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Hello, my name is Sibcoe, welcome to this RTG Special, where we are in the final part,
part 3, of our comparison series of Diablo 3 versus Path of Exile. The games in the background
are, in order, Diablo 3 from Blizzard Entertainment, and Path of Exile from Grinding Gear Games.
It has been a crazy fun and interesting experience to compare these two different games over
a period of significant scrutiny in their life cycle. Path of Exile has seen some some
significant additions to the game, such as graphical improvements, animation updates,
skill changes, UI, and much more, even since it went into open beta.
Diablo 3 has been receiving much criticism for it's lack of gameplay systems with depth,
and has recently seen the deployment of a major patch 1.0.7 to the live servers.
In the end, many players can only find time for one action rpg game in their busy schedule
of life and games, or many may only find one of the two truly interseting. Which one should
you choose? Let's discuss the relative merits of both, based on overall satisfaction from
play, and replayability.
Diablo 3 is an easy to access, casual friendly, and easy on the eyes action rpg based on a
strong franchise history, that it failed to continue the legacy of. Did it make it's own
legacy? Well so far, many would argue that it did, but perhaps not in the way it wanted.
I am not so sure that is the whole story though.
To be really honest about it, Diablo 3 is polished, and the game systems that are in
the game are excellent foundations for future additions, not only does it look great, but
it plays better than any other game of it's kind on the market today. It has all the hallmarks
of a Blizzard title in the aesthetics department, and its physics and animations are second
to none. The cambat engine is superb and extremely satisfying to play.
I think this is where Diablo 3 really shines. The gameplay is so icy smooth and fun to get
into, that it can simply be hard to put the game down. Even now, when so many are citing
reasons for the games' failure, they continue to read the forums, watch videos on it, and
contribute to the discussion, in the hopes that it offers more. I think a large number
of the games' "haters" are actually fans looking for the game to be brought up to the level
of game they know it can be, and want it to be. Universally, it is often better to be
loved or hated with passion, it is when no one knows or cares who you are, that you have
a problem.
With the release of patch 1.0.7 Diablo 3 has made progress in being simply fun again. Running
Ubers remains fun for those new to it, or still enjoying it, and the new crafting system
adds that sense of the thrill of the item hunt again. You now have an avenue for utilizing
blues and yellows in crafting materials, and can make some of the best gear in the game
with those same materials, driving you on to farm more monsters and along the way have
more fun as you progress. I can see this being less exciting for extremely high end players
who are looking at 500 million or over a billion gold per upgrade, but they are the minority.
Gameplay can be frenetic, exciting, challenging, and dynamic, especially into the higher monster
power levels, and especially in a group of friends. While itemization is still broken
to a degree, the excitement of finding those legendary items still exists and still draws
many in, myself included.
Overall, Diablo 3 is a solid game with some serious flaws, but with the core foundational
system that if built on, would take the game to stellar heights. It is still plagued by
a lack of depth in those same systems, but in time I expect it to grow into as great
a game as Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction is.
Diablo 3 has massive replayability, and given the massive number of hours played by the
average game, it gives immense value for money. I myself have invested over 1000 hours into
the game, which is some of the cheapest and most satisfying entertainment for your dollar
you will find anywhere. Diablo holds it's own in replayability, clearly, and perhaps
lacks in the satisfaction area. In the future, the team need to work on expanding core systems
to ensure satisfaction is built into those systems, which will ensure even deeper replayability
and enjoyment.
In the end, Diablo 3 is a good game, well worth your time, and with the right mindset
you will have a ton of fun.
In thinking about Path of Exile, we find an innovative game for the action rpg genre,
which dares to do things like remove gold as a currency, and borrow some of the rpg
genres most amazing skill systems, such as the one found in the passive game system today.
Path of Exile is a strange animal, in that items like traditional weapons matter much
less, as they are more a vehicle for skill gems than anything else. Skill gems are another
rich system with deep impact on the game, and combined with the passive skill tree,
almost endless custmization.
Path of Exile has a hardcore gamer mindset designed into every pore, giving maximum enjoyment
to those willing to invest large amounts of time into understanding and mastering the
complex passive tree, gem system, and item upgrade system. That being said, for those
that do, the replayability and satisfaction will be at an all time high.
Path of Exile also enjoys its own kind of unique art style, not boring from any other
title, instead forging it's own lore and world, which is a beautifully dark and foreboding
one, begging to be explored and conquered. A play session in this game is cruel, unforgiving,
and downright frustrating at times, and the casual gamer may be left wondering why they
bothered, perhaps even losing progress instead of gaining, and the game makes no apology
for this, nor should it.
Where the game runs into problems is in the existence of complexity for its own sake,
rather than depth. The two are different, in that depth is a natural an dorganic extension
of a core system, where complexity is simply obfuscating the reality behind too much fluff.
In reality, Path of Exile has strong character builds, and weak ones, and a continuous cycle
of buffs and nerfs, just like other games.
It also lends itself to a lack of replayabiity in that making too many mistakes in the passive
tree with land you back on the beach a wahsed up exile needing to restart the game over.
While this can be avoided for the most part by many players, many more will not take the
time to find out how, and become frustrated by having to repeat the same early game content
over and over.
Path of Exile also plays with a slow pace, that picks up early game, and mid game becomes
a horrible grind to top tier levels. The difficulty increases exponentially, combined with uforgiving
experience loss systems on death, and a sudden drop in the feeling of power you were enjoying
in the earlier difficulties. While this is a boon for some, and a joy for others, it
is likewise a drag for many, and makes the game feel lethargic and monotenous in places.
The item upgrade system, while innovative in some ways, is incredibly tedious and requires
a massive amount of time investment to craft high end items. Those under the impression
that in Path of Exile you get high tier gear easier than Diablo 3 are in for a rather rude
awakening. If you think so, I encourage you to try it first hand at higher levels.
Overall, Path of Exile is a great choice for many hardcore gamers, willing to invest in
replaying the content over and over before finally finding their way. However, it lacks
replayability, not due to shallow systems, but more due to too much repetition of leveling
content. In the end game, it does resolve many of these issues.
Path of Exile is satisfying early game, frustrating middle game, and somewhere in the middle end
game. From a satisfaction point of view, it offers much to those willing to master it,
and much frustration to those of a more casual nature.
So which is the clear winner? Sadly, neither game can claim that prize, both have their
flaws, boring points, excellent areas, and future promises. Much of your overall satisfaction
of either game will depend on pure RNG luck, if you get some awesome drops, or stumble
upon the right uber build, you will feel like a god and the satisfaction will roll in. On
the other hand, if you get kicked in the butt by RNG, you may find yourself quitting either
game hastily.
Replayability in each is more down to the type of gamer you are. I sumbit that a more
casual gamer, in terms of time available or interest in mastering complex systems, will
find Diablo 3 vastly superior. Where those with the wherewithall or time to master Path
of Exile, will find deep reward for doing so.
In the end, it is more about fun than anything else. Which game do you find fun, which one
gets your juices flowing, which one keeps you at your keyboard long past that time you
just know you should be in bed? Let that be your guide in which game to play, and no matter
which you decide, I am confident you will find much to love and enjoy.
Games, like much of life, are about moments, moments of love, moments of hate, of fun,
of frustration, of great trimuph, and great loss. it is in these moments of life, gaming,
and everything inbetween that you find the awesome memories you take with you into the
future.
Whatever you deicde to play, decide to enjoy it, and don't forget to let me know which
it is and why.
This has been Sibcoe with another RTG Specail looking at Diablo 3 versus Path of Exile.
Stay frosty out there, give this video a like, and don't forget to subscribe, so I see you for the next one. Cheers 0/