I consider isometric RPGs to be one of my favorite genres. So you can imagine the rush I got into the open beta of the fourth part of the iconic Diablo series, which ran over two weekends in March. But after extensive testing, I still couldn’t get enough. The search began for a name that would give me the desired dose of endorphins, which is tied to the constant improvement of the game character, which makes its way through the endless hordes of all sorts of enemies. But what to play? I spent hundreds of hours on Diablo 3, and the endgame content was superficial for my taste. Path of Exile is extremely complex and it takes a very long time to go through manuals and read walkthroughs to get into all the systems. So I was looking for something exactly between the two mentioned camps.
After some time, I was working on a game that has been in early access for several years. We are talking about the Last Age. This ARPG from the Eleventh Hour Games studio has been enjoying unprecedented interest among the players lately, and thanks to this, it came to my attention. Of course, a big influence on this is the fact that multiplayer was added to the game at the beginning of March, so you no longer have to go on an adventure alone, but only four. I was expecting only that time slap before the fourth Diablo from Last Epoch, but I was very pleasantly surprised by what the developers were able to do.
For the magician and the robber
At first glance, Last Epoch doesn’t stand out. Audiovisual processing does not offend, but it’s definitely not the current top. And not even by the standards of the genre. However, this compensates for the diversity of the environment. You will look into dungeons, forests, mountains and deserts. The game offers five main classes, namely Mage, Primalist, Acolyte, Rogue and Guardian. The main occupation subsequently branches into three others. Thanks to this, Last Epoch boasts fifteen playable classes that will be available in the final version. You can currently choose from twelve, as three are still in development. However, this is more than a solid figure.
Last Epoch boasts many playable classes.
I must admit that the first two hours of the game I was not too excited. The game starts slowly and reveals its secrets to you later. But if you persist, you will be rewarded with a really high quality ARPG game. For my adventure, I chose the classic, mage. I focused on using storms and lightning for Gramlove, whose name was derived from hitting a pinky on a threshold minutes before the game was installed. The talent tree in Last Epoch gives you real tricks, and there are no limits to ideas. On the other hand, it’s not too difficult (yes, I’m looking at the forest of talents in Path of Exile) and even a player unfamiliar with the genre will get used to it after a while. However, if you are tired of these skills, it is not a problem to exchange them for others. You will lose a few levels of the skill you are currently using, but it won’t take long and you will get a new fireball or elemtal nova of the same level. Thus, the respecialization system is very favorable for players and allows for experimentation. At about level 25 of your character, you choose the so-called masters, which are the subclasses we wrote about above. Here, really think about where you want your character to go, as choosing a specialization is irreversible.
No loot filter, not even a shot
The essence of ARPG has always been to mine and improve your avatar. It’s no different from Last Epoch. But there’s a lot of focus on crafting, which is relatively easy to understand and makes building your dream build a little easier. Speaking of prey, I should mention the so-called prey filters. Without them, you will not get much pleasure from the game, because a lot of items fall. Too much for my taste. You can find loot filters on the Internet, or you can create them right in the game. Thanks to this, only what interests you will fall out of your enemies. In connection with the equipment, I was confused by the fact that not all models of weapons and armor have their own appearance. It usually happened to me that I ran twenty levels in the same tunic or helmet. The distribution of loot is, by all accounts, classic. From common items to rare, unique, and set gear, you can reach the so-called Exalted and Legendary. But finding really good armor or weapons is not easy, and grinding is indispensable. But that’s what this genre is about.
Race against time
The storyline of Last Epoch is quite original within the genre. In the role of an adventurer, you travel through several eras separated by more than a millennium and try to uncover the cause and effect of the invasion of hostile entities. We can say that here we come to the origins of the iconic Chrono Trigger. But if you’re looking for a narrative twist, you won’t find it in The Last Age just yet. The main story arc isn’t over yet, but I personally don’t expect big changes. If the creators added cutscenes, it would definitely improve the overall atmosphere of the story. On the contrary, I really liked the fights with the story bosses. They are definitely not easy, and some of the mechanics can be difficult even for the more experienced of you.
Promising endgame
But how to have fun when you finish the content of the story? The ending is always a very important aspect in these types of games. Nobody wants to be bored after dozens of hours of customizing their characters. Last Epoch fits this content page really well. At least from my point of view. At about level 55, you will be able to enter the first of the so-called Monoliths of Destiny, which is a network of timelines and realities (echoes). You will also find small stories in the monoliths, but they are essentially randomly generated maps that get more and more difficult as the networks progress towards the final boss, as the further you are from the start, the more affixes the echo contains. . Enemies live longer, are immune, or deal multiple times more damage, etc. I think it’s great that you choose echoes based on the reward they offer. Want to farm axes, necklaces or helmets? No problem. The path is up to you, and after filling the progress bar, which you score points on by filling in any echo, the aforementioned boss fight and another piece of history await you.
You choose an echo based on what reward they offer.
Monoliths present two difficulties. The first one targets the set level that the monolith is intended for, while the second one (boosted) targets players with the character at max level. At the moment, the number is 100. However, if you believe in yourself, you can go to the monoliths earlier. But expect the game to not spoil you too much. In addition, the echo can be reset and raise the so-called corruption, which leads to an increase in complexity and requirements for a detailed build of your character. Another endgame content is dungeons. There are only a few of these in the game, but if you choose the most difficult of the six difficulties, I have no choice but to wish you good luck. The last pastime in the game is the arena. In it you have only one life and you have to face the waves of enemies that are getting more and more difficult. Sometimes it really gets on your nerves. In addition, the creators promise a seasonal format in the future, such as we know, for example, from the already mentioned Diablo or Path of Exile.
Diamond in the rough
Since Last Epoch is still in Early Access, it already has a very solid foundation for endgame content. Developers from the indie studio Eleventh Hour Games are extremely willing to listen to the community without any remorse. With the addition of four-player multiplayer, the game has opened up to a wide range of people interested in true ARPG adventures. Add to that the fact that all development takes place in the form of remote collaboration across continents, I have to take off my imaginary hat from the longtime player’s point of view. While Last Epoch isn’t as visually stunning as its older AAA brethren, it offers more complex systems and endgames in many ways. Therefore, he can safely join them. Thinking that Eleventh Hour Games will have the same budget as, say, the upcoming Diablo IV, I’m forced to wonder why big games have been so cut down in recent years, with ridiculous excuses coming from developers.
Last Epoch is proof that anything is possible when you want it, and while I’m still looking forward to the continuation of the diabolical saga, I will definitely return to a world where good and evil are torn apart and the present, the past and the future. dispersed in a fierce battle. Looking forward to the full release, which should happen soon. If you’re a die-hard ARPG fan, you might already have Last Epoch on your hard drive. If not, then I recommend giving it a try. That is, if you don’t mind early access and rough diamonds just yet.
Source :Indian TV
