Path of Exile 2 - From "Hype" to "Heartbreak" 100+ hours in

[@machcrafts]

It’s early access. Like REALLY early access. Things will be tweaked and tuned meticulously like they’ve always done. The game definitely needs work and the player base is going to help find all the pain points, but there is absolutely no reason to be discouraged at the moment. Once this thing gets proper launched, and we hit our first league, this thing is going to be incredible.

[@OldManGaming-101]

I agree with you 100%. I didn't mean to come off saying "don't play this game". I simply say if you are easily frustrated, or are expecting this to be the smooth and super fun ride... you might want to wait until the full release. There is so much to love about this game...but it definitely has issues in it's current state. I truly believe this will be one of the best games ever created by release time. They pushed that out 6-12 months because they fully understand this...that is what makes the gang at GGG so awesome. I am very happy that you are enjoying the game...keep rockin!

[@Nopenotagainhaha]

It took me almost two and a half weeks to clear through campaign. I’m maining a warrior and still loving every minute of it. Mainly playing for an hour or so here and there. Glad I’m taking my time. Been a great ride.

[@OldManGaming-101]

Glad you enjoy it! It is going to be one of the best games out there in my opinion.

[@andrewgrow5711]

my first thought when i see these negative reviews is "is this just listing things in poe2 that are different from poe1"? alot of times the answer is yes, just a poe1 vet not liking that poe2 is designed to be different in which case yes, those people should keep playing poe1 however i don't disagree on some points: we need to be able to replace runes... idc if it destroys the rune already socketed, but we need to be able to change them i don't love the ascendency system... failing feels aweful... but at least once it's done it's done so idk definitely we should be able to respec ascendency points, even if we have to run the trial again or whatever monsters respawning is annoying but whatever the xp loss on death is unnecessary some things you didn't mention: getting oneshot... you are either taking insignificant damage or getting killed instantly this is the wrong balance for a more difficult game we should have less healing and energy shield regen so life flasks actually mean something also we shouldn't be getting oneshot... should make a few mistakes, get smashed a few times and have to use flask then we can CHOOSE whether to dodge/avoid or accept the damage as a strategic decision this will make melee feel tankier and more viable i just spend 95% of my time and attention in boss fights dodging and avoiding... don't have any room to do anything interesting and i'm an older dude playing on controller... so in current state the only thing i can actually enjoy is aimbot ranged classes everything else isn't worth the effort and is way too easy to get oneshot

[@pathexile6309]

Poe2 reminds me of the early days of Poe1. It took me 4 years to reach the red maps, 3 more years to get my first lvl 100 toon and another 3 years to build an uber killer.

[@OldManGaming-101]

Yes! That is exactly what it feels like right now. I am hoping they fix a lot before the full release.

[@steffanreichenbach3124]

I have not even finished act 2, because i tried every class, to find which one i would realy like to play full through ! There are 2 major problems for me ( not against playing, but take away some of the fun ) 1 : the game prefers ( now ) range builds over melee but way more important ( for me ) , is 2 : the skill system ! while it looks, as if there are plenty possibilities, only few combination are allowed. each weapon has it´s own skills , you can´t use with other weapons ( and the fact, that on certain skill levels you got choices for other categories is irritating. you have areas for weapons, classes and buffs exclusivly at this levels ) and the support-gems harden this. I would like to use the same support-gems on different skills ( for example + lightning damage ) but get only 1 gems for all skills. Some more flexibility is preferable here. Overall so far, i liked it !

[@adamszitas8564]

1:1 my experience, and the exprience of my friends (except one who is still somewhat blind) Game starts of AMAZING with some issues Later its just issues

[@OldManGaming-101]

I think it is made to feel a little worse because they released this "beta" and then went on vacation....leaving us with no fixes or responses. That part is kinda lame...but they will get it worked out. They always do.

[@adamszitas8564]

@@OldManGaming-101 slight correction. They deleted cast on freeze, nerfed refreezing. But did NOTHING to improve the fundamental problems of mapping, melee, non lightning builds, drop cahnce etc.

[@obscurside3652]

I've been playing poe since 2013, it's my favorite game ever, I also got very hype and disapointed about poe 2. Hype becasue : engaging combat, slower pace, semi-harcore and punishing mechanics. At least that was the campaign felt like. Disapointed becasue: end-game is just poe 1, mindless and boring gameplay full clearing screen and killing bosses in 5 secs. Even with the same mechanics, that don't fit at all with their zone layout design. Hopefully it's all placeholders for us to have something to do before release. I want to play a different game, like GGG have been advertising for years. A ''souls-like'' ARPG, not a ''diablo-like''

[@jhende5968]

This game is great for a real beta

[@Erdbeerenserver]

It is a unpolished diamond but feels one step forward, 3 steps back from PoE at times.

[@OldManGaming-101]

Hang in there bud, they will be back from holiday soon and the issues will be addressed.

[@torinux4980]

GGG doesn't really need the support. They are not an indie studio since 2018 when Tencent bought the studio at a 100%, lol.

[@rodswoodworking7151]

If I could sum up my POE 2 experience in one word, it would be "mean". The game is very mean.

[@OldManGaming-101]

Hahaha!! I can definitely see that! Things WILL get better. Honestly, I think they should have waited until after their holiday to release EA...they dropped off the game as is and then took time off !!

[@zergtoss1]

Sweet I will keep on playing Grim Dawn 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Ascent9]

I really don't think the campaign is that bad or is problematic in any way. I thoroughly enjoyed my playthrough of the game, although unlike you, I had not played POE1. I think some of the progression through the campaign makes no sense for some classes. For sorceress you get flame wall that you can very early on have synergy for with spark. For a class like monk the way you progress your skills makes no sense. Your first skill you get need power charges to be used meaningfully. And you have no way to get power charges. Later you get bell, which is a great skill, however it needs tempest fury, which is unlocked later. The game progression for monk definitely needs work as most guides tell you to just use a bow until you reach lvl 14. Endgame is where the cracks really show throughout the game. The waystone system is pretty bad and very punishing and does not encourage people to keep playing. The mobs become hasted so there's no way for methodical gameplay as the are immediately on top of you. The solution is to have power that kills everything before it can get close. Damage massively outscales healthpools and the magic resist system is really bad as you really don't need much until tier 7 or 8 but after that it just becomes required. There are many oneshot abilities the mobs can use on you so the best builds kill everything offscreen and since chaos damage is by far the most common type they are also immune to chaos damage. Fortunately this can all change with different numerical tuning, so that defenses become viable and preventing mobs health pools from being so low they die off screen. Its super strange right now with the current tuning that witch and sorceress are by far the tankiest classes in the endgame and this should be relooked at. Overall the game is very fun and I don't think that the campaign is unfair. The pacing should probably be changed as the very beginning is the most difficult part. I started out on monk and the boss I died the most on throughout the campaign was the tutorial boss. I had more deaths to it than the entirety of the rest of the campaign. However I am still having fun and I really hope GGG can implement changes for the better of everyone.

[@OldManGaming-101]

I totally believe in GGG...they ALWAYS get things ironed out. I learned this over many years of playing POE1. I do understand this is EA, and I am still pushing through some of the issues because the game is AWESOME!!! Besides...that is what EA is all about...playing through content to give feedback. There are definitely some things that need to be fixed/improved upon. I am not like a lot on the forums saying the difficulty is too hard (except for ascendancy trials). There are a lot of older players/parents that might not have as much time to play...so my advice for them is to hang tight for more adjustments unless they can play with an understanding that a lot of quality of life changes are on the way and they might be pretty frustrated along the way. I am currently doing "fairly" well on T12 and will post a follow up video about my experience in "endgame". I really appreciate all the comments here. There is so much to learn and one thing I love about the POE community is that when people find something that works....they share it with others.

[@Ascent9]

@@OldManGaming-101 I've been able to get T15's down to about 8 minutes a clear on my Stormweaver, however it's really not fun gameplay and I'm I'm doing is spamming spark because I've got the gear to roll everything. Chaos Inoculation makes you immune to over half of all damage so it's super easy to get the resists that you need. The best stat in the game however is item rarity as it massively changes what and how much drops. I don't even pick up rares anymore unless they are tier 5 and above. What I would like to see in the endgame is to massively lower the damage of spark, as well as remove the hasted mobs. My monk isn't nearly as strong as my Stormweaver and it's probably closer to what endgame should be as I actually have to care about where I'm standing and what I'm doing. My biggest problem is on Tier 15s and 16s there's so many one shot abilities if you aren't full clearing the screen before it can show up.

[@OldManGaming-101]

@@Ascent9 Agreed. I recently changed my Ice Stormweaver to spark because it seems to be one of the builds that can get you through endgame (according to the popular streamers). After 3 levels, I changed back to ice (after spending almost 500k gold hahaha) because it is way more fun to play in my opinion. GGG will adjust when they get back from holiday (I hope). My biggest complaint is the one death per map. If I wanted to play Hardcore.... I would have checked that box at character creation. The death penalties are insane...and the forums are FULL of comments on this...so I am sure they will make some changes. For now...we are stuck waiting. My Ice Stormweaver is not as fast as some of the pros out there....but it definitely has protected me against many of the one shot mechanics and I die a lot less and the clear speed is pretty good. So far, I am only up to T14 maps so maybe I am in for a rude awakening. My next video will be my ice build in maps....I will try to explain how the build works and how I built it. But for me, it takes a LOT longer for me to make those kind of videos in POE 2 without the tools I had in POE1 like POB. Hang in there bro!

[@tudorikz]

Hey. I found some of your points valid, and I truly believe that xp loss on death should be swiftly removed from the game for example, but I disagree with others. Like the gear argument. If you engage with the trade portal you can grab some amazing loot for no more than one exalt orb, a currency you get regularly in high end content. Maybe look into that a bit, if gearing is one of your pain points with the game. Good video though, keep it up!

[@Cam-wi3tp]

i found that youy can get great gear for 1 exalted at lower levels but as you get higher in levels, the 1 exalt turn into 1 divine, i've seen gear going for 20-30 divines. I'm almost 60 now and have never gotten a divine

[@OldManGaming-101]

Oh for sure, I had to do that. Now I am higher level, I am trying to find better bases for more luck on crafts. The problem is just that...it comes down to luck. I would like to see either some deterministic options, or the ability to wipe and start over. At higher levels, good gear is out of my reach budget-wise. Not a HUGE problem....but added to a lot of stuff...can be frustrating. Appreciate the compliment!

[@Nukestarmaster]

Counterpoint, trade is awful, and therefor it shouldn't be mandatory.

[@OldManGaming-101]

@@Nukestarmaster I totally agree here. No one responds because the game is so damn long it is not worth it for them to come out of map or whatever they are doing just for one ex. They need to have an in-hideout auction house. But they probably won't. GGG has been against that as long as i can remember.

[@darkodonnie9145]

based!

[@CleanBurp]

I found this game to be on the computer for pc

[@OldManGaming-101]

Yes... I play on PC

[@darrylhe]

been playing since release but i work too, just got to cruel, finding it far too challenging, the trade cost is ridiculous, drops are poor, never played poe1, more D4, the games style, visuals etc are great but for us working class we need more, i usually buy skins etc but i doubt ill get value yet.

[@shaneclark7929]

ive been enjoying poe2. I think you're being a little harsh on it. but 100% if poe 2 isn't what you like... by all means try to have changes made while it's in early access... but if you're just trying to make it poe1 with better graphics... just go play poe1 because not one gripe has ever been the campaign its just "... the mechanics are different than what im used too and i don't get the same value out of the new system as i did in the old one and woe is me..."

[@Nukestarmaster]

One thing I have grown to hate is this air of toxic positivity surrounding the game, any problem anyone has with the game is assumed to be because something they did wrong. I've hit a wall in act 3, but _apparently_ that's just because I'm bad.

[@OldManGaming-101]

That's why I posted this. I know it is frustrating, but the "paid" youtubers want to tell you everything is fantastic. It is NOT. I fully believe it WILL be...but it will take a while.

[@Nukestarmaster]

@@OldManGaming-101 The problem is less the youtubers, but rather the commenters, honestly. Several KZbinrs have given rather scathing reviews, but the followers ... wow.

[@LEETbeyond]

lol people acting like this is the final game. it is literally the FIRST BETA.. with no real updates to it. holy shit calm down

[@danielc3029]

Holy shit. The point of early access is for the devs to test out game performance and “collect feedback,” so they can improve upon it. At the end of the day, it’s the devs decision so you calm down.

[@christopherway2546]

I’m not trying to be a prick but you didn’t invest in PoE2. You bought things for PoE1 with the money you spent. You were hype all the way until you didn’t get what you wanted but fail to realize that this is early access. It’s a beta test. You trusted GGG before so what’s changed? Trust them to make a good game, to iron out the wrinkles.

[@OldManGaming-101]

Not trying to be a prick back...but I did invest in POE2. I got a free invite from the $$ I spent on POE1 but i went ahead and got the $60 supporter pack for POE2 anyway. I DID mention this is early access and things will be worked out because I believe in GGG. I simply said if you are easily frustrated, you might want to wait for the full release (talking to casual players). At no point did I say anything toward not trusting or believing in GGG. I KNOW they will fix it...but it will take time....that is why the EA is 6-12 months before the full release.

[@michaelharder3055]

100 hours AND you took time off from work to play a game in early access? TWF? And now you roast the game as if it's released? 8 min of UNCONSTRUCTIVE feedback seems like you slapped yourself in the face instead of coming up with ideas on how fix the game.

[@OldManGaming-101]

Constructive feedback goes on the forums so the devs can see it...not here where they would never see it. Nobody is "roasting the game". I simply said it is best to wait for more changes that will be coming for CASUAL players. YOUR comment is an example of unconstructive feedback. Thanks for playing.

[@bennetkammel2757]

bro is just reading a script with an AI voice in this video. great effort lol. instant turnoff,

[@OldManGaming-101]

@@bennetkammel2757 Hahaha script? Who is my writer? I do it this way for privacy purposes. If I ever got like 20K subscribers...I might do things differently. Sorry it is a turnoff for you, but thanks for stopping by!

[@kokorochin01]

Yep, I'm sorry to say but the devs just suck. Not talking about the atmosphere, sound, etc. I'm talking about the deeper systems, and endgame design. ....

[@OldManGaming-101]

Yeah....they will fix it. They are on holiday now. I am looking forward to them getting back to work!

[@codychow651]

Gay

[@OldManGaming-101]

Congratulations on coming out of the closet!

[@mmredfs361]

is this ai voiceover?

[@nathenmorris1174]

the review isnt one of a casual player its the one of a noob/scrub

[@OldManGaming-101]

Thanks for stopping by... yes...even trolls are welcome :)

[@atmaant9534]

Countless hours into poe1 but you have no time for poe2, sus.

[@OldManGaming-101]

12 years vs a few weeks....there is your difference.

[@atmaant9534]

@@OldManGaming-101 "you can finish the campeign in about 20 hours, but thats where the cracks start to show. For casual players like us, finding time to play can be a challenge. I had to actually take time off work to hit 100 hours of gameplay, and even then it was only possible because I have an incredibly supportive wife. For most players carving out that kind of time just isn't realistic, and unfortunatly the campeign and progression don't feel worth the effort it takes." So in other words you have real life responsibilities and don't have time to play a game that is all about spending tons of time grinding. Fair enough. PoE1 was the exact same thing, and since you spent countless hours and money into poe1 you already know that it is in no shape or form a casual game. Carving out the time for games is exactly what gamers do.

[@User-ur6vp]

This sounds like fake news to me..

[@OldManGaming-101]

Nah...you have to go to MSNBC for that. But thanks for stopping by.