Final Fantasy Noir

They say that good writers borrow from other writers, while great writers steal: Grinding Gear Games seems to be proving that this holds true for game design. The active and passive skill systems for Path of Exile invoke Final Fantasy 7's materia and Final Fantasy 10's sphere grid, respectively, and it's more than just a passing resemblence.

So, how and when do greatness and conceptual larceny coincide? Not every theft is a great theft, even if you're stealing something that is great in its native context. The excellence of lifting something lies in transformational, astute usage - that is to say, great writers use what they take so well that they make it their own.

I have wanted to see Final Fantasy 7's materia system make a significant return to gaming since the moment I beat Sephiroth. I doubt I'm alone in this... and why? Because it's a brilliant notion. Skill gems level up. They interact. They switch out. They slot into gear in interesting ways, and in doing so, add a whole new load of variations that complicate that gear and allow for extra decision making. Path of Exile delivers that return, but it goes further. It showcases skill gems in their perfect environment, the ARPG.

ARPGs need skills, loot, and moments of advancement. They thrive on interesting drops, they attain depth from providing decisions to make and they acquire longevity from having multiple forms of progression. Skill gems and ARPGs are natural soul mates, and GGG have realised this while implementing it into a robust system with plenty of kick. Support gems are present in all their mind-bending glory, and they've even introduced both gem quality levels, and a supporting high-end item to build up that quality. Everything that was good about materia is accounted for in Path of Exile, shown off in an even-more suitable arena, and polished 'til it shines.

Path of Exile's use of a "sphere grid" is even bolder, because the original system had its detractors in Final Fantasy 10. It's natural enough to want to copy a great system like materia, but it takes guts and insight to see a system like the sphere grid and understand its potential in another environment. Path of Exile's take on the Sphere Grid is much improved, being studded with interesting Notable and Keystone nodes, and it slams targets that are hard, yet critical, for ARPGs to hit: it differentiates classes without straightjacketing them; it paces acquisition of important passive abilities; it allows minor respeccing without negating incentives to start new characters; it gives players limited decision making in the short term but a wealth of options over the life of a character; and it encourages striking at least some sort of balance in statistical progression.

What is more, the passive skill tree is both highly visual and satisfying to navigate: once again, merits that are desirable enough anywhere, but especially suited to the visceral nature of an Action RPG. It's big and complex and fun, and acts as a focal point of character building, a spawling monster for the community to dissect and marvel over. That's grist to the mill for a game of this type, the sort of tactile, memorable detail that stays with players and becomes forever associated with that gaming experience.

The virtues of these two core systems and Grinding Gear Games' excellent usage of them are made all the more impressive because it's cross-genre inspiration: Path of Exile is true dark fantasy, perhaps even closer to the spirit of Diablo 2 than that classic's own sequel. It's a product of minds that can separate the contents from the packaging where it comes to the delivery of top-notch game mechanics, then innovate, adapt, and rebrand them into something cohesive, and powerful, and uniquely their own.

cool story bro you made nice post etc but im too lazy to even read 10% of it but keep it going

I read it, which hopefully counteracts some of the stupidity on this forum, and I agree on all points.

This game creates a kind of alchemy from this mixture of classic, unique mechanical styles that I fell in love with. Still not past the honeymoon period myself. :P