How Path of Exile made me and my Fiancee happy!

I am a noob at ARPG's.I have a lvl.41 ice witch and my fiancee has a phys dmg bow focused ranger so I know that our builds are lackluster. :)
Now that that's out of the way.Onto my very small review.

I'll be honest, when my fiancee was bummed about the failed expectations of Diablo 3, a series I know very little about, I stumbled upon Path of Exile's website a few weeks ago.The thing about my fiancee is that he always mentioned throughout his day how he did like some good aspects of D3.He loved the fluid combat as it felt "modern" to the gaming world, as he said it.He loved how the developers made an oblique class called the Witch Doctor with a more different and interesting backdrop to the world of Sanctuary compared to the other characters.He also loved this thing called the auction House which I believe lets you buy items to help you progress throughout the game.He thought that this was forgiving for people who spent more time at work or with their family than playing the game but still wanted to progress quickly.Although I thought he was going to use some of his cash to use for this auction house, he never did. He thought that it was much more rewarding to find good items by himself to fulfill the RNG factor of the game.I guess that means random number generator?Please tell me if it isn't.

Anyways I would often sleep next to his shoulder as he played the game endlessly throughout many nights as I watched his emotions run from pleasantly smiling to angrily obtuse frowns.When November came around I was able to sit with him more without the distraction of the game.but I could tell that something was gnawing at his mind.To get a better understanding when he first met me he described the Diablo Franchise as one of the fondest memories he ever had as a child.He told me how killing the "Butcher" was like a right of passage into a dark but beautiful world and that no one would ever forget it.So his memories stuck with me and I would try to remember that games were one of his passions, not just hobbies.Besides, I spend a lot of time out bar hopping with my girls and he never minds that I go out without him without his permission.So why can't I be accepting of his nature?I don't adore games as much as he does but I must admit that I do understand where he's coming from now that I finished Diablo: Hellfire almost two years ago to the day.I still remember the dark atmosphere and now that I look back on it, killing the Butcher did provide me with a sense of small but bright fulfillment.I don't know why, it's just a game.But I felt like I did do something righteous when I defeated him and Diablo afterwards.It was actually pretty fun though I don't know if I'll play again if I have the time.

But back to the topic, my fiancee didn't really feel like it was the developers' fault for messing up the rng factor of the series, although he did notice it's problems.( this was why he frowned at the game most of the time) He thought that it was ultimately the "colorful" atmosphere of D3 that threw the heart of Diablo into the trash can.For him, and a little bit from me, what made the first and second Diablo unique was the vivid yet terrifyingly dark atmosphere.Over time I grew to actually like the atmosphere.I mean, who could not like a world that imposes all of the dark forces of Hell and light forces of Heaven without bad vanguard that is religion?There is no Christianity to be found in the first or second Diablo.Yet the elements were all there: you with the grace of heaven descending down to Hell itself to defeat the dark lord of that realm.And the dark music from the first is so bleak and evil that even I remember and sometimes hum it's notes in the pharmacy of my job from time to time.The music from the catacombs and the caves even rivals that of the environment of Silent Hill in my opinion (that series is my favorite so far).It was great!

But for my fiancee, Diablo 3 ruined the atmosphere of exactly that. He said that they discarded the bloody world of the old sanctuary for epic yet cartoony proportions of grand battle with blown out colorful "WOW" graphics.Again, I'm guessing he referred to World of Warcraft?He also said that large part of the atmosphere for Diablo went to the music.Sometimes I notice the diablo 1 and 2 music that he plays in his car as he's going to work and I notice a difference in that to the music of Diablo 3.So I guess he has a point.He also pointed out that he loved the skill tree options from Diablo 2 but said that Diablo 3 had taken that freedom away from him.I started to understand why he was let down.After four Months of Diablo 3's release he finally couldn't take it anymore and put it down.Throughout a few days I could notice that that was clawing at him, that he spent 60$ on something that threw all of that away for him.

I'll have to say that when he's not happy, I'm not happy.our lives still continued just fine.We still had great times and had fun going out and eating at at places like Applebee's (my fav!). But every now and then he wanted to play an ARPG with me that somewhat felt similar to the dark atmosphere of the first and second Diablo.I do like like playing games with him since he loves to help me out and help me learn when I play one.I think he always enjoys games more when I'm at his side so I was little bummed when he didn't want to play Diablo 3 anymore.He didn't really play anything else since and although we still enjoyed going out to eat I wanted to do something in return for him.

That's when I came across this game.It seemed like it was promising at the time so I signed up and downloaded when Path of Exile entered open Beta so i would surprise my fiancee when he got home the nest day.At the time I really didn't understand the mechanics of how this game worked.The skill tree was massive and I was overwhelmed! :/

So I told him about this game after he got off work and he raised an owbrow.I told him that the atmosphere of the game seemed darker from Diablo 3 and felt like a worthy homage to the original root of the series.I explained how scared I was when I went through the prison and first came across Brutus!Wow, what a fight!So he gave in and logged in as a ranger.From the moment he gazed at the skill tree a big smile widened from his face.I could tell right then and there that this may just be the game he was looking for when he first downloaded Diablo 3.It was immediately (and I mean immediately) when he encountered his first necromancer that he fell under a spell of love almost like the one I pulled on him in 2007.He said that the dying scream of necromancers provided some sense of subtle achievement for him.From the night of the 25thof this month all the way to today he was overjoyed to once again play a game that not only fulfilled the massive customization that Diablo 2 offered but also fulfilled the dark atmosphere that the first Diablo had.He absolutely adores playing in the final area of the final act.He even told me to look at the bloody scenery when he first started it.I already played that area and already knew.But watching him being delighted in smiling at it made me smile and curl up next to him even more.I had fulfilled his wish for him, and with a free game at that!

He told me about spending some money into this game to help it grow.I noticed that the servers weren't meant to hold so many people since it crashed so damn much when I played.But I seem to kike this game to so I agreed to spend a little on this game soon.Though I don't know what we'll buy.We might go for stash tabs since his is filled to the brim with stuff.But if that helps this game grow then by all means I'll pay it myself.A few bucks is more than enough to make My fiancee kevin happy.

Now we are able to go out and be happy and be happy as we play games as well. :)
I can't say thank you enough to Grinding Gear Games.Because not only have you made him fell joyful playing a game, but you've also perked my interest in playing as well.Although I am new to this way of playing and with the skill tree you have made it exciting to want to learn!

My fiancee plans to write a more extensive review into this game soon after he's finished with his assignments.If you've read this I hope you understand how much this game has done for me and my fiancee.While Blizzard may have spent millions for a Diablo 3 that seems alright, Grinding Gear Games has made a game that is even more joyful for us......and it's free!You really do deserve our donations!

-Thenera

Maybe a little tldr at the bottom :D

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Thenera wrote:

Not a pile of crap like D3. He's happy and we play the game together. Sexy time has increased.

-Thenera

Cliffs.

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demondied1 wrote:

Maybe a little tldr at the bottom :D

I'm sorry!
I got a little carried away since my fiancee Kevin doesn't return until 12. :(

But I was hoping to surprise him with this!I'm sure after we go to a few bars he will be surprised when he sees this. ;)

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Alientank wrote:

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Thenera wrote:

Not a pile of crap like D3. He's happy and we play the game together. Sexy time has increased.

-Thenera

Cliffs.

Every now and then I actually enjoy playing Diablo 3 with his wizard.So I wouldn't call it crap.But I just can't understand how a free game like this can do so much if not more.

'Fiancé' (or 'fiance') only has one 'e' at the end if it's a man. /nitpick

Good on you though for finding a game both of you enjoy.

The majority of us felt the same way as your husband when it came to Diablo 3. I'm glad you discovered PoE for the two of you to enjoy. And please do support GGG! :)

So you're saying that GGG may be a reason a baby happens, I wasn't sure I'd ever hear this.