After a long, slightly unhealthy stretch of Path of Exile 2, I kept catching myself thinking it isn't "PoE 1 but prettier." It plays like a rework of the whole philosophy, and the change you'll notice first is the gem setup. I can finally loot a solid chestpiece and not bin it because the sockets are the wrong colours or the links are a mess. Skills sit in their own menu now, and supports connect to the skill itself, not the gear. That means you can actually test ideas early, swap supports around, and learn what clicks without burning your stash. Even if you're the sort of player who's always browsing for PoE 2 Items, the bigger win is that your build isn't held hostage by socket luck.
Gems Without the Old Headache
The old system had this awkward moment where "good upgrade" didn't mean "usable upgrade." You'd find armour with better stats, then realise your whole setup would fall apart. In PoE 2, the gear chase feels cleaner. You improve defence and stats when you want, and your skill package stays intact. It also makes experimenting feel normal. People talk about "build freedom," but it's hard to feel free when every change costs links, colours, and patience. Here, you can tinker for a while, notice what's missing, then adjust. It's less like doing surgery with boxing gloves on.
Combat That Wants You Awake
The moment you start using WASD movement and a real dodge button, the tempo shifts. You're not just standing there letting numbers decide. You're stepping around telegraphed hits, baiting swings, then committing when there's space. It's still an ARPG, not a fighting game, but your hands matter more than they used to. New weapons help too. Spears feel quick and pokey in a good way, and crossbows have this punchy rhythm that makes you pay attention to timing. Weapon swapping also stops feeling like a gimmick; you can set up two different plans and actually use both in a fight.
Where It Still Feels Tight
There are a couple spots where I'm less sold. The passive tree is huge, sure, but it can feel a bit stiff compared to the weird, chaotic experimentation PoE 1 encouraged. Some of the juicy "make it work anyway" options aren't there, and respeccing still isn't cheap enough to invite reckless testing. Then there's the campaign length. It looks fantastic—lighting, environments, the whole vibe—but it's also slower. You can already imagine a second league character and think, "Am I really doing all this again?" That's the kind of friction that sneaks up on you.
Still, I can't deny how much easier it is to recommend this to someone new. The systems read clearer, the combat has bite, and the moment-to-moment play feels more modern without turning into a totally different genre. Veterans might miss some of the old wildness, but once you get used to moving, dodging, and swapping weapons with purpose, it's tough to go back. And if you're the type who likes to keep your build options open while looking at things like u4gm PoE 2 Items , PoE 2's cleaner gem setup makes that whole loop feel a lot less punishing.