on a lot of things - the skill tree is SUCH a great idea. Also, the lack of currency is another great idea.
I played a lot of D3 and currently I do prefer POE. I think Blizzard made a great game with D3 but they put themselves in a corner with a lot of their decisions. D3 could have been something so much more..
In my eyes, the perfect hack and slash game would take Blizzard's gameplay (slightly faster then POE) and add in POE's currency, leveling, gear, and skill point system.
Seriously? I played beta and it was ok for 1 day,then the second day I played for 1-2 hours and never went back. Why is this even on am MMO site anyway?
I'm sick of all this kiddy turdbag shit creeping over into real MMO games which TBH thinking about it don't even exist anymore.You have to play an old game to get anything like a world.
Totally and utterly sick of it,keep to your one hotbar 'action' bullshit casual fest piece of crap cutscene waste of time & money garbage,this is my last post until things change which in fact means my last post,goodbye xxxx
Seriously? I played beta and it was ok for 1 day,then the second day I played for 1-2 hours and never went back. Why is this even on am MMO site anyway?
I'm sick of all this kiddy turdbag shit creeping over into real MMO games which TBH thinking about it don't even exist anymore.You have to play an old game to get anything like a world.
Totally and utterly sick of it,keep to your one hotbar 'action' bullshit casual fest piece of crap cutscene waste of time & money garbage,this is my last post until things change which in fact means my last post,goodbye xxxx
In case you haven't noticed, babe, MMORPG.com hasn't been exclusively about MMOs for a while
GGG do not define PoE as an MMO. They define it as an "online ARPG". MMORPG.com took it upon themselves to cover PoE, and took it upon themselves to rebrand it as an MMO. GGG still deny that it is an MMO.
Also, many other people enjoy the game. Who are you to say what we should and should not talk about and like?
Every thread I read about a game has a bunch of people saying how "more of the same" "I was bored" "game sucks"
You'd think these people who say this about every single game would finally realize that they simply don't enjoy games anymore? It would be no different to stab yourself in the face with different objects and complain how each of them is more of the same and you don't like it...
Apologies if somebody already mentioned this, but one possibility to keep this company afloat would be to offer a complete respecialization through their item shop. I understand and respect the developers stance on offering cosmetic changes only, but the bottom line is that no matter how great the game is or becomes, without income the game will eventually falter.
One could persuasively argue that a total respec does not directly impact the fairness of the game, since refund points can be legitimately acquired through normal gameplay, in the form of the Orb of Regret or refund points awarded for certain quests.
Additionally, I feel that there would be a significant demand for a total respec, given the breadth of the passive skill tree, and knowing based on my own play experience that players would love to be able to change their game roles based on what items or gems they acquire as they as they develop their characters; and when starting a character, we never know what random items we will find.
Apologies if somebody already mentioned this, but one possibility to keep this company afloat would be to offer a complete respecialization through their item shop.
They made over $2 million through kickstarter. They've made the same amount (and more) through the cash shop since launch.
They've already said that they will not place P2W items on the cash shop, and they consider (by their own words) a full respec cash shop purchas P2W. So it's unlikely to happen. And if it does, I - and many others - will stop playing.
Path of Exile is definitely game for D2 fans, which thought D3 wasn't worthy successor. D3 despite being thought as innovative, changed core system in comparison to it's previous part. No skilltree, no potions(as in important healing/mana source), no stats required for gear. That's very important(and gamebreaking for some) changes.
Now looking at PoE, it really rehashed quite few D2 ideas - scrolls, skilltree, stats requirement for gear, potions, life/mana as resource, sockets or even controversial stuff like no AH, inventory managment(item size!) or other more friendly trading system and way multiplayer loot works. That's not something bad as those worked nicely for many people, but not really innovative, even if changed slightly.
Of course there are some new ideas - active skill gems like materia from Final Fantasy, orbs as currency and crafting system at same time and some very nice and interesting ideas with gear(armor/evade/energy shield and special secondary stat for various weapons). As for maps idea was it TL first or PoE?
Passive tree it's really nice, however it makes different classes more a skin then completely different experience.
As for PoE flaws - biggest one is combat feeling, it really feels slow and stiff. Also going back to spam chat and forum browsing as main trading system also feels old and annoying.
Anyways for a game that's free without some sort of intrusive cash shop it's definetely worth trying!
Only thing I can say is that I think meele combat still needs works. It still seems a little sluggish. Other than that it truely is fun game to play. It is so much better than Diablo 3 and Torchlight 2. Definitely what arpg fans have been waiting for.
I think its the arpg that fans who've been disappointed with D3 have been waiting for.
PoE is not the game that has pushed the genre to the next level, so I think arpg fans are still awaiting for the game that will push the genre to the next level by offering new things that have not been done in arpgs before (and doing them well obviously)
Find me an ARPG with currency, potion and skill systems like POE's. I Dare you. I double-dare you.
"not pushing the genre to the next level" my ass. POE has been the most innovative ARPG in last few years since Titan Quest.
# A GRIM, ODD, ARCANE SKY # ANY GOD, I MARK SACRED # A MASKED CRY ADORING # A DREAMY, SICK DRAGON
No fixed classes is not innovative if it then someone should quickly make an ARPG where your character progresses like in Ultima Online and your game will be considered innovative as well. :P
Only thing I can say is that I think meele combat still needs works. It still seems a little sluggish. Other than that it truely is fun game to play. It is so much better than Diablo 3 and Torchlight 2. Definitely what arpg fans have been waiting for.
I think its the arpg that fans who've been disappointed with D3 have been waiting for.
PoE is not the game that has pushed the genre to the next level, so I think arpg fans are still awaiting for the game that will push the genre to the next level by offering new things that have not been done in arpgs before (and doing them well obviously)
Find me an ARPG with currency, potion and skill systems like POE's. I Dare you. I double-dare you.
"not pushing the genre to the next level" my ass. POE has been the most innovative ARPG in last few years since Titan Quest.
Have to agree with you here. While I must admit that to me in many ways PoE does resemble a pastiche of the earlier Diablo games, GGG have added enough of their own touches and game mechanics to differentiate their game and to advance the genre.
And on the subject of Titans Quest, I can't wait to see how Grim Dawn pans out.
If you dont do stupid things while youre young, youll have nothing to smile about when youre old.
I think PoE deserves a higher score in innovation. PoE's currency system, flask system, crafting system, gem system, passive tree as well as the map system in endgame are certainly innovative as far as an ARPG goes.
Giving this game a lower longevity score than that other game is not right to be honest but not comparing to other games the review is fair and the game is very enjoyable.
Again I agree. Otherwise the review was mostly accurate and is of course one person's opinion.
Comments
rpg/mmorg history: Dun Darach>Bloodwych>Bards Tale 1-3>Eye of the beholder > Might and Magic 2,3,5 > FFVII> Baldur's Gate 1, 2 > Planescape Torment >Morrowind > WOW > oblivion > LOTR > Guild Wars (1900hrs elementalist) Vanguard. > GW2(1000 elementalist), Wildstar
Now playing GW2, AOW 3, ESO, LOTR, Elite D
blizzard =
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_plating_(analogy)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_cow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overengineering
it goes on and on....
rpg/mmorg history: Dun Darach>Bloodwych>Bards Tale 1-3>Eye of the beholder > Might and Magic 2,3,5 > FFVII> Baldur's Gate 1, 2 > Planescape Torment >Morrowind > WOW > oblivion > LOTR > Guild Wars (1900hrs elementalist) Vanguard. > GW2(1000 elementalist), Wildstar
Now playing GW2, AOW 3, ESO, LOTR, Elite D
Agreed. Pretty much nailed it. There's some interesting information in the as well. Good post.
Ultimately while offering innovation in the eyes of many, such innovation simply could not have been brought to the Diablo franchise.
A highly praised feature such as the skill tree could simply not work in the Diablo games due to one very significant design choice, distinct classes.
That is a feature which is reliant on each class in effect being only minor variations of each other rather than each being specialised and unique.
This is not as people put it, "the game Diablo 3 should have been", but the game Diablo 3 could not have possibly been while still being a Diablo game.
And really just how much of the tree is truly optional, if anything taking a leaf right out of the book of the old talent system in World of Warcraft where certain "talents" are made up of multiple points, each increasing some effect by a certain amount. Each additional point meaning less than the one before it, because its bringing nothing new.
The vast majority of most, if not any build will look a lot simpler if you strip out the repitition or duplication where it boils down to a few simple things. Keystones, weapon supports, and core stats necessary for your choice of damage sources.
Leaving a lot less wriggle room than you might anticipate once you have a direction in mind.
Have your pick of some the others
Blizzard should become a case study to show what can and does go wrong when you mix corporate management with games development.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti_Patterns
rpg/mmorg history: Dun Darach>Bloodwych>Bards Tale 1-3>Eye of the beholder > Might and Magic 2,3,5 > FFVII> Baldur's Gate 1, 2 > Planescape Torment >Morrowind > WOW > oblivion > LOTR > Guild Wars (1900hrs elementalist) Vanguard. > GW2(1000 elementalist), Wildstar
Now playing GW2, AOW 3, ESO, LOTR, Elite D
Sorry, i just flat out don't agree with any of this. Especially the part about the passive skills. It's not a skill tree. Just look at it. There's 1300+ choices to make. Judging from everything you said here, it is clear you haven't played the game or have played 3 levels of it. That passive tree blows things wide open. I have made a slew of different characters, some of the same "class", and they couldn't be more different because i was able to make a whole lot of different choices along the way. There's more wiggle room in this game than any other out there. You would know this if you played.
Nice write up and I agree with you. I mean how many times must I take plus 10 x stat on my way to one of the big circle talents. I do enjoy the game for the most part though it has started to get boring to me in the 30's for I feel like I'm doing the same thing over and over again as the progression slows down a lot.
Considering how much coverage PoE has had, I don't think I'd call it a "Hidden Gem". Usually I'd reserve that name for a very good game that's barely ever talked about.
Definitively a decent game however. It's what Diablo 3 should've been.
I'm not missing the point at all. I think you don't actually understand what the term "innovation" means.
Innovation is, by definition, iterative. It takes ideas presented in one instance and expands upon them.
Take, for example, the skill tree system. GGG took the old, relatively linear skill tree system and expanded on it to allow a directed but far more diverse build system that previous ARPGs have enjoyed. They expanded on the work started in whatever FF game had the Sphere system; they iterated on two skill system to deliver something unique to PoE.
Then there's the active skill gem system. GGG took the old "class skill system", and detached it to such an extent that - like gear - the skills were open to all classes. Witches, for example, can use dexterity skills that would normally be reserved for Shadows and Rangers. They can even build to make them effective in fights. Totems, which are a strength gem designed primarily for melee classes, can again be used by Witches... and they can again build to buff them. The active skill gem system is an innovation.
The currency system, the importance of currency as usable items (that hold their value not only as a reflection of the value of gear but also as a reflection of the inherent value the items have for their uses) is also innovative.
I'm not suggesting that PoE is the most innovative ARPG every made, because it isn't. It is by far the most innovative ARPG of this generation however, much more so than either TL2 or D3 (which are both far more derivative than PoE).
The "core gamplay and mechanics" of PoE are inclusive of ANYTHING that effects them. The passive skill tree and active gem system aren't sideshows. They are part of the whole that makes up the "core gameplay" of PoE. Removing the skill system from any concideration of the gameplay the game has to offer is like judging a car based on everything but the wheels, and expecting that judgement to hold water; you can't drive a car if it doesn't have wheels. You can't play PoE if you ignore the passive and active skill systems, the gear, etc, etc so on and so forth.
Regarding the arguments that the skill tree system in PoE is pointless: I would like to point something out that many people on both sides of the fence seem to totally ignore when arguing about this subject...
Path of Exile's skill system, like any skill system, ISN'T going for an "all you can eat, mix 'n' match" affair.
Build diversity isn't about allowing players to do whatever they want at any turn, and anyone who thinks that will ever be the case is simply ignorant. Build diversity is about allowing players to iterate on, to render, a role in a variety of ways. Within a skill system that has actual diversity, you'll always note that you're not being allowed to "do what you want". There are certain roles and archetypes that are clear, and you are simply iterating on that role.
Take Witches, for example: there are MANY roles out there a Witch can go for. You can go pure summoner, fire deeps tank, cc cold deeps, fire-summoner hybrid, cold-summoner hyrbid, totem deeps, summer-totem deeps hybrid, low deeps tank, etc, etc. All of these build "archetypes" work. Within those archetypes, there are a variety of ways to actually achieve your end. I, for example, and in Act 3 Cruel right now. I was led to believe by other Witches that I would need to take life nodes as I got through Cruel to mitigate damage coming in. I found that to be untrue; I have taken NO life or shield nodes. On the Witch forums on the PoE boards right now, there are about 8 threads (I can be bothered to look for) that have builds similar to mine. 2 of them are very similar, 3 of them are kind of similar, and 3 of them are simply "generally" similar. They ALL work. They ALL function. The 9 of us playing those characters are playing in a similar way, using similar skills, and filling a similar role; yes, there are even skill points that we arguably have to take to play that way, to achieve our build goals, but that's always going to be the case. There are however stark and subtel differences across the board. Where one person has gone for + life, another has taken Burning Damage instead. Where one has taken + Life nodes for minions, but no damage nodes, another has taken both the life and damage nodes. Etc, etc so on and so forth.
My point is this: build diversity is not about letting you do what you want. It's about letting you do what the game tells you to do in a variety of ways. Build diversity simply means giving you a variety of options to deal with the information the game gives you, and nothing more.
Mathematically optimum builds will always be around, but it's important to note that a "sub-optimal" build will work. Some people will gravitate to and utilise the MO builds, many will not. Many will simply make their own build and if it works, whether it is the most optimum build they can use or not, they will likely continue to use it.
POE is a great game. Its fun, addicting, challenging, and LONG. I think they really did a great job on a lot of things - the skill tree is SUCH a great idea. Also, the lack of currency is another great idea.
I played a lot of D3 and currently I do prefer POE. I think Blizzard made a great game with D3 but they put themselves in a corner with a lot of their decisions. D3 could have been something so much more..
In my eyes, the perfect hack and slash game would take Blizzard's gameplay (slightly faster then POE) and add in POE's currency, leveling, gear, and skill point system.
Seriously? I played beta and it was ok for 1 day,then the second day I played for 1-2 hours and never went back. Why is this even on am MMO site anyway?
I'm sick of all this kiddy turdbag shit creeping over into real MMO games which TBH thinking about it don't even exist anymore.You have to play an old game to get anything like a world.
Totally and utterly sick of it,keep to your one hotbar 'action' bullshit casual fest piece of crap cutscene waste of time & money garbage,this is my last post until things change which in fact means my last post,goodbye xxxx
Every thread I read about a game has a bunch of people saying how "more of the same" "I was bored" "game sucks"
You'd think these people who say this about every single game would finally realize that they simply don't enjoy games anymore? It would be no different to stab yourself in the face with different objects and complain how each of them is more of the same and you don't like it...
Apologies if somebody already mentioned this, but one possibility to keep this company afloat would be to offer a complete respecialization through their item shop. I understand and respect the developers stance on offering cosmetic changes only, but the bottom line is that no matter how great the game is or becomes, without income the game will eventually falter.
One could persuasively argue that a total respec does not directly impact the fairness of the game, since refund points can be legitimately acquired through normal gameplay, in the form of the Orb of Regret or refund points awarded for certain quests.
Additionally, I feel that there would be a significant demand for a total respec, given the breadth of the passive skill tree, and knowing based on my own play experience that players would love to be able to change their game roles based on what items or gems they acquire as they as they develop their characters; and when starting a character, we never know what random items we will find.
They made over $2 million through kickstarter. They've made the same amount (and more) through the cash shop since launch.
They've already said that they will not place P2W items on the cash shop, and they consider (by their own words) a full respec cash shop purchas P2W. So it's unlikely to happen. And if it does, I - and many others - will stop playing.
Path of Exile is definitely game for D2 fans, which thought D3 wasn't worthy successor. D3 despite being thought as innovative, changed core system in comparison to it's previous part. No skilltree, no potions(as in important healing/mana source), no stats required for gear. That's very important(and gamebreaking for some) changes.
Now looking at PoE, it really rehashed quite few D2 ideas - scrolls, skilltree, stats requirement for gear, potions, life/mana as resource, sockets or even controversial stuff like no AH, inventory managment(item size!) or other more friendly trading system and way multiplayer loot works. That's not something bad as those worked nicely for many people, but not really innovative, even if changed slightly.
Of course there are some new ideas - active skill gems like materia from Final Fantasy, orbs as currency and crafting system at same time and some very nice and interesting ideas with gear(armor/evade/energy shield and special secondary stat for various weapons). As for maps idea was it TL first or PoE?
Passive tree it's really nice, however it makes different classes more a skin then completely different experience.
As for PoE flaws - biggest one is combat feeling, it really feels slow and stiff. Also going back to spam chat and forum browsing as main trading system also feels old and annoying.
Anyways for a game that's free without some sort of intrusive cash shop it's definetely worth trying!
Find me an ARPG with currency, potion and skill systems like POE's. I Dare you. I double-dare you.
"not pushing the genre to the next level" my ass. POE has been the most innovative ARPG in last few years since Titan Quest.
# A GRIM, ODD, ARCANE SKY
# ANY GOD, I MARK SACRED
# A MASKED CRY ADORING
# A DREAMY, SICK DRAGON
No fixed classes is not innovative if it then someone should quickly make an ARPG where your character progresses like in Ultima Online and your game will be considered innovative as well. :P
POE DA BEST ARPG GAME!
Have to agree with you here. While I must admit that to me in many ways PoE does resemble a pastiche of the earlier Diablo games, GGG have added enough of their own touches and game mechanics to differentiate their game and to advance the genre.
And on the subject of Titans Quest, I can't wait to see how Grim Dawn pans out.
If you dont do stupid things while youre young, youll have nothing to smile about when youre old.
Agreed. Best looking ARPG I have ever played. Only Grim dawn will have a shot at equalling it later this year.
Again I agree. Otherwise the review was mostly accurate and is of course one person's opinion.