I have just finished Elex II after 105 hours (at Level 60). Elex II is (like the first part) an outstanding, yet demanding RPG. Positives: + interesting main storyline + quests are well-designed, and not overly repetitive + nice dialogues (especially with npcs like Fox) + handcrafted world that wants to be explored + new features (like the improved jetpack) actually add value Negatives: - the combat ai for monsters/opponents lacks flexibility and enemies do not seem to really cooperate Some critics rate the animations as somewhat mediocre. For all I care, those are more than good enough and I personally prefer the developer's main effort to target the story, quests and world design. And that is where Elex truely shines. But that's just me... So, to sum it all up: Go get it. Where else do you get 100 hours of quality entertainment for less than 50 bucks?
First: I did not encounter any bugs worth of mentioning - I have learned other players have experienced differently. Positive: - the main story is interesting and genuine (but a bit too forseeable) - Graphics are spectacular (not so big a bonus in my view, but you might think differently) - available weapons suit different combat styles (I preferred a sniper rifle for ranged and a katana for close combat, nothing in-between) - some of the side quests are real gems - sneaking system is good. I used to detest sneak missions, but in this game they were quite enjoyable. Negative: - the car driving nearly drove me insane. I found it almost impossible to control a car *and* to go at a higher speed... I ended up completing a *car chase* quest by *running* in pursuit of the other car... - main story is quite short and lacks surprises To sum it up: Yes, there are better games in this genre. Still, the game was captivating enough to keep me playing to the end (while finishing nearly all available side quests). I enjoyed it from start to end and I felt even though the price is not quite at bargain level, my money was well spent.
This game is truely outstanding. It does most things very good and just a few mediocre or poor. In detail: 1) The main story is amazing, captivating and full of new ideas *not* just copied from other games. 2) Combat system, monsters and fights Monsters (machines) are well designed, differ in behaviour according to their nature/type and require a well-thought approach to take them down (at least at a decent level of difficulty). 90% of all combat is ranged combat, but that's fine. Choosing a favourable path of attack (and retreat) can earn you an huge advantage. Same goes for the selection of weapon/ammo type for the attack - overall, careful planning is rewarded (as opposed to a mindless charge). Big plus! 3) Sneaking Sneaking is important - and luckily the game designers did a good job here. Personally, I usually do not like sneak missions... but in this game, I relied heavily on it and preferred camouflage over protection in my armour. Taking into consideration I am initially biased against sneaking, the developers did a terriffic job convincing me otherwise. 4) Climbing Well... the animation is spectacular - but the overall implementation is mediocre. Why? You can only use predifined spots for climbing. Those are usually marked (by color), but not always. That means the challenge is reduced to the question whether or not you spot the climb mark. What makes it even worse is the fact that there is only one way to climb, so once you are "on track" you can make your way through by randomly pressing all direction keys. This leaves room for improvement. 5) Dungeons Poor... compared to the rest of the game. Coloring and textures in dungeons (vaults, bunkers...) make it hard to spot climb marks or even distinguish a path from an abyss, yet there is but one linear way through. Boring and tedious... luckily, there are just few of those underground locations. To sum it up: Get it. Now. And don't forget to take a few days off from whatever job you may have.
The game vastly expands the possibilities of Dead Age I and - what is most important - all the additions (movement on a map with resources, base improvements etc) are meaningful and worthy enhancements of the original gameplay. This is how a sequel should be done! I played to the point where the prerelease version ends and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is but one point I am not so happy with: Personally, I do not like the "permadeath" concept. I understand that it takes out the spice of a game when you can simply reload after you failed, but having to start all over leads to just that grinding the game neatly avoids in general. I would suggest offering sparse saving points after crucial sections of the plot, roughly every 3-5 Days. That would keep the thrill while avoiding the frustration of having to start all over at day 30. Just my view, though. Overall, I an only recommend this game. Get it! Now!
