Path of Exile 2’s early access has been live for several months now, and the ARPG community is split. Here’s the honest take after 150+ hours.
Good:
- Combat feels significantly better than PoE1 — the dodge roll and wasd movement make kiting actually fun
- Boss design is a massive step up. The Count Geonor fight is genuinely memorable
- Gem socket system simplifies builds without reducing depth — supports socket directly into skills
Mixed:
- Endgame mapping is barren compared to PoE1’s atlas. Fewer league mechanics, less density
- Difficulty spike from acts to maps is jarring — expect to die to random white mobs in T1 maps
Needs Work:
- Crafting is too RNG-dependent. Benchcrafts are limited, and orbs are scarce
- Loot feels unrewarding in maps — too many blues, not enough rares with usable mods
- Performance stutters in dense breaches, even on high-end hardware
Verdict: Great campaign, promising foundation, but endgame needs 6-12 more months of iteration. Worth buying now if you enjoy the journey more than the destination.
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