Getting in on the next Acts
I might have done things a bit backwards as far as my travels in PoE. It was suggested to start over from the beginning to see the changes throughout the game, but I could also choose to dive straight into the new content. After doing the former so many time in the game proper, I opted for the latter. I mean, I knew I’d be making a new one again (and again and again and again thanks to the new leagues), so why not get to the meaty new stuff right away?
Act V gets the ball rolling in Highgate, where you travel to the Ascent. It’s a frosty winter wonderland, which was a pretty great setting for my Winter Witch. Now, I’ve got to say that I have always been partial to fire, and I love, love, love my fire-flinging Witch. But now, I’ve room in my heart for two! In previous interviews, the devs had described a new cold-based build that could be possible for this class, and I even tried my hand at one for a bit, but I was drawn back to my fire build. No longer: My next build is all ice! (Someday, I might actually try a different class, but that day is not today.)
I enjoyed the story for as far as I got (and no, I am not going to spoil any of it!), and I look forward to completing it. Suffice it to say that leaving Wraeclast and rampaging through Oriath while seeking vengeance for your exile is satisfying. And I enjoyed the new zones that I experienced. Speaking of zones, I can’t be certain it was but at least one of the indoor zones felt so much larger than any I had explored in any previous acts; the area felt truly never-ending. Even as the space seemed to expand, the drops seemed to shrink. I noticed (but am unsure if it is just because of alpha or not) that chests, cairns, barrels, and the like all seemed to be much emptier than before. There was a marked drop in dropped items than what I had gotten in my adventures on live. Perhaps my RNG was just against me, or maybe there’s been a reduction in probabilities.
Dare to be difficult — differently
The removal of difficulty levels wasn’t readily apparent as I played because I would have had to complete one playthrough before selecting the next difficulty to do it again. For those who don’t know, cruel and merciless difficulties are no longer a part of Path of Exile. Instead, the higher acts are serving as the harder challenges. The one place I did notice the change was in the challenges/achievements: Instead of finishing the game on various difficulty levels, you have to complete the first, second, then third Labyrinths on standard to earn the Challenger, Leader, and Lord achievements respectively, and do the same in hardcore mode to earn the Fearless, Dauntless, and Indomitable achievements.
Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to really delve into the Pantheon system; there just wasn’t enough time to really do so. I’m looking forward to tinkering with that whole smack-the-gods-around-and-steal-their-powers angle of play. Being able to swap out defensive buffs to tailor your build a little more for individual challenges feels like it would be really beneficial, especially since there will be 10 acts and messing up your build late in the game could be painful.
Jump back in, the water (and more) is fine!
I didn’t want to experience too much of the story and run through all the new acts, so after a time I finally bit the bullet and started over so I could experience some of those early changes. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how many I might miss because while I have restarted a few times, I have only made it up to Act IV once before, so I am not the most veteran of players who has everything memorized. That didn’t really matter, because once I logged in I was so distracted by the improved visuals at the very moment I logged in washed up on the beach that I might have totally missed a few other changes. I even had to run back between the live client and the test server to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. Let me just say the water is more than fine!
Seriously, the water — with its lapping waves and white foam — is absolutely gorgeous. (I admit, I frolicked in the waves a bit before moving on!). As I continued my journey throughout the first act, I noticed that other things were also crisper, or in the case of swirly mists, swirlier and mistier. I can’t tell you if at some points the visuals were enhanced, or if I was just set up to feel they were by such a drastic change noticeable at the very start. I even got a kick out of the enhanced spirit release from bodies of your kills.
The UI also got quite a few enhancements. The change in the map might also seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but it really lends to the overall improved look of the game. The barriers are no longer pixelated blocks from yesteryear but are smoother images of trees and rocks. There is also a very distinct band that separates where you’ve been and where you haven’t so you can easily see what areas you might still need to explore. The health and power bubbles also got a makeover for this expansion, focusing on the Templar flavor.
One change I was unsure about was the switch in venue at character select. Instead of being on the boat headed to Wraeclast, with each class telling a bit about their backstory and why they are being sent there in their own voice, folks are standing at their trial where they are being sentenced to their fate. The new intro is cool, but I miss the gritty ship and the feeling of despair and betrayal surrounding it. I also very much miss the class voices, as the Templar judge is the only one you hear pronouncing the sentences. I wish there was a way to select which intro you want to experience, because I would revert back to the ship.
Become an exile
Hey now, where are all the specifics, those juicy reveals, you ask? I’m not doing any. Honestly, I think these things are best experienced for yourself, so I carefully kept from spoiling much. That said, I think you should get in and do some experiencing! There’s even an easy button at the top you can click to get started. If you’ve never played Path of Exile before, however, you might want to hold off and just jump in when The Fall of Oriath goes lives. (Unless, of course, you want to experience the ship intro!) I definitely think the game is worth it.
If you are a veteran player and don’t mind making yet another character or three, jump on into the beta if you have access. Those who have spent a lifetime amount of $500 on the game are automatically entered in the beta, and purchasing a pack will also grant a key. Players can also be randomly invited in. Of course, you can also choose to hold off and wait until it goes live. Patience is a virtue, right? Until then, you can catch a glimpse of the changes tonight, Friday the 9th, at 7:00 p.m. EDT, on OPTV. One little peek won’t hurt!
