Elex II

A great improvement over the previous game with a vast open-world and better gameplay, but it still comes with a steep learning curve.

ELEX II is a shining example of how great western action-RPGs can be. The fact that this game gives you an actual jetpack changes everything. The freedom ELEX II allows through the traversal mechanics is something that I have never encountered before in a game like this but will now always think about going forward. The map is certainly the right size for someone with a jetpack, and there's always...

Elex II ignores current game design ethos and rages to its own weird beat. Weird, fun, tough, and unpredictably funny, Elex II is feels like a DIY punk-rock open world game, janky and awesome all at the same time. Steer clear if you insist on perfection in your games, but if you are willing to go for the ride and appreciate the flaws instead of being bothered by them, you'll find a deep and fun ad...

To sum it all up, Elex II is a blast, both literally and figuratively. What Piranha Bytes was able to achieve in Elex I they were able to build upon, expanding on a world that lives and breathes independently and because of your character. Aside from those little technical issues, the game is sound. I feel like you could also easily get into playing Elex II without having played the first game. Ho...

ELEX II falls into an odd category, an ambitious RPG from a beloved studio but lacks the polish and refined gameplay to go toe to toe with other recent examples in the genre. Instead, it feels like a relic of a bygone era. That is not to say it should immediately be dismissed – quite the opposite. The game will likely have its fans, but for casual consumers, it may not strike the same chord given ...

While there’s plenty to applaud in ELEX II’s freeform open-world approach, it comes at something of a cost. Technical issues, inconsistent dialogue quality, and some wonky combat do much to muddy the good that can be found in Piranha Bytes expansive RPG.

Elex II is a perfect continuation of the Piranha Bytes RPG formula, but it is unlikely to win over new fans. The graphics and gameplay are very similar to the first game and are beginning to feel increasingly dated, a feeling exacerbated by all the fantastic games released in the last few months. If you’re already a fan of Piranha Bytes then this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for, for good a...

Elex II is an initially promising but ultimately disappointing RPG that fails to be better than the original.

It’s playable, but the game does have a lot of setbacks. The dialogue and sound are just horrible, or it might be plagued with bad mechanics.

When it comes to gaming, I like to focus on the positive. I look for the things that work inside of otherwise questionable games, appreciating ambition and accepting when some things fall short. And it’s worked well for me, finding plenty of games to enjoy that other people pass on. That being said, there’s still some games that are just… not good. That, for a variety of reasons, fall short of any...