Patch 0.1.0
Purchased one month after the league’s release, this patch initially felt satisfying. With an overpowered build, it was possible to bypass nearly all boss mechanics, making progression smooth but clearly unbalanced.

Patch 0.2.0
This league turned out to be a disaster. Currency drops were practically nonexistent, and the core mechanic felt useless, offering neither balance nor enjoyment. Most of the league’s exploration happened through top streamers rather than personal play, since the broken economy made progression nearly impossible. Without currency, advancing through content was technically possible but devoid of any meaningful reward.

Patch 0.3.0
The addition of Act IV was underwhelming. Content felt monotonous and uninspired, lacking the intensity of earlier hardcore acts. Balance was so poor that within the first weeks players were mass-crafting mirror-tier items, stripping away any sense of exclusivity. Overall, adding random monster spawns after four months of development felt like mockery toward those who purchased the game. Unsurprisingly, the league collapsed within a week, leaving players once again waiting four months for the next cycle.

Patch 0.4.0
After four months of waiting, I am genuinely surprised that the cursor issue remains unresolved. This has been the most irritating problem throughout the league: playing for two hours only to spend another two hours trying to restore cursor visibility is simply unacceptable.
Gameplay Mechanics
- League Mechanics – The current league feels overly tedious and drawn-out. The repetitive process of building rooms quickly becomes monotonous, and after all this effort, I managed to defeat the final boss only once.
- Party Farming – Group farming continues to be disproportionately rewarding. While some players generate a Mirror per map, solo players are left hoping for a single Divine. Loot imbalance between party and solo play has not been addressed, and with each patch, the issue worsens. After just over a week, anticipation for the next league already begins.
- Development Priorities – One of the biggest obstacles for Path of Exile 2 is Path of Exile 1 itself. As long as PoE1 continues to receive frequent updates, PoE2’s release schedule will inevitably be delayed. Designing POE2 for a niche audience of 80,000 players limits its potential. Occasional free weekends are insufficient; the game needs consistency and a unique identity, not a four-month patch cycle followed by only a week of meaningful play.
- Build Diversity – Once again, only a handful of builds are viable. The meta has been dominated by the Huntress for four consecutive patches. Meanwhile, the Druid feels underwhelming: decent damage but poor survivability, and building sufficient health requires significant financial investment.

Overall Impression
These are the main issues I observed. Waiting for the full release feels excessively long, but the current state of the game is still a strong entry point for new players. Despite limited content, newcomers can gradually learn the mechanics, and the game provides a solid foundation for future growth.

The game has made a truly impressive debut. Its simplified format provides accessibility and comfort for farming, though not without certain drawbacks:

Cons of Season One:
- While the game was thoroughly tested, with over 480k players participating, it is understandable that new vulnerabilities were discovered.
- The exploitation of doors is a major issue. This bug is used in nearly every session, creating an unfair advantage and turning it into a mandatory mechanic for regular players.
- Loot zones (red and yellow) require more dynamism. Hardcore players who spend 15+ hours daily already know every possible spawn by heart.
- Respawn points are frustrating. Appearing at the 18th minute often means everything is looted, combat zones are occupied, and the only option left is to exit.
- Desynchronization is critical: situations where one player sees another while the second does not are game-breaking.
- Weapon balance needs adjustment. Reload animation exploits remain, and the Ventator is still disproportionately strong.

Pros of Season One:
- Exceptional hardware optimization — few games achieve this level.
- Pleasant and visually appealing graphics.
- A unique social aspect: players in lobbies often unite toward common goals, fostering friendliness.
- Fast updates, consistent content additions, and a solid overall concept.
- Vibrant gameplay with diverse loot acquisition styles.
- Despite the issues mentioned, PvP remains engaging and has undeniable potential.

General Impression:
Overall, I am satisfied with the purchase and recommend the game. A few additional notes on quests:
- Their inclusion is positive, as they help players understand the basics. However, once knowledge is acquired, quests lose value and feel repetitive.
- Quest rewards should be reworked. Currently, obtaining blueprints is problematic, and quests could serve as a meaningful way to grant access to them. This is not a final critique but rather a suggestion for improvement.

UPD:
Additional Cons:
- Challenges should be removed entirely. Competing against exploiters is pointless. Either a separate PvE mode or a strict point cap (up to 3 stars) is needed. Otherwise, unless you are a professional like Shroud, it is impossible to eliminate an entire lobby hunting you after hearing Bastion or Bombardier fall instantly.
- Looting exploits and cheaters remain rampant. Door abuse could have been nerfed weeks ago, yet now almost everyone has BIS recipes obtained through exploits. In 140 hours of play, I found the Betina recipe 12 times, while others already have purple backpacks and overpowered weapons through door abuse. Recently, I encountered players entering with new accounts, only 0.1 hours played, yet already using trigger cheats.
- Boss balance issues: The Matriarch and the Queen are currently unkillable. Approaching them results in instant death. Moreover, some players exploited recipes during the first weeks, creating long-term imbalance.

Overall Impression (Updated):
The game still has strong potential and impressive qualities, but the persistence of exploits, imbalance in challenges, and unaddressed cheating mechanics significantly undermine the experience. Developers must prioritize fixing these issues to preserve fairness and long-term engagement.