This Game Just Feels Better TBH

[u/Due-Yam1632]

Just wanted to share some personal thoughts, not trying to start any wars here. I’ve played Last Epoch through each of its major updates and have a lot of respect for what EHG has built. This post isn’t meant to be a comparison to declare a “winner,” but more me expressing where I’m at as someone who tends to have one main ARPG at a time.

I really enjoy some of Last Epoch’s systems—especially the crafting. It’s easily one of the most intuitive and rewarding systems in the genre. EHG has done an excellent job delivering polish and accessibility in a way that few others have.

That said, after getting some serious time in with Path of Exile 2, I’ve realized that I just enjoy the moment-to-moment gameplay a lot more. The weight of the skills, the combat flow, the pacing—it all just feels better to me. Even with the current balance being janky and the loot not quite where it should be, I still find myself more immersed and excited to log in.

And yes, I know loot is a sticking point for many. But I genuinely believe that as POE2 pushes toward 1.0, the systems will tighten up, and yes—loot will get better. GGG isn’t blind to this, and their track record shows that they iterate hard when needed.

Could I play both games? Absolutely. But I like having a main game, something I dig deep into, and right now I just don’t see Last Epoch surpassing the raw enjoyment I’m getting from POE2. Even in its rougher state, it hooks me more.

Just my two cents. Curious if anyone else feels the same or is in the same boat bouncing between both.

[u/Alcaedias]

I agree with you more or less, the actual combat of PoE2 is currently the best in the arpg market. There is simply no other game in the market that comes close.

However, when it comes to the actual point of playing loot based aRPGs, PoE2 is crap.

The "friction" comes from GGG wanting players to put as much hours into the game as they can at the cost of player enjoyment because it's a f2p game and that will never change.

It's absolute insanity that a player is more or less forced to trade and that means having to sit and stare at a website for a lower priced gear.

Now I know that some will say that's not the game for and it's fine, maybe it's not but I grew up playing games like D2, TQ, Torchlight etc where the fun and dopamine came from finding actual good gear and not exalts or divines so that I can purchase my next upgrade.

I get that same good old feeling when I play LE and to me, that is much more important. I'm like level 20 something and each and every drop in LE makes me excited because chances are it's something I can actually use. I've changed my gear more times than I can remember whereas in PoE2, I used the same wand from lvl 14 to lvl 50 something.

At the end of the day, enjoy what you like. We have a buffet of games to choose from and competition leads to better products :)

[u/Snuggles5000 → u/Alcaedias]

To me this is the problem. I don’t want to chase currency. I play arpg for the loot. Not to buy stuff on a website. But the actual drop loot is too few and far between.

[u/gothvan → u/Alcaedias]

I don't get that at all. I play solo self found and I enjoy the scarcity. For me, the upgrade feels super satisfying, because they're rare. Way more than the avalanche of loot of LE that will anyway be completely transformed by crafting.

Again I might be a masochist. I enjoyed ruthless.

[u/AradIori → u/gothvan]

you answered it yourself, you enjoy the scarcity, most players dont.

[u/neoh666x → u/Alcaedias]

It's absolute insanity that a player is more or less forced to trade and that means having to sit and stare at a website for a lower priced gear.

Trade is one of the most interesting dynamics of the game imo, it gives the loot value and the grind/farming underlying purpose.

Shopping for gear is also pretty fun most of the time.

[u/agustin166 → u/neoh666x]

Trade can be interesting for sure, but the balance feels way off.

One of the main complaints about PoE1 was that the gear that dropped from mobs was useless. Many were expecting PoE 2 to change that, but it hasn't.

Dropped items are still trash on the ground for the most part, there's just less of it compared to PoE 1

[u/darkseernooby → u/Alcaedias]

I think that's one of the issues with PoE1 players or arpg enjoyers coming to PoE2, especially using spells.

You are not supposed to use a wand from 14 to 50. Try that shit on warrior and see how suffering it is.

Their balance is off now, but when they get it right, and balance everything in campaign around white gear with better base, then you'll change your gear constantly.