Early Access to Tencent Games’ Path of Exile 2 is around the corner, and at PAX West 2024, we had the opportunity to experience an early build of the game. It truly feels like a fantastic follow-up to the first game, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience despite knowing very little about it.

During our 30-minute play session, we created a character, explored the initial area, navigated the tutorial section, and completed one of the first missions in what’s sure to be another epic adventure.

Path of Exile 2 Hands-On Impressions

As newcomers to the franchise, we opted to create a new character to experience the game from a fresh perspective. This brief hands-on preview left a strong impression, confirming that Path of Exile 2 is a strong and free-to-play alternative to Diablo that players have been looking for.

For those who have fond memories of the classic Diablo 2, Path of Exile 2’s interface will feel familiar. Players can choose from character classes such as Warrior, Witch/Sorceress, Monk, and Mercenary, and after a minute of internal discussion with myself, Mercenary was my choice for the playthrough, and it did leave me pleasantly surprised.

Veterans of Diablo 2 and Path of Exile will find Path of Exile 2 easy to pick up, as the interface remains consistent with what fans have come to expect. The game features a WASD movement interface, which I prefer, allowing mouse clicks to be reserved for targeting enemies.

As with any Diablo-like ARPG, players traverse the map, engage enemies, collect loot, and strive to survive until the next area. A notable difference in Path of Exile 2 is the skill system, where players can acquire skill gems that bind to their equipped weapons, enabling unique weapon skills and diverse playstyles for character builds.

Loot remains a central focus in Path of Exile 2, with rarer gear and skills providing a significant advantage over enemies. I acquired loot that enhanced my Mercenary’s auto-crossbow weapon, and Path of Exile 2 looks to be streamlining the loot system to enhance the overall gameplay experience. It remains to be seen if Orbs will play a big part in the POE currency dynamics as it has with PoE 1, so we’ll see.

We also had the opportunity to face off against a mini-boss guarding the town, providing us with a taste of the boss battles to come. Healing operates similarly to Diablo 2, but with quality-of-life improvements such as built-in potions, eliminating the need to purchase endless health and mana potions. Additionally, my crossbow never ran out of ammunition, amusingly functioning more like an assault rifle than a traditional crossbow.

After swiftly defeating the boss, I progressed to the town and met the blacksmith Renly, who assigned me a quest to defeat The Devourer.

Call of Exile: Mercenary Ops

The Mercenary class, with its auto-crossbow feature, felt more akin to a first-person shooter (FPS) character than a typical action role-playing game (ARPG) character. Utilizing the WASD movement system, it genuinely felt like controlling an FPS character within an ARPG, which surprisingly worked well.

One of the crossbow skills allows the Mercenary to change ammunition types. Fragmenting ammo creates a spreadshot effect for crowd control, while armor-piercing ammo penetrates enemy defenses. Switching to these special ammo types consumes mana, so reverting to the basic attack helps conserve mana potion charges.

Equipping a dagger as a secondary weapon enables melee attacks against nearby enemies, enhancing the FPS-like experience when facing hordes. Another skill mimics a grenade launcher, allowing the Mercenary to launch grenades that create area-of-effect damage, effectively taking out groups of enemies. Combined, these elements create an enjoyable hybrid of FPS and ARPG gameplay in Path of Exile 2.

I only had enough time to complete Renly’s quest, reaching the Vile Nest where I confronted The Devourer. The boss fight was manageable, as deciphering the burrowing pattern was straightforward, allowing me to defeat the boss without much difficulty.

As you level up, you select passive skills that enhance your character’s abilities, rather than binding stat points. Character customization is a significant aspect of the game, and as I concluded the demo, I was eager to see what else Path of Exile 2 has in store for us in the future.

Path of Exile 2 Early Access launches on November 15, 2024 on Steam. Wishlist now!