Path of exile

[Prpl_Mage]

So I just noticed that this game is done. And that it's free on Steam.
For those of you who don't know about it. It's pretty much Diablo 2-2 made by some folks who wanted to make a better game. Also, they were kinda praised when Blizzard once again refreshed things with diablo 3 which people didn't like. At all. I suppose I could compare it to Torchlight as well, but you know. Being free and all i guess this game will be approximately 500% better than torchlight.

Kinda busy guy at the moment so I don't really have time to test it. Have any of you? And if YES, was it really as good as expected?

[Archem]

I played it in beta a little bit, and I thought it was exceptional. It felt like what D3 should have been. Oddly enough, I was thinking about this game earlier today (probably because some friends and I just started playing D3 on Xbox). PoE being on Steam is fantastic news.

[Prpl_Mage]

So I gave it a try and completed the first act (which was a lot shorter than expected).

So some pros and cons (yay):

pros:
innovative systems. there is no gold but instead you trade using your valuable items like scroll of wisdom(indentification) and "orbs" that are used to improve items you already posses. For example, one orb will reroll the magical bonuses of an item, one will increase the quality and so on.
Areas reset themselves. After like 10 minutes of inactivity an area will randomize a new map layout and respawn monsters and all that.
The skill tree. It's huge and got lots of potential. Apparently you will get like 120 points to put in it.
The stash: It's huuuuuge and character shared. Much like D3 only way way larger.
Skill gems that level up. By having a skill gem equipped, they will earn experience and then level up to get stronger. But the mana cost increases and in some cases also the stat requirements. I can't get past fire trap lvl 3 on my witch because I lack the dexterity needed.
Support gems. Haven't found any yet but I have equipment with links, people in the chat seemed to have a blast with them though.

Cons:
The skill tree. I mentioned it as a pro. But it's also a con, although you get like 120 points (one each level and then soem quest rewards) there are like 1400 nodes in this skill tree leaving you with too much freedom. All characters share the same skill tree as well, only start at different locations. Much like in FFX. But in order to get to a passive thing I want, I need to pass loads of nodes. For example, I spotted a "minion size+1" node that I want to up my zombie count, but in order to get there (I realized) I have to get 12 levels to cover all the nodes between me and the thing I want.
Inventory size. You got a huge stash but the inventory is really small. Since nothing gives money but items instead you kinda want to trade things in. But the game prevents you, so in the end you skip like 90% of all the gear (the white stuff).
Lag. Well, it's common for games online. But that thing called rubberbanding is kinda awful. Especially when it's against the act boss... I fire all my spells to the point where he's standing and shooting at me. But then all of a sudden, he is standing right next to me and I lost 80% of my life in the exact same instant.
Skill gems. I like the system, I really do. Reminds me of Sacred. But it's not like the skill gems are dropping a lot, I managed to get two. Some fiery blast and rain of arrows. Every other skill was given to me as a choice in quest reward. Quest that gives skills give you the option of like 5-10 different gems to choose from though, so that's good.
Item sockets. So, to use a skill I have to put it into a socket of the right colour in my gear. This is kinda problematic for me. 'cuz lots of time I have to say no to better stats because I simply can't have all my skills if I swap the piece I'm wearing right now. And I can't even imagine how much worse this will be when I need to remember the socket links in items for the support gems.
Map layout. Maybe I was just unfortunate with the randomizers. But the areas of 2/3 of the first act were pretty much just a linear path forward without any deviations. Especially after the cave. Also, it was mostly like beaches, swamps and mountain ridges. I wanted more dungeons and caves.
The community. As with all games with an online mode really. Character names are things like "pussyfucker" "ifuckedcharlesmom" "assholebuttcracker" and so on, people can spew out pretty much anything and I can't report them. Also, most of the time people are arguing over wheter or not Diablo 3 sucks. Or asking questions about the game only to be bashed by people who played the beta being all "OMG use your ****ing head".

But so far so good. Needs more playing, and perhaps some company.

[Apex]

FFL and I beat normal mode and moved onto Cruel difficulty. We were thinking about starting second characters however.

I enjoy the game! There is always a way to improve your character, whether it be through skill arrangement, item buffs, and clever use of passives, and that leads to a lot of fun. My Shadow dual wields claws, which drain health, and I was able to set up a move which attacks with both weapons at once and with the skill gem system, I was able to place a gem next to it that makes my attack do splash damage, and additional life steal. I wipe out hordes in a few hits. I also have a cyclone attack (similar to the Barbarian's Whirlwind attack form Diablo 2) that life steals and curses enemies with slowness. There is a lot of room for creativity with the skill system, and I think that might be the best part of the game.

[Prpl_Mage]

I just want to point out that the final boss in this game is a jumbo cock. It's not just the fact that it constatly spawn enemies to hit you and go through phases. It's the fact that there's no balance going on at all. Sure, i could buy that for Diablo 2 made like 15 years ago. But it just seem crude today.

Normal and cruel is beaten but merciless is what the name suggests. Dying (which happens a lot(A LOT) cuts away 10% of your exp. And when you finally manage to kill that group of elites, you get like 1-2% of your bar. So I'm stuck at grinding, 'cuz I'm already underleveled compared to the game's suggestions.