![]() I’ll admit it took me a bit of time - and reinstalling the first game - to truly appreciate the level of refinement and polish.įor those after a lengthy experience, there’s a lot to see and do in each region of the map. I’ll admit it took me a bit of time - and reinstalling the first game - to truly appreciate the level of refinement and polish (gameplay and presentation) but it becomes more apparent the longer you play. You’ll explore the large map, gaining experience and new gear for Jax you’ll take on regional faction quests to gain their trust (and potential allies) you’ll recruit a diverse selection of powerful companions, both old and new, with their own quests and loyalties top consider and, finally, you need to disable numerous alien landing craft to gain access to their leaders (as opposed to clearing Alb ELEX-converters in the first game before tackling the Ice Palace). ![]() Gameplay-wise, ELEX II slightly tweaks and refines the formula but is, ultimately, more of the same - aliens need defeating and factions need uniting. Unsurprisingly, being nice and avoiding violence lowers your “destruction” level, allowing for even more non-violent options during encounters. I found it a joy to wander through a now lush Tavar - reminiscing on the hostile desert it once was - and discover the fate of many primary and secondary characters Jax had influenced in the past. ELEX II is set further east than the first game but about half of the map is the same, albeit often unrecognizable different thanks to the Beserkers’ terraforming efforts and the aftermath of the war against the Albs. Where the first game had a “Cold” level that influenced dialogue and the ending, ELEX II has a “Destruction” level - be nice for more diplomatic options, be nasty for more intimidation or violence-based options.įor both new and returning players, Jax’s slow rise to power is made more tolerable thanks to a streamlined opening.įor returning players, there are familiar locations to traverse and old acquaintances to meet, but power structures have changed and these old contacts only rarely allow Jax to bypass quests. It ups the stakes and provides a more personal angle, but it doesn’t take long before you’re given a familiar overarching, multi-phase goal and given free rein to head out in any direction. The opening hours also introduce Jax’s new priorities - his wife Caja, his son Dex, and their strained family life. You can upgrade it as you progress, funding new fortifications and facilities for your army, and recruit leaders to manage them. This was a feature you could miss right up to the end-game in 2017’s ELEX but is now essential to confronting the alien menace. Early questlines are more linear and cohesive, with fewer difficulty spikes (just don’t push main quests too hard, too early) and Jax quickly establishes a base of operations - “The Bastion”. ![]() You’re welcome to take on the invaders straight away, but your excursions will end in swift defeat without decent gear, companions, and preferably an allied army.įor both new and returning players, Jax’s slow rise to power is made more tolerable thanks to a streamlined opening. That said, there are plenty of recurring characters and call-backs to past events, so I’d suggest newcomers at least watch a detailed story synopsis to get the most out of the sequel. For new players, this means you’ve got a decent amount of background lore to cover but you can still enjoy Jax’s new adventure without playing the prior game. The nature-loving Berserkers have come out on top, but all factions are fragmented once again, aiming to conquer territory and push their ideology on others. The surviving factions - which include the free Albs and a brand new one - have come to accept and ignore an ominous celestial body orbiting Magalan. Jax, despite his actions in defeating the Alb threat, has failed to convince the factions of the impending alien invasion revealed in the final moments of the first game. It’s great on paper but, if you’re a fan “AAA” RPGs - lavishly written and cinematic but carefully directed and mechanically homogenized - there’s a lot of jank in ELEX II that might put you off.ĮLEX II’s story picks up several years after the events of the first game. Interconnected quests, lots of player-choice, competing factional interests, slow and stat-heavy progression, and risky exploration are the highlights - and all with little hand-holding. Sure, there are gameplay and visual refinements, and the narrative is designed to help new players catch up quickly, but this is a Piranha Bytes’ game through and through. To preface this review, I need to state upfront that ELEX II is a game for fans of the first - which I am despite notable issues.
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