Crafting materials were plentiful enough that I found myself constantly tweaking and enhancing every decent item I found. Finding great items was still enjoyable (and you cant enhance unique items), but crafting gave me a satisfying level of control over my gear that few action-RPGs allow POE currency trade.
While I enjoyed the underlying skill and crafting systems, Last Epoch is noticeably rough around the edges. The graphics look like they belong in a game made somewhere between Titan Quest (2006) and Path of Exile (2013), and not in a way that's charmingly retro. There's little detail and a muted color palette, particularly in the Ruined Era. The UI needs some major improvements as welltheres no way to tell how a skill is going to improve until you commit a skill point to it, and selling, examining, and comparing items requires a needless amount of holding Shift, Ctrl, and Alt. I suffered from a number of stuttering moments and framerate drops, and the game frequently locked up when I tried to exit.
Last Epoch can look pretty muddy
There is at least one shining beacon of light in Last Epochs presentation: The music is outstanding. ARPGs are usually perfect for listening to podcasts or videos in the background, but I never wanted to silence Last Epochs stirring orchestral score. I'd welcome Last Epochs soundtrack into my Game Jams Spotify playlist right alongside Diablo 2.
I remember a time not too long ago when I was desperate for any new game in my beloved loot pinata genre, but the playing field has changed over the last several years. Diablo 3, Path of Exile, and Grim Dawn have had long lives and keep on going. Even Titan Quest has made a comeback with its Anniversary Edition. In its current state Last Epoch doesn't do enough to really distinguish itself from its more established brethrenits clever skill system can't make up for its other shortcomings, particularly as the Early Access version is currently singleplayer only. Hopefully a long stint in Early Access will make it a stronger contentendor when it launches fully in Spring 2020.
PC Gamer Newsletter
Sign up to get the best content of the week, and great gaming deals, as picked by the editors.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Path of Exile to cease support for Windows XP, Vista, and DirectX 9
Massive ARPG Path of Exile will end support for Windows XP and Vista as of its next update, Grinding Gear Games has reported POE currency.
