Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2 is a dark and gritty action RPG that builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, offering a new campaign, enhanced visuals, and refined gameplay. Players explore a treacherous world, battling monstrous foes and collecting powerful loot to customize their characters through a vast and intricate skill tree. The game features a very, very deep and complex system of character customization, allowing for diverse builds and playstyles. With its challenging combat, extensive endgame content, and a focus on player agency, Path of Exile 2 aims to deliver a visceral and rewarding ARPG experience for dedicated players.

• Short Sessions (30-60 minutes): Path of Exile 2, like its predecessor, struggles with short sessions. While you can technically log in and complete a few encounters, the game's intricate systems and progression are designed for longer play sessions. Managing your inventory, crafting, and navigating the skill tree often require significant time investment, making short bursts feel inefficient. If you're a fan of old school ARPG games, the ones you played on your parents' early 2000 HP Pavilion, then this is catered to that version of you. Not the current version of you with a busy lifestyle who doesn't have more than an hour to play.

• Fulfillment: The sense of progression in Path of Exile 2 is tied to long-term character development and gear acquisition. Short sessions often feel like small, disconnected pieces of a larger puzzle, lacking a satisfying sense of accomplishment. The complexity of the game can also lead to frustration when interrupted mid-session. Other current ARPG's make you feel like you did something as soon as you hit a level, not so much with POE 2. It let's you know that it will be a grind.

• Playability: Path of Exile 2 offers a deep and complex gameplay experience with a vast array of character customization options and intricate mechanics. However, this complexity can be overwhelming for busy gamers who don't have the time to dedicate to mastering the game's systems. The learning curve is steep, and the game demands a significant time investment to fully understand its intricacies. I've spent my one hour sessions just sitting in bed figuring out the passive tree system, which could be overwhelming at first. The battles from small mobs to bosses also force you to strategize before Rambo-ing your way through them. You really need to learn the fight mechanics if you are going to try to beat a boss on first try. There were a few bosses that took me a three to four tries to finally beat. Is it frustrating? Yes. But also a refreshing change from other ARPG's where I can just blast through mobs while watching The Office and changing my kid's diaper with one hand. 

• Time Commitment: Path of Exile 2 is a time-intensive game. The campaign, endgame content, and character progression are designed for long-term engagement. While you can save and resume your progress, the game's structure and mechanics make it difficult to enjoy in consistently short sessions. Players will need to plan out a couple of undisturbed hours for this one.

Verdict:

Path of Exile 2 is a game designed for dedicated ARPG enthusiasts. Its intricate systems, deep character customization, and challenging endgame content demand a significant time investment. While the game offers a rewarding experience for those who have the time and provides a much needed refresh from more recent ARPG's, it's not well-suited for busy gamers seeking quick and satisfying gameplay sessions. The game's complexity and long-term progression make it difficult to feel like you're making meaningful progress in short bursts. If you have the time to dedicate to it, you will find a very deep game. If not, it will cause frustration.