Let's Play Elex 2 - Part 1

This is Part 1 of a full playthrough of Elex 2 by Piranha Bytes showcasing gameplay and cutscenes with my own commentary over top. The full playthrough (currently in progress) is visible in playlist format here: • Let's Play Elex 2 - Fu...
I'll be uploading new episodes as I record them, so check the playlist periodically for new episodes as they're released. I'm playing on PC with an RX 5700XT and Ryzen 5 3600X, 1440p all settings at high/max.
0:00 - Intro / Preamble
2:44 - Opening Cutscenes
7:23 - Gameplay Start
#Elex2 #PiranhaBytes Elex II Elex2 Elix Elix II Elix 2 English
Blog:
thenocturnalrambler.blogspot.com
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[@TheNocturnalRambler]

Check here for future episodes in the Full Playthrough Playlist (In Progress): kzbin.info/aero/PLmb8lFvHN49NLvkZF5Nm7PCvWEeGuV0Nw

[@ouroldhouse3674]

Hey nick are you planning an analysis or review video for Elex 2, or just doing Let's Plays?

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

@@ouroldhouse3674 I'm intending to do a full review once I've finished playing it, and after going back to test certain mechanics and other things I may have missed in my first playthrough. That'll take some time, however, so I won't have a review ready for a while, so for the time being I'm just uploading my playthrough and sharing various preliminary thoughts and assessments on Patreon as I reach certain points in the game.

[@ouroldhouse3674]

@@TheNocturnalRambler I see, thanks.

[@lencasady]

I always go backwards at first!

[@lewisyeadon4046]

33:20 "Ughhh- that was awkward" describes Piranha Bytes games perfectly lol

[@n3burgener]

PB just released a patch with an alternative camera that gets rid of the dynamic zooming FOV and keeps it at a fixed distance and fixed viewing angle. Still can't manually zoom in or out, but it's still more pleasant to use than the default camera settings.

[@iv4nx3]

Hello Nick, glad you playing it!!

[@TheBlubba13]

The Morkon stuff is actually kinda interessting AND somewhat innovative for a PB game. The rites are basically passive buffs that active the more health you lose and you can assigne which one triggers at what life percentage (75 - 50 - 25- 1 or so).

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

Interesting, I couldn't tell that from the skill window. That might make for an interesting balance with using that call of blood skill to sacrifice health in order to trigger those buffs, though I wonder how easy it would be to offset the health loss with an immediate healing potion or something like that. I'm definitely more intrigued to possibly try the Morkon faction knowing that, however.

[@TheBlubba13]

@@TheNocturnalRambler Yes. The interface doesn't give any indication what those skills do. But when you join the faction, your health bar show segments (each of them triggering a new rite depending on the level of a skill). There's a seperate UI element where you can assign which rite is triggered at which health threshold.

[@maxmorgan1218]

Hey man, saw adverts for this and knew you would be covering it. Awesome work.

[@johny16G]

Sweet! Bring it on, my fav creator.

[@friedrichwagner8716]

35:35 You can climb all the way to the top of that mountain.

[@cadorna380]

Great to see some commentary! I like ELEX 2 so far, but the camera FOV/distance is really a problem. Allegedly PB is working on it in priority, and I hope so.

[@callisto537]

They are working on it. It’s a number 1 complaint on steam. As soon as it’s fixed with next patch I am buying the game

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

The fov and camera are certainly annoying, though I've been able to tolerate it thus far. I do find myself experiencing some notable eye strain and occasionally mild headaches after playing for a while, however, which is definitely a significant problem especially if other people feel it worse than I do.

[@n3burgener]

PB just released a patch with an alternative camera that gets rid of the dynamic zooming FOV and keeps it at a fixed distance and fixed viewing angle. Still can't manually zoom in or out, but it's still more pleasant to use than the default camera settings.

[@callisto537]

@@n3burgener thank you for the update

[@terrorinthesky1]

Hey Nick. Thank you for posting these videos. I am currently going through my first playthrough and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. Plenty of improvements over Elex 1. Looking forward to your review/opinions.

[@rajahava]

Have you found sorting Inventory option yet?

[@terrorinthesky1]

@@rajahava Agree. The inventory is pretty bad. It's even a stepback from Elex 1.

[@alexandrumacedon291]

He grabs a ledge using W. Im testing stuff now watching ur video. U take ur time like u should, this is how these games should be played. 👍😎

[@ninetails625]

Nice, I'll get this game once I finish the first one

[@DVSUte]

Sweet golden crossbow on fort tower close to fast travel

[@TheSaikek]

Finally! Do you plan to do a full review or comparison between Elex 1 and Elex 2 ? I'm waiting for few weeks for patches to arrive.

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

I'm intending to do a full review, though I may do a direct comparison video as well if such comparisons don't work their way naturally into my review.

[@DanteKurosaki]

Game is so much better now with the performance mode.

[@usa6603]

NICE BRO)

[@GripChief]

What's your thoughts on the game so far? Does it make a better first impression than the previous game?

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

It's hard to say as I'm still really early in the game and don't want to rush to judgment. First impressions aren't the overwhelming improvement that people were hoping for, as there are some questionable design choices that were made seemingly for the worse, but there are signs of positive improvements as well. These games are known for having rough introductions that gradually improve as you explore more of the world, experience more of the content, and develop your character more, and I've barely scratched the surface of what the game has to offer thus far. So I'm in no way ready to declare Elex 2 as some kind of horrendous disappointment (like so many other people are rushing to say), but by the same token it doesn't seem like the kind of unilateral improvement one would hope or expect from a sequel, either.

[@DaHogWeed]

@@TheNocturnalRambler Don't you find it unfair to wait for Elex 2 to improve with patches before judging it but insist on reviewing the launch version of Gothic 3?

[@Quirrel]

It has a lot of problems. But i must say it probably the best looking Pyranha Bytes game yet and im sure they will fix the problems.

[@ryunalunaris14]

Fixing bugs yeah but fixing problems is a bigger story. Only thing is, problems don't exist in a developers mind. If you say it's a problem the story isn't fleshed out enough and call out plotholes, it's the writers choice. If you call out gameplay mechanics not working well with the flow of the games progression, say you want to go anywhere on the map but you can't because of invisible walls, it's the designers choice to do so. If you are a fan of PBs world building, filled deeply and in detail with content and you like how the game changes significant over the course of its acts but it doesn't anymore in favor over big redundant boring worlds it's the developers choice...

[@luiscaetano1205]

Did you heard the full version of the first trailer main theme song(Jonathan Davis) ? Greetings from Portugal, thanks

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

I haven't listened to the full song, only what was played in the original announcement trailer. It seemed like a decent song, though I'm no particular fan of Jonathan Davis, KoRn, or metalcore in general.

[@actuallymichael1]

They had trailers to this?

[@mdiaz013184]

Graphics look fine to me ..and my standards for graphics are hiiiiigh

[@ryunalunaris14]

so what about the bad character models and animations. no graphic wonders let me unsee my future nightmares when i close my eyes

[@dontwrite9s4ever86]

To buy off GOG or Steam?

[@Tarnfara]

A little late to the party. I'm listening to your Let's play, while playing myself. About the "that thing". It's a mistranslation. I would translate the german original as "If I don't get a hold of this, there may happen things to me."

[@mdiaz013184]

2:48:18 that voice actor sounds oddly familiar....anyone?

[@benwilliams3539]

Is it a sequel story wise or a separate plot in the same universe?

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

It's a direct sequel set 6 or 7 seven years after the first game. It features the same protagonist dealing with the new threat which was foreshadowed at the end of the first game, and has a lot of recurring characters, locations, and subplots from the first game. That being said the story technically works as a stand-alone thing -- you don't need to have played the first game to play the sequel, but you'll appreciate it more if you have.

[@Kappi__]

What is eldenring? I only know elex 2😎

[@Laamafani2]

Can't say I'm a big fan of the combat system they chose to go with here. It's just so damn flaily and floaty, and I feel like I have to mash the attack key to make sure my combo comes out fully. If I try to time my attacks with the swings, more often than not Jax just stops attacking. Elex 1 was kinda sluggish with rubberbanding issues, but it at least felt like I was in control, and could evade and get hits in waaaaaay more regularly than in this game.

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

I was on the fence about it at first but it's grown on me. While I miss the concept of the combo meter and special attacks from the first game, I find that the whole system flows a lot smoother in Elex 2 thanks to the inclusion of a lot more connecting animations, plus a more free-form movement and targeting system that gets rid of the that feeling like you're rooted to the ground or constantly snapping toward enemies. I also like how there are now a wider variety of attack types (including things like sprinting attacks, rolling attacks, kicks, and much better jetpack attacks), though this came at the expense of weapon variety as it seems we're back to only having generic one-handed movesets and two-handed movesets, instead of unique combo's and special attacks for each different type of weapon. If you're having trouble getting consistent attacks in Elex 2, that might be because they subtly changed the timing for when you have to attack. I found myself consistently wanting to click attack again right when the attack would normally hit (when you hear the air-whooshing sound effect) but you actually have to wait until the attack is fully finished, when your weapon is at the complete end of the swing. It's taken me some time to break old habits and get that timing right, and there are still lots of random times when I swear Jax just does completely unexpected things (like that random half-swing faint attack, or the quick-step dodge), but you should find it a lot more sensible once you figure out that "click a little later than you're used to" timing.

[@Laamafani2]

@@TheNocturnalRambler Thanks for the tips, maybe my mind will change the more experience I get with the game. I'm under 10 hours in atm, so could be just a lack of experience with the system that's causing these issues.

[@podfuk]

I have few hours in so far, but I dont know, Elex 1 was super immersive and challanging from the start, Elex 2 not so much. Its too easy, too empty, too story heavy so far. Little bit reminds me Risen 3 that I didnt liked at all. Game looks really nice tho, I smell Gothic 5 ;)

[@LetsPlayPC]

I’m having a sorta hard time getting into this one. I don’t remember having a hard time getting into Elex I. Does it get better after the first few hours?

[@cadorna380]

It genuinely does. I was concerned at first, and I still don't like the camera, but when you get to the settlements there's some nice quests and world building.

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

I'd say most Piranha Bytes games start out slow and rough and gradually improve as you explore more of the world, experience more of the content, and develop your character more. Elex 1 may have had a more compelling start to me, personally, because I found the whole concept of the world-building and atmosphere so unique, whereas in Elex 2 that whole dimension is "old news." It doesn't help that I find some of the early areas, quests, and npc interactions in Elex 2 to be somewhat bland, but I'm guessing it'll improve once you start getting into more civilized quest hubs and start interacting with the factions more.

[@jantheblacksmith6601]

Part 2 when?

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

Parts 2 through 48 are available as of 17 months ago in playlist format. Check my pinned comment or the description for the link to the playlist with the full playthrough.

[@julianweber6487]

i put 80 hours in the first elex and i could not beat it because of glitches.

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

I'm sorry to hear that. I put 230 hours into Elex 1 across four playthroughs and two completely different PC builds, and only ever experienced one major issue when the game stopped saving progress after a main quest event, back when the game first launched, but that was patched pretty quickly and I was able to avoid the issue anyway by just loading an earlier save from an hour prior. Did you encounter any specific bug that prevented you from finishing, or did you just decide to stop on account of the issues?

[@smokingjoe5176]

But it says continue so how os this day 1 for you ?

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

Because I had a save from when I skipped past the intro to be able to test performance settings and recording settings to make sure everything was working correctly before recording a 3-hour session in a brand new game.

[@christianburk9898]

Anyone else really irritated that in the opening cutscene he doesn't have a scarf then as soon as gameplay starts he's wearing that stupid thing? Also dagger in cgi cutscene, but doubt we'll get one in game. Still annoyed Elex had no short bladed weapons or pistols.

[@n3burgener]

Not to mention Jax just finds a busted pipe sometime off screen to start the game, or how his face in gameplay doesn't match the one in the cutscenes. It really feels like gameplay and cutscenes were made separately with neither team having any idea what the other was planning.

[@christianburk9898]

@@n3burgener just noticed in the second cutscene that the one leg pouch is on the wrong leg. Seriously, it's like it just got outsourced to another team with concept art andno one mentioned design changes made since those were made. It smacks of amateur oversight/direction.

[@ryunalunaris14]

@@n3burgener exactly. It doesn't have to be a 200% perfect game, but it's the small details like this not working together which cause most immersion problems.

[@Bunkerknacker_Retro-Nostalgie]

Been watching a lot of Elex 2 content now and... nope, guess I'll have to skip that one, unfortunately. Tortured myself to finish Risen 3 a few weeks ago and felt like I got molested (as in actual physical discomfort) as boring and repetitive crap dragged on waaay too long. I don't think I could take on another one of that kind so soon. Perhaps some day in the future (no pun intended) when everything is fixed and I can get it for a few bucks which is all I am willing to pay for this "thing", to be honest. It saddens me to see how untalented the current dev team is compared to what Rosenkranz and Hoge managed to create and how little feedback from Elex 1 seems to have made it into the sequel, despite them pretending to be listening to the community. So many aweful (core) design decisions that makes it even worse than the first one. Looks like they pulled another Risen 2 here.

[@larsschulze2799]

Risen 2 was the worst piranha game except gothic 3 it's far from the working formula and elex is way different same goes for risen 3 if anything u can compare it to risen 1 but even then there is the fact u have plasma rifles etc in this game

[@ryunalunaris14]

@@larsschulze2799 which makes it even worse. they should have been and should be from now on in my opinion... staying at their root core dev strengths and that's fantasy world building. This scifi abominations get worse by the game. Everys 3rd game was their worsed, so fear for the trilogy ending it will be horrific i promise ;)

[@trinex123]

Every PB game gets worse since the end of Gothic series.

[@MOHED_]

This game is amazing but definitely not a 60$ game

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

In most regions it's being sold as a $50 game. You might argue it's not worth that much either, but PB's games have always been $50 so at least they're not charging any more for it than usual. If you pre-ordered it, you only paid $45, in exchange for getting an arguably inferior game experience if you play it right away since they won't have patched some of the more glaring issues people are calling attention to.

[@MOHED_]

@@TheNocturnalRambler don’t get me wrong, I played the first one and I loved it. But when compared to other triple A games it’s not even close, even the first one. So yeah I’m gonna buy it when it’s on sales or when I don’t have another game to play 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@metalheart80s]

So skills level up the more you use them, ala Elders Scrolls Morrowind. Nice

[@ionescuion3251]

I think this game îs cooler than elden ring

[@ryunalunaris14]

If you don't have to bother playing it i suppose :)

[@brainchutney8576]

Nine hours in. Game is extremely disappointing. Was able to clear any end game enemies after obtaining the shotgun and a few points in ranged weapons. Edit: Let me just add that I do still really enjoy the dialogue, characters and quests. It's just that the world outside of that has no attention to detail. Loot feels copy pasted. Enemies are just placed randomly around.

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

What difficulty are you playing on, and are you using a companion? I'm on Ultra difficulty and thus far have found having Caja with me makes most fights significantly easier, though there are still tons of enemies we're still too weak to handle. Admittedly I haven't upgraded my weapons or armor very much yet, so that might change with a few upgrades and a few more level-ups.

[@SSchithFoo]

Those cutscenes are really stupid. They show some epic landscape when you were clearly in some tight narrow path. Same with the starting cutscene that showed a green hill when the next landscape you start in looks nothing like it.

[@lexthespartan]

First!!!

[@blumiu2426]

Either I didn't get far enough, but who is Caja? Why would he pick her? That kinda seems like standard fair pick for a narrative these days and the writing doesn't do near a good job of making the relationship make sense. Creates a family, goes live in a shack cus mah pride. Not a fan with how the same plot seems to have been recycled a bit.

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

She was one of two romance options in the first game, the other being Nasty. I think most people romanced Caja and so PB made her the canon option. That being said, it is somewhat cliche for video game writing to have the implied romance from the first game somehow "not work out" in the off-time between games.

[@josephvanwyk2088]

I installed it. And then uninstalled it. lol

[@RPGeeezus]

Eenjjoy the game

[@MrJimissnake]

i am on the last mission, i do belive this game is way worse than elex 1, only better is the hit boxes and that not by far, dialogs feels with out imaginaition especialy compare to older pb games like gothic 1 and 2 even compare to elex 1,main plot its becoming a joke the more u play closer to the end...i was never able to merge my self with the world like i was doing in gothic 1 and 2 ,one more game like this and it will be the end of ph or they might be ok with minimal income. i am not sure how many old developers working still from the age of gothic 1 but it seems especialy after gothic 2 they lost their ability to make good rpg games,risen was somewhat ok especialy risen 3 was as close as they went to gothic and it was decent try tho i am not sure we gona see anything like that again.

[@Jonok]

The writer of this game is too excited to say that humanity forgets, they don't listen, they only fight... I guess they are describing a typical german.

[@ryunalunaris14]

not a typical but you only see what you want or get to see. Also that's racism, you could make that statement about any country on differing subjects...

[@Jonok]

@@ryunalunaris14 i was trying to be edgy like the writer cause the dialogues are painful

[@daemonvector46]

Elex 1 is better,just like the first Risen was better than the sequel.

[@TheNocturnalRambler]

Have you played Elex 2 in its entirety, or are you just basing that on first impressions? From my own personal experience I'd say it's way too early for me to make any kind of definitive judgment.

[@chaz9808]

Wanted to get this but it looks worse than the first one no improvements at all and the camera is way too close wtf

[@fjmorrys868]

Same feeling, world looks so bland compare to the first game.

[@fjmorrys868]

@Esuard Leder Yep, its a shame.

[@matemich01]

same, I was pretty hyped for this one but as more and more of the game's content was revealed my excitement fell down. I know that im judging it before even playing but I just don't see any improvements at all.

[@ryunalunaris14]

@@matemich01 i wasn't hyped for any PB game after the crime state gothic 3 got released in risen 1 was one of their best games but it went downhill after and it gets worse by the game... you can do as many pro points on your gameplay/ design comparison as you want, but it will never change my look on things after my first impression of the game. If it doesn't look compelling to me after the first hour or two they did a bad job. And i bet it gets worse later when you find out that the game world is A: empty B: filled with redundant stuff or C: Both at the same time which is even worse. I can't get over the ugly faces and animations, that's 2005-10 stuff, please stop making games already or do a better job PB! And the interface is bland af way too simplistic with no real character. Minimalistic is the best design choice for an RPG, but this is ugly basic stuff you do as a beginner UXUI programmer with starter toolsets... Also the sounds seem a bit off sometimes and the story telling is boring and scuffed... The combat system won't be an eye opener this time too i guess but let's see later in the game i guess... maybe they should play gothic 2 and risen 1 again before they do their next game

[@grablicH]

theres 2 things i really dont like,ugly cartoony graphics and recycled annoying music