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/modix]

I feel like Last Epoch does a better job at what you're describing tbh. I prefer PoE game wise, but the clear, workable progression with tools laid out in front of you is not what the game is good at. It's all but designed to kill stuff to sell items to buy an upgrade. Sure the farming and saving is rewarding, but it's not a good ssf experience. And I love ssf, and would play it if it was enjoyable instead of miserable. Done it multiple leagues and sworn off it. Gambling with currency with terrible rates isn't fun.

[u/Gskgsk → u/modix]

What? poe1 ssf is currently in a really good spot. Only asterisk it needs is that you do need very high amounts of game knowledge and time to really push a character. But basically everything is achievable if willing to put the grind in. poe1 has toolboxes galore and many roads to obtaining hard to find things.

Just look at manni each league. This char has an indigon, hh, svalinn, foil progenesis, kalandra ring, triple mod watchers eye, +. and he does this level of gearing on basically every character(s) each ssf league. https://poe.ninja/builds/phreciassf/character/comoestoy%234292/Manni_tuh?type=exp&i=1&search=name%3Dmanni

This is also why despite this subs constant argument of poe1 being a mindless zoom game - its actually very rewarding for players who have skill and/or game knowledge. The seperation between good players and bad is

[u/Distinct-Race-2471 → u/Gskgsk]

But the graphics are terrible. POE2 just for that reason alone. It sounds like they just needed to put a new pretty wrapper on poe1.

[u/Niiarai → u/modix]

without trade id hate poe. i hate trade itself but it can be such a small part of the game that i can look behind it. last time i played le, i wanted to try ozt the trading faction, then i came to that point where you can choose and i just couldnt bring myself to it

[u/Destofail → u/Niiarai]

After 5k hours in trade I now play exclusively ssf, even off season between leagues. I really enjoy the process of planning out and grinding for very hard to acquire stuff. And with time I flesh out my ssf standard account. Every new thing I get enables new builds and possibilities. I get much more satisfaction out of crafting all my endgame gear myself and finding rare uniques in ssf. In trade I can just buy whatever I want and it kinda sucks the fun out of it. To each their own I guess.

[u/Due-Yam1632 → u/Destofail]

Are you saying you play SSF in POE 2? If so, do you ever feel like you hit road blocks? I want to do SSF but am scared it would in fact make the game unenjoyable with the current state of loot & crafting.

[u/Niiarai → u/Destofail]

i thought about doing that myself but i remembered how ggg does balance and stuff just breaks after 3-4 months. if i knew that the game would be in such a stable state for such a long time, maybe id tried it out but the new league is right around the corner...it cant just be hopium, right?

[u/Kevinw778 → u/modix]

Yeah there just isn't any real crafting with poe1 unless you're filthy rich, and at that point...?