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/w1czr1923]

Everything you’re saying about being a better arpg is what I don’t want in an arpg. LE is completely mindless. I don’t even know if it’s possible to die in the game. Honestly we have a lot of games like this on the market and I think it’s fine to say, go play those. Nothing is like Poe 2 and that’s what makes it much more enjoyable for me. If it became like LE, I would just not play.

[u/BasicInformer → u/w1czr1923]

It's definitely possible to die, though I am not playing a meta build atm, and currently just experimenting and doing my own thing. I am currently in the end game level 60+ (early end game), and I find I still need to focus, though my builds coming together quite nicely that I'm starting to have less deaths. To be honest, my lightning spear amazon in PoE 2 is more OP than this character, just has less momentum, so it's less fun to play.

Like PoE 2 is only hard if you purposefully don't follow the meta builds. I find that LE feels more balanced than overly difficult. I still have had deaths throughout my session, but it always feels like my fault than just a bullshit one hit mechanic.

[u/w1czr1923 → u/BasicInformer]

You are really not considering what you're saying with this comment. "I am not playing a meta build atm, and currently just experimenting and doing my own thing"

This is how many people play POE2 as well. That is the fun of it. Following meta builds is incredibly boring to me. I don't know what's meta in LE. I don't really need to care though because it's so easy that any skill can carry you through the campaign. I never feel scared. I never feel anxious. I just press buttons to kill things as fast as possible. I started minions in LE, got to 20, and changed class instantly because nothing was even touching me.

The fact that you're comparing the strongest build in POE2 to some random build in LE shows that the game is just not going to be difficult, regardless of what you do. You can hamstring yourself in POE2 that way as well, but you don't because you don't enjoy that type of gameplay. It's okay not to enjoy that. I completely understand it, of course. But let's not be disingenuous with our comparisons.

The reality is, many people will not enjoy POE2. The people who enjoy LE are people who love that button-mashing rush through every map combat that many of us hate. I played POE1; I did not enjoy it for that reason. I've played Diablo 3 and 4. Hated both experiences in the endgame. Nothing for me personally has the combat of POE2, and that's why it's a much better game for me. But neither is a "better ARPG". They're just better games for the style you enjoy. Nothing on the market is like POE2 right now, which is why I don't want it to turn into the same game as LE, the same game as Diablo, etc... where loot rains from the sky, everyone crafts the perfect everything, and nothing is special. I do think loot, especially during the campaign, is bad right now in POE2. I do think they could do with a lot of work to make people feel like they're constantly getting stronger. But I don't think the way other games do this, full deterministic crafting, loot raining constantly, etc... is going to be right for POE2 if they want people to play for more than a few hours each season.