The first 3 acts are awesome! The rest feels like a downgraded version of PoE1

I'm sure many have noticed by now that the first 3 acts feel more like what PoE2 was envisioned to be... and everyone I've talked with about it that isn't a self-entitled "PoE1 veteran" absolutely loved the change of pace the game has in the start.

A lot of people, myself included, would have loved to see a continuation of that after those 3 acts, instead we got a downgraded version of PoE1.

I get it, this might have been due to the incredibly limited time you've had to introduce some endgame to PoE2... but as far as I remember, you had a different choice you could have made (to continue making the campaign).

However, if this was not by accident/limitation/etc and it was because of the PoE1 player base... it is incredibly disappointing.

I felt like I wanted to try so many things and different builds as I was starting out to play but as soon as I got to maps I just felt like giving up on any ideas I've had... why bother when it all reverts to the boring gameplay of PoE1.

Worst of all, One of your main reasons for supposedly making PoE 2, more specifically to make melee good and a viable choice.... is by default, no matter what you do, incompatible with the "zoom zoom" of PoE1.

I've recently just tried Marvel Rivals, and they have a hero that summons 2 "minions" that do low damage on their own, but when you use a specific skill they shoot a powerful attack with you, making it a fun and active playstyle. Somehow these games that have nothing to do with ARPGS can do minions better but not you guys? I'm sure you can do better then this.

I was prepared to make this my main game but by the looks of it... I'm not so sure it will happen anymore.

Just a few comments from a youtube video that mirror the sentiment:

The end game is not fully fleshed out and the Devs admitted they slapped it together 2 months before launch. People need to chill

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Hyperspacing#5593 wrote:

The end game is not fully fleshed out and the Devs admitted they slapped it together 2 months before launch. People need to chill

I would agree with you if it were just that... but there are a lot of things from PoE1 that shouldn't be here. Even some of the worst mechanical errors that go beyond just endgame content.

Minions working almost the same as in PoE1 and "cast on x" support gems are just two examples.. but it goes beyond that. These two however proved immediately problematic for everyone to see.

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IonSugeRau1#1069 wrote:

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Hyperspacing#5593 wrote:

The end game is not fully fleshed out and the Devs admitted they slapped it together 2 months before launch. People need to chill

I would agree with you if it were just that... but there are a lot of things from PoE1 that shouldn't be here. Even some of the worst mechanical errors that go beyond just endgame content.

Minions working almost the same as in PoE1 and "cast on x" support gems are just two examples.. but it goes beyond that. These two however proved immediately problematic for everyone to see.

The same way people can't expect you to be a PoE1 1:1 copy, you should expect no PoE1 mechanics or features.

Another two relics of the past that I didn't mention but are directly already affecting the game are Shotgunning and Stat stacking + double dipping (or more).

Shotgunning is already obvious on the arsonists. I can't believe they learned nothing from PoE1 with this.

Stat stacking and double dipping is already obvious with pillar of the caged god unique. Again, mind-blowing how they ignored the problems with these kind of mechanics from PoE1.

I love funky uniques that enable builds and change playstyles completely... but if it results or relies on these two things... It's guaranteed to be broken.

I agree.

There are fundamental balance issues at play here from the player perspective that need to be resolved even if new content drops. The difference between min/maxed & average gear+build becomes astronomical the higher level you go at the moment, which makes monster balance virtually impossible.