![]() ![]() In exploring the game’s expanse, it’s not uncommon to encounter cards for deck-building, contracts to hire thieves in order to plan a heist, or entrances to gardens that lead to a harvest mechanic that rewards powerful crafting recipes.Īs overwhelming as this all can be, there is an unparalleled satisfaction in understanding Path of Exile’s language. ![]() It would take me tens of thousands of words to explain how each expansion, update, and season added to this miniature world and its many interlocking systems. ![]() The studio is unafraid to stack system upon system, preserving the existing content in amber, while seeing the whole game through a new lens with each subsequent update. ![]() These two expansions - how they interacted with each other, but also how they added such wide-ranging gameplay implications to an 11-year-old game - represent Grinding Gear Games’ philosophy in microcosm. Grinding Gear Games shows off more Path of Exile 2 gameplay The Maven’s Crucible, one of the most recent mechanics introduced in the Echoes of the Atlas expansion in January 2021, paved the way for yet another turning point in Path of Exile’s complexity. The Delirium effect, on the other hand, has been a preferred method to empower encounters since 2020, thanks to a fog in which enemies grow stronger the further you plunge in. It’s also one that constantly intertwines with mechanics introduced in past expansions: The Beyond ability, introduced in 2014, is still a good way to increase the number of enemies in Atlas maps by spawning daemonic portals. It’s an enticing system that grants you full control over the difficulty, and the resulting risk-reward factor. Players spend resources to both access and empower these single-run areas before fighting through them for improved loot. It’s a massive tree, of sorts, consisting of over a hundred maps. Reaching the endgame grants you access to the Atlas of Worlds, which was introduced in an expansion of the same name in late 2016. Grinding Gear Games is unafraid to stack system upon system, preserving the existing content in amber, while seeing the whole game through a new lens with each subsequent update Especially considering it’s not the only one. Coming to terms with the complexity and magnitude of the passive skill tree is a necessary trial by fire. From there, however, they can branch out in any direction, reinforcing an array of weaker stats in order to excel with weapons or abilities that they weren’t “intended” to master. There are natural archetypes for them to fit into - the Marauder starts with tons of strength, the Ranger excels in dexterity - and they can easily build on those attributes. It’s so massive that it has its own built-in search bar, allowing each of the seven base character classes to travel through hundreds of upgrade nodes. You’ve probably seen, or caught wind of, Path of Exile’s passive skill tree. It represented the second coming of Diablo 2 by hands other than Blizzard’s. Path of Exile deployed a darker gothic tone, with stronger focus on nuanced character builds, the ability to min-max your creations, and challenging endgame content. The timing couldn’t have been better for players who felt shortchanged by the early incarnation of Diablo 3, which featured an overwrought auction house and a lacking loot system. The free-to-play online ARPG entered beta back in August 2011, where it incubated before officially launching in October 2013. If you want curated lists of our favorite media, check out What to Play and What to Watch. When we award the Polygon Recommends badge, it’s because we believe the recipient is uniquely thought-provoking, entertaining, inventive, or fun - and worth fitting into your schedule. Polygon Recommends is our way of endorsing our favorite games, movies, TV shows, comics, tabletop books, and entertainment experiences. ![]()
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