ELEX II Reviews
Elex II presents a world and narrative of immeasurable depth in terms of the freedom you have to play your way and the choices you’re presented with as a player. Couple that with an extremely gratifying sense of progression, and you have a world that begs to be visited for repeat playthroughs. If you can look past the inevitable lack of polish, and archaic presentation issues, do yourself a favor and don’t let this absolute gem pass you by.
When Elex came out in 2017, it filled a niche despite its many issues. Elex 2 is bigger and its world is denser, but Piranha Bytes hasn’t really fixed much of what was wrong about the first game. Janky movement and weak combat top the list. Annoying mechanics and glacial progression are right up there, too. Elex 2 has ambition, I’ll give it that. If it pared that ambition with polish, a more coherent narrative, and better pacing, Elex 2 might be a more viable alternative to those other RPGs that are getting so much deserved attention.
Elex II does not bring anything new to those of us who are already veterans of Piranha Games games. But it doesn't fall short of any other game in its franchises either. A good story, LOTS of content, decisions, different factions, and a poor combat system define an Elex II that also brings the apocalyptic science fiction setting mixed with a fantasy world. Recommended.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Elex II is a prime example of great potential being suffocated by poor execution. A large world filled with quests, unique factions and interesting lore can only carry you so far when the combat is floaty, the progression is stifling, the graphics bland and its performance breaks so visibly, so often. Instead of slaying raptors with lasers, you’ll be waiting for the game to pop-in the fun while it chugs out another texture it missed.
ELEX II contains the best (and the worst) of the previous Piranha Bytes games. It’s deep, fun and the narrative is compelling. Also the weight of the decisions taken during the game change the experience that any player will have with it. But it is also has it flaws, like the poor optimization in PC and the disappointing combat mechanics.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
ELEX II is completely for the fans of the first game that want more of the same. It doesn’t change enough to impress those that didn’t already love ELEX, nor is it in a good place for first-timers. Still for those returning, ELEX II will offer lots of action and tough choices.
If you were a fan of Elex, or even the Gothic or Risen series by Piranha Bytes for that matter, Elex II is most definitely worth picking up. If you’re looking for that next story-driven game that you can just power through, this is not at all what you’re looking for.
If you like classic RPGs and are able to make big concessions on the technical side, Elex 2 is a game not to be missed.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Elex II is your usual Piranha Bytes game. Long, classic in the RPG formula and aesthetically clean, but as always plagued with non optimized combat phases and the trademark issues with anything technical. However, it is still a step forward for the future of the franchise and for Piranha Bytes.
Review in Italian | Read full review
ELEX II builds upon its predecessor, offering up an enticing return to Magalan, a setting that is as enjoyable as ever. As with all Piranha Bytes games, there is a level of unrefined gameplay to be found. Audio and animations can be a mixed bag. But beyond the rigidness, there’s a game full of sprawling, deep systems that give the player the freedom to tackle this medieval/sci-fi mash-up their own way. It’s unfortunate that the design of a bygone era comes under fire from resolvable technical problems that make it harder to overlook the rougher edges. After a few patches, ELEX II may be able to shine brighter, but as it currently stands it has one too many jagged edges overshadowing its greater parts.
ELEX 2 doesn't have much going for it outside of some incremental improvements over the first game, limiting its appeal more than it needed to.
Although Piranha Bytes' Elex 2 is not without its minor shortcomings, it is the definition of what all open-world RPGs should be.
Elex 2 is one of the games that I have the hardest to review. On the one hand, we have here a good story and interesting assumptions that are overshadowed at every step by archaic mechanics. Still, fans of Piranha's work will have fun with this title.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Elex 2 features interesting elements and has a lot of content that can be fun and engaging for fans of the free world role-playing titles, but at the same time it also suffers from numerous structural and technical problems that distance itself from today's standards of role-playing titles.
Review in Persian | Read full review
While the first Elex left me with positive expectations for the sequel, the second part had the opposite effect.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Elex 2 is a typical Piranha Bytes game – for better or for worse.
Review in German | Read full review
Elex 2 is another proof that "Piranhas" can create excellent open worlds that are pleasant to explore.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Elex II was a promise. The promise to take the good things that had been done previously and to re-propose them improved and purged of their defects. Honestly, the choice made, that is to re-present a huge product in its branches, is not a happy one. Piranha Bytes doesn't have the means to ape more expensive brands. But it does have the means and the ability to tell and describe stories and worlds that are pulsating with life, realistic and plausible. In all honesty, it would be enough to take a few steps backwards - simplifying the combat, renouncing a few hundred objects and environments - to offer a reduced but homogeneous videogame. The reasons for this grade, sufficient but nothing more, are therefore to be attributed to the lack of farsightedness of a production that, after years in this sense, cannot but realise its limits and should finally aim at its strong points, which are there and make Elex II at least playable.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you are okay with eurojank taking it to the next level, then Elex II might scratch your itch. Some players have a high tolerance for bad gameplay systems, stiff animations that lack polish, and are okay with just seeing it through to the end. Also, if you are a Piranha Bytes fan, then you might already know what you are getting into.
Despite some weaker elements, everything combines nicely in ELEX II to provide an unpolished journey, but one that I was thankful I experienced. The game is rather unique, with some modern touches and attributes. Yet at the same time, if you played this game without knowing anything about it, you could mistake it for something from over 10 years ago. It has a unique charm, and if you are willing to put up with some janky combat and odd glitches, there is certainly an engaging story to follow with exceptional dialogue and choices that really seem to alter the world around you. ELEX II takes you on a long journey filled with meaningful engagements and a world teeming with character.