It is not a secret that the game of Path of Exile 2 He returned to the crazy community for a good reason, the first game was a jewel of the Arpg Free-to-Play that offered a large amount of content, as well as an extreme customization and a difficulty worthy of the most rude.
With the launch of Dawn of the Hunt, This new installment not only maintains that spirit, but expands it in ways that few sequelae achieve. In Xbox Series X, the experience is brutally addictive, visually refined and as complex as one would expect … or maybe even more.
We are not facing a simple expansion or “version 2.0”. This title feels as an evolution in every way. From its most stylized design to mechanical and narrative changes, it shows that Grinding Gear games listened to his community and took his time to build something ambitious.
Yes indeed, Path of Exile 2 It still does not be a game for anyone: it is dark, challenging, technical, and sometimes even intimidating. But if you enter with a desire to sink into an abyss of Loot, Builds and Chaos, you will be delighted.
A hunt marked by despair
Unlike the somewhat chaotic narrative of the first game, Dawn of the Hunt It bets more on a solid story, well told and with a more cinematographic tone.
Here we follow the path of new exiles in Wraeclast, facing an ancient evil that has awakened after centuries of lethargy. The ancestral hunting theme gives an atmosphere of urgency and brutality, there is also a greater presence of kinematics that help digest what is at stake without neglecting that dark and violent flavor that defines the saga.
Although there is still a lot of information hidden in texts, missions and secondary characters, the main campaign has a better rhythm. The motivations of the enemies are clearer; The bosses have a presence from the beginning, and secondary missions are integrated more organically with history.
It’s not The Witcher 3, Of course, but for the standards of the genre it is a great step forward that helps you stay hooked beyond the simple “Farmear for Farmear”.
Chaos organized in the path of exile
If you already played Path of Exile, You know that one of its great strengths (and nightmares) is its gigantic skill tree and its gem system. In Path of Exile 2that system has been polished. The skills are now linked in a more intuitive way, and the combos of gems can be better customized without depending so much on an external calculator or a Reddit guide. It is more accessible … without losing its depth.
The combat is more fluid, heavy and with better feedback. Improved animations and new types of enemies make each fight feel intense, especially in the bosses, which now have more elaborate and memorable mechanics.
The renewed class system also stands out: Now there are 12 new ascendencies that allow you to experiment with very different styles, from wild invokers to melee hunters that destroy everything in their path. The feeling of progression is well achieved, and the endgame remains a black hole of possibilities that can absorb you for hundreds of hours.
Darker, more raw, more beautiful
In Xbox Series X, the game runs with an admirable fluidity. Textures, particle effects and dynamic lighting they give a new life to Wraeclastmaking it more dark; more grotesque and much more attractive visually. Each area has its own personality, with more varied and detailed biomes.
The new graphic engine does an impeccable job by showing not only richer scenarios, but also fighting full of explosions, blood and bright spells without sacrificing performance.
Something that is appreciated is visual clarity in the midst of chaos. Although there is still a lot on the screen – enemies, effects, damage, loot, etc. – the design has been improved to know what is happening. The menus are cleaner, the most intuitive (although complex) interfaces, and the characters have more presence thanks to better worked models.
It is not the most leading game in the market in graphics, but its visual style achieves something important: getting fully into that decadent and hostile world without complaining about the framerate.
When hell has an echo
The music of Dawn of the Hunt It is another strong point. The soundtrack combines environmental pieces with tribal and dark tunes that feel like the call of a damn hunt. Each region has its own sound identity and the fighting against bosses are accompanied by epic music that intensifies the moment. It is not exaggerated to say that some melodies stay in your head even after turning off the console.
For its part, sound design is impeccable. The chillidos of the beasts, the creak of the bones and the dry blow of the skills make each encounter visceral. In general, Path of Exile 2 manages to create a sound atmosphere that surrounds you and that perfectly complements the dark and wild tone of his world.
Conclusion: A beast worth dowing
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt Not only does it meet expectations; but in many ways it surpasses them. It is not a game for everyone, but for fans of the Genre ARPG and those looking for a deep, addictive and with a lot of content challenge, it is a glory.
Its most structured history, refined gameplay and visual and sound renewed design make it a worthy successor of the first game and a strong competitor in the genre.
In Xbox Series X, experience feels polished, stable and visually impressive. Of course, there are still things that can improve – as a less abrupt learning curve or a more balanced internal economy – but in general, Dawn of the Hunt It is an essential title if you like games that do not make it easy for you, but that reward you more than.
If you dare to hunt, get ready to lose many, many hours of your life in this dark and beautiful hell.
Notice: The game was reviewed with the 0.2.2.0 update, which nerfted the difficulty of some bosses and brought some novelties.
