Ultimate Reviews: Path Of Exile (Closed Beta Testing)

Release date: Open Beta, January 2012

Genre: Hack & Slash RPG

Developer: Grinding Gear Games, Indie

Current Version: October 2011, 0.9.3

Status: Closed Beta

System Requirements: TBA

Heya, giving another Ultimate Review today on an Indie Game that I feel that is well worth taking a look and to keep up with.

So this game, Path Of Exile is a Hack and Slash RPG game very much like the style of Diablo 2. It's currently in a Closed Beta Testing Stage right now and is scheduled to go Open Beta early next year. Now this game took quite a long while to develop and design, but it looks very promising judging by the looks and the amount of content already available in the Closed Beta. It incorporates a unique levelling system, an updated graphics engine and some other tweaks which will make the gameplay fun and enjoyable.

The mechanics work similarly to the Diablo Series. But it's the skill tree which is scary. Also All items are socketed and only gems corresponding to the color socket in the gear can be inserted. These gems grant additional abilities and spells, rather than learning.

Compare with similar style games, Torchlight, another similar style has graphics which are somewhat more cartoony, and brighter. Path Of Exile's Graphics Engine makes the world a lot darker and dangerous while Diablo 2 and 3 has a mix of both.

Although it's still a work in progress, Grinding Gear Games has always ensured to keep working on the game and improving it as time goes on, with an upcoming patch to the game later this month, to do significant refinements and fixes. It's not perfect, but who cares. This game boasts in quality which will put itself as a direct rival to the upcoming Blizzard's major title, Diablo 3.

This game is expected to go Open Beta before Diablo 3's release after Blizzard revealed that there has been yet a further delay.

I can safely say that even with all the stuff already there, it's worth so much hype as an indie Major title. And also, did I mention yet that Path Of Exile will be FREE?!!! Yes, I am dead serious, this game will be free to play upon Open Beta Period.

Summary:

"Great Indie, Direct D3 Rival"

9.6 / 10

Undoubtedly a great game though still needs tweaking. However a lot of stuff has already been planned. Register for the forums and be active and you'll get a chance to get the Key Needed for the BETA till the Open Beta. Feel free to drop by. More details and further updates are always posted there.

*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED GAME!*