Free-To-Play Showcase - Path Of Exile
In this week’s update, we would like to take some time to highlight really excellent free-to-play games. I’d like to start with a personal favorite of mine, Path of Exile! Officially released in 2013, Path of Exile is a top-down multiplayer action RPG crafted in the image of classics such as the Diablo games. Developed by the independent studio Grinding Gear Games, which was founded in 2006, Path of Exile is considered by many enthusiasts to be the best current example of an online Action RPG. Like all games in our free-to-play showcases, Path of Exile doesn’t require any money upfront or a monthly payment to start playing.
While many top down action RPGs currently exist, Path of Exile sets itself apart with an incredibly in-depth skill system. This deep RPG gameplay starts with the Path of Exile skill tree. Pictured below, this massive and at first, intimidating web of options allows for a character to advance in a myriad of different ways. This makes choosing a unique and interesting play style almost automatic. While it’s possible to copy an already existing skill tree build, one of the most beautiful aspects of this game is the ability to strike out and create a character that is truly one of a kind.
Here's a partial picture of the skill tree employed by Path of Exile, only partial, because the whole thing won’t fit on a single screen! For a view the full tree, click this HERE
One of the other extremely deep features in this game is the item system. In game currency comes in the form of usable ‘orb’ items which impact pieces of equipment in tangible, sometimes outrageously powerful ways. The active skills employed by any given character are also items, represented as gems, which level up and gain more power as time goes on. These gems slot into sockets in pieces of equipment, and can link together up to a maximum of six gems. The interactions between these gems and the items they slot into lend a stunning level of depth to the gameplay. Players can do anything from summoning flaming skulls to attack enemies, to throwing magical representations of melee weapons in great arcs, tearing through large monster packs.
A Summoner of Raging Spirits engages a pack of fire breathing wolves!
Master of the bow unleashes an avalanche of critical hits on unwary enemies!
A fiery totem caller watches as his enemies melt away!
A spectral swordsman confronts an evil lord of totems!
This crazy level of skill customization does come at a performance cost, especially in party play. Often with thousands of discreet spell or skill effects firing off simultaneously, Path of Exile is known to be a very graphically intense game. Mid-range rigs that can easily manage 60 frames per second in normal circumstances can be laid low, chugging down into the teens. While this game is flexible enough to run at some level on sub-par hardware, nothing beats a high end, custom PC if one plans on getting serious about Path of Exile. One of the more compelling aspects of the online-only nature of this game, is a set of ‘Race Leagues’ where players create new characters to compete at earning the most experience and loot in a set timeframe. These campaigns often have custom rule sets which set them apart from standard play. In these leagues, every second counts, so having a powerful GPU, CPU, and especially a high quality, fast SSD, can often mean the difference between victory and a loading screen.
Most, if not all free-to-play games have a shared aspect in the presence of microtransactions. The ability to purchase either cosmetic items, gameplay features or performance enhancements by spending a certain amount of real money on the product. Path of exiles microtransactions all fall under cosmetic enhancements, or stash tabs, for additional item storage. Not being able to pay for a power boost may seem like a negative, but at the end of the day, it’s a refreshing change of pace from Path of Exile’s competition.
Path of Exile features an extremely unobtrusive micro transaction model!
The cosmetic items on display here are for the most part pretty impressive, with flaming helmets, lightning wreathed weapons, and freezing footprints available for purchase. These cosmetic looks can be added to equipment your character already has, and removed without destroying the gear. The customization this allows for doesn’t just stop at gear, it extends to active skills as well, with examples like summoned skeletons becoming magically animated classical statues and fireballs turning into fierce looking dragons. At the end of the day, your character can look cool with the game in free-to-play mode, but can look awesome if a person is willing to drop a few dollars.
Really cool full armor sets are available, allowing users to really customize their look for a price!
If you are interested in path of exile, here is a link to the
main site, where one can download and install the client. The game is also available through the Steam
digital download service. If you are interested not only in playing Path of Exile, but experiencing it in the way it’s truly meant to be played, at the highest graphical settings, here is a link to our custom gaming towers:
AVADirect Tower Gaming Desktops Written by: Michael Blystone Edited by: Vedran Ikonic
post edited by vikonic - 2014/10/29 15:24:49