Jumping from Elex II to Horizon was an incredibly jarring experience largely due to the reasons set out above. Interestingly, Elex II landed with me around the same time I was starting to sample Guerrilla Games’ latest epic, Horizon: Forbidden West. That Pirahna Bytes were able to keep this up over my 40 or so hours with the game, and still leave me feeling like I had barely scratched the surface of this world, speaks volumes about the scale of the choice on offer. Rather than following a series of linear objectives across the map, you’re instead invited to explore and immerse yourself in the alien world of Magalan, drawn in by the emergent way in which the art of the possible presents itself as you go about accomplishing your goals. I’d go so far as to say that side-quests are virtually non-existent, such is the ripple effect that even the most minor of actions can have. What I’m really trying to get at here, is that Elex II is a game that manages to break down that awkward barrier between side-quests and critical path objectives that exist in so many RPGs. I’ve even visited an empty amphitheater, only to randomly trigger an objective much later that prompted me to return there and attend a concert performed by rock legend Billy Idol (I kid you not, this is a thing, and it’s glorious). I’ve turned down opportunities to work for the savage Morkon faction, before finding a troubled Morkon trader in a totally different region who promised to gain me entry if I could help him find his stolen goods. I’ve been refused entry to Berserker strongholds in my quest to bolster the 6 th Power, only to stumble across a tiny, initially unimportant, side-quest at the other side of the map, which, upon completion, improved my standing with the Berserkers to the point where I was able to join their ranks and open up entire new quest chains. I lost count of the number of times I would stumble across what seemed like a dead-end to a quest, before finding a solution presented itself much further down the line as a result of exploring and exercising my influence over how I approach my playthrough. From the moment you receive your initial quest to help strengthen the 6 th Power through aligning with one of Magalan’s primary factions, the choice, and freedom to go about achieving your goals are truly staggering. Miraculously, it does so in a manner that somehow never feels disjointed. Much like its predecessor, Elex II’s greatest strength lies within its world-building and ability to deliver quests that interlink and overlap in a non-linear fashion. Piranha Bytes has done an excellent job of frontloading the first chapter with dialogue and exposition that does stellar work in joining the dots for anyone who hasn’t had the opportunity to play through Elex. Having said all that, I don’t think playing the predecessor is absolutely necessary to enjoy Elex II. Adams, to aid in setting up the 6 th Power, a new super faction with the ultimate goal of helping defend Magalan from this fresh new threat.Īdmittedly, being a direct sequel, Elex II comes with a lot of baggage in the form of the backstories and events that factions and characters from the first game bring with them on this new adventure. The chain of events this new invasion sets off means Jax will have to swallow his pride in teaming up with antagonist from the original game, Dr. This ominous object, as it turns out, is a wormhole through which the Skyands, the new threat in Elex II, make their move on Magalan, terraforming its lands and infecting its inhabitants in what appears to be a hostile takeover. We again take control of former Alb, Jax, who has spent his time since the first game warning the civilians of Magalan of the danger posed by a strange object that appeared in the sky following the defeat of the Hybrid in the original game. Set after the conflict with the Albs and the Hybrids in the original Elex, Elex II sees players return to the world of Magalan. It was much to my delight then when I found out that Elex II was in development, and thankfully, it delivers in providing another slice of ambitious, deep, and of course, janky western RPG action. The original Elex was no exception to this rule, and yet, it turned out to be perhaps my favorite title yet from the German studio. Janky, often bug-ridden, and always slightly clumsy feeling, what Piranha Bytes games lacked in polish they always made up for with an abundance of heart, soul, and ambition. Whilst never the most polished or technically sound of experiences, I’ve always had a soft spot for Piranha Bytes’ work. Elex II Review: A Roleplaying Masterclass
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