14 DAY TRIAL // Action role-playing game fans from around the world have eagerly awaited Path of Exile, one of the most intriguing projects in the genre, which promises to blend the traditional dungeon crawling mechanic with online multiplayer elements, all in a free-to-play package.
After spending quite some time in closed alpha and beta stages, the game has finally gone live as an open beta on the PC platform via the Steam digital distribution service.
Now, all those interested in the creation of Grinding Gear Games can try it out.
Does it manage to deliver an evolution from the beta we saw last year or should Path of Exile remain closed off? Let's have a quick look.
Path of Exile has come quite a long way since the early build that was showcased last year, according to the game's developers, but at least the opening segments remain the same, as you first get to pick a character from multiple classes.
After that, you wash ashore in the game's world and immediately start fighting the undead while making your way to the nearest encampment.
While the quality of the visuals has increased a bit, the graphics, especially in the opening beach environment, still look dreary and unattractive. Things change later on when you get to explore more areas in different times of the day, but right from the get-go the title fails to capture the attention of the player.
In terms of gameplay, there haven't been that many changes, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially for those who are looking for a classic Diablo 2-like experience. Those who've grown accustomed to more modern action role-playing games, like Diablo 3 or Torchlight 2, however, will find that quite a few mechanics are overly tedious, like selling items to merchants.
Combat is also a bit chaotic but, once you start figuring out the effects of runes and how they improve over time, things get a bit better.
The giant skill tree system has become even more impressive and without a doubt first time users will spend a lot of time trying to decipher the many paths their character can take as they accumulate experience.
Seeing as how it's a free-to-play experience, the microtransactions can be accessed via a dedicated button but, at least after a few hours, the game still hasn't forced me to spend money on any must-have benefits.
Check out Path of Exile in action in the video above.