ELEX II

 PC
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
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  1. The Games Machine
    Mar 1, 2022
    73
    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.
  2. IGN Italia
    Feb 28, 2022
    73
    Elex II is not without its flaws and some of them can sometimes be quite jarring, but underneath them all is a nice action RPG that gets more than a few things right and that can provide many, many hours of entertainment.
  3. Wccftech
    Mar 20, 2022
    70
    Elex II is a baffling game. The combat is clunky and can be very difficult, and the game has more than a few bugs, with other issues like a glacial pace. However, the game is genuinely interesting to explore and fun, for all its problems - and there are many. The story and its turns are engaging, and it's impossible not to see the care and enthusiasm from Piranha Bytes. Elex II is Eurojank, and I can't help but enjoy it because of (or despite, take your pick) that.
  5. PC Games
    Feb 28, 2022
    70
    The games of the Gothic series had a decisive influence on my childhood and Piranha Bytes as developers have always had a special place in my heart. This atmosphere and credibility in a game world can hardly be found in any other role-playing game to this day. But the magic has slowly faded for me. Yes, Elex 2 also pushes the right buttons and the first chapters were among the best the studio has produced in years. So I could easily overlook the once again mediocre battle system and the weak technology. But I was all the more horrified when this whole structure began to crumble halfway through and completely collapsed towards the end. Piranha Bytes should have focused less on the long playing time and more on a consistently strong atmosphere and quest-design.
  6. Gamepressure
    Feb 28, 2022
    70
    Visually, Elex 2 is uninspiring and lacks a competent UI to make its plethora of quests enjoyable to keep track of and complete. Its visuals are also severely lacking for a game where its whole world is filled with interesting people to meet and various locations to explore. Once you get past this initial shock, however, you will realize Elex 2 is a solid RPG with a unique story that grows on you over time.
  7. Riot Pixels
    Mar 31, 2022
    67
    In contrast to the original Elex, this awkward sequel is a typical Piranha Bytes game. And no, it’s not a compliment.
  8. CD-Action
    Feb 28, 2022
    65
    I felt disappointed with Elex II, because while in some respects it is better than its predecessor, other elements are a step back. Gameplay balance, combat, graphics, and interface have improved a bit, but some obvious design flaws are still there and the storyline is just weak, especially the severely underwhelming ending. However, if you love Piranha Bytes’ games, you'll probably have fun either way. I did.
  9. GameWatcher
    Feb 28, 2022
    65
    ELEX II will be an understandably divisive RPG, as is almost a given with Piranha Bytes’ titles. There are performance issues, incoherent conversation options, and some iffy combat. Yet its freedom is genuinely impressive, and its kitchen-sink approach to every aspect of the experience at least makes for an intriguing, if uneven, package.
  10. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Oct 19, 2022
    62
    Two decades have passed since the first Gothic came out, but Piranha Bytes still sticks to the old formula in hopes that once again it will make a miracle. [Issue#259, p.66]
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  11. RPG Site
    May 31, 2022
    60
    Elex II is a disappointing game that fails to build on the potential of the original. While at some moments it manages to capture some of the same strengths, it feels like a poorly implemented retread in several ways. Slight improvements to combat don't make up for a less interesting story, worse characters, weak quest design, and a stark lack of polish.
  12. TheSixthAxis
    Mar 25, 2022
    60
    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 and ill.
  13. Games.cz
    Feb 28, 2022
    60
    Elex II is a second instalment we could live without. It’s still a solid RPG but once again too ambitious for its own good. It simply doesn’t bring as much joy as it could have.
  14. New Game Network
    Feb 28, 2022
    60
    ELEX 2 has a distinctive approach to RPG game design and an engaging story, but while it finally bucks the trend of having technical issues at launch, there's still much work to be done on the quality of combat and presentation.
  15. GameGrin
    Feb 28, 2022
    55
    An average RPG spoiled by janky combat and technical issues. I’d only jump into this if there was literally nothing else to play.
  16. God is a Geek
    Feb 28, 2022
    50
    Elex II is another example of Piranha Bytes aiming far too high. It's a plodding, often clunky adventure with few bright spots.
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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Feb 28, 2022
    Cyberpunk 2077 is the game that sprang to mind while I was mulling over how to approach this review. It’s also a janky, overambitious RPG full of sweary, violent people doing horrible things to each other. The difference is that, by and large, the characters in Cyberpunk are compelling, well-rounded characters with depth and nuance. They’re frequently likeable, even caring, forcing us to deal with the contradictory aspects of human nature. Elex 2 has none of that, it’s just a game filled with deeply unpleasant people.

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Most Discussed PC Game of 2022

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 115
  3. Negative: 28 out of 115
  1. Ryan76
    Mar 2, 2022
    4
    Optimization doesn't seem to exist in this game, soundtrack almost the same as in the first part (terrible disappointment). May THQ NordicOptimization doesn't seem to exist in this game, soundtrack almost the same as in the first part (terrible disappointment). May THQ Nordic finally take care of them properly. Terrible technical disappointment, dialogues are also at a very weak level. Only exploration, which is wonderful, defends itself. I was terribly disappointed with the laziness of Piranha Bytes, technically it's the second Gothic 3.… Full Review »
  2. sweet
    Mar 25, 2022
    6
    The first Elex had rough edges but you could overlook them because it was an engaging game. You wanted to learn what happened to the world,The first Elex had rough edges but you could overlook them because it was an engaging game. You wanted to learn what happened to the world, you wanted to see where the story went. In Elex 2 those minor 'gamey' incoherencies turn into yawning chasms of nonsense. Nothing makes sense. Not the condition of the protagonist, not the way the NPCs behave towards you, not the changes to the world. Nothing. It's a huge mess.

    The second game exposes the developers for a lack of vision. The plot is cut and paste. The characters are a mockery of characters in prior games. Apart from some interesting quests the writing is generally lazy. I found myself not caring for anyone in the game or the story at all. Uncovering backstory through discovery of notes and logs, a key enjoyable aspect of exploration, is now irrelevant because of the way the world is written.

    The destruction system is meaningless, it creates artificial barriers in the game that make no sense. They can't seem to get their abstraction of this system right, and how it works with your companions and dialog choices. It's particularly annoying when companions don't react to dialog choices in a way you would expect from their personality.

    The triggering of cutscenes when approaching certain areas or NPCs is extremely annoying. Throwing you into quest dialogs unrequested is stealing away player agency. Exploring a building at night? BAM suddenly daytime and you're talking with someone trying to pull you into a quest. In the middle of a battle with a group of enemies? Wait! You must stop to have a chat with a guy wandering in to the middle of it. These cutscenes will drive you insane.

    It's not all bad. The start is much easier because of the smarter placement of enemies. The combat system is easier to get to grips with, although the game feels much less challenging now. The crafting system is far better because it gives much more value to loot and a more organic improvement to weapon upgrading. I like the changes to the skill system which make it much easier to understand. The personality skill branch still seems a poor investment though. There's still plenty of interesting places to explore. NPC variety is much better too.

    All the complaints about performance and weird graphics are valid. I had expected much better in that regard as Elex ran very well on old hardware and my current system should be running this game comfortably. At times frame rate drops to low 20s, which is absurd given I am well above minimum requirements.

    Elex 2 has left me feeling underwhelmed, but they have built the foundations for a much better game than this turned out to be. Hopefully their next game fixes the shortcomings and improves on the world building and writing.    … Full Review »
  3. euu
    Mar 12, 2022
    4
    They had more than 4 years to work on this, a bigger budget and more support from the Publisher... and this is it? A game that reuses 70% ofThey had more than 4 years to work on this, a bigger budget and more support from the Publisher... and this is it? A game that reuses 70% of the assets from the previous one but manages to have even less content. Yes, there are more factions now, but they are mostly a variation of the first 3. Morkons are just Clerics without the cool technology stuff. Albs are just Clerics with autism. Berzerkers went from Viking hippies to just hippies and the Outlaws are just as useless as in the first game. Magic seems to also be useless, at least for the Berzerker faction, as most guns you will get will deal more damage by the time you advance well enough into the game to get magic. Also, there seems to be fewer weapons than in the first game, so no more cool stuff like the Flamethrower or Chainswords.

    Story and Dialog are also pretty bad. The storyline of the first Elex was not what pretentious game journalists would call the "Citizen Kane of Gaming" but I liked it. The premise of bringing together Traditionalists, Anarchists and the Religious to fight a Collectivist metahuman faction that seeks to transform and homogenize the entire planet is not something you see in most AAA games, where stories seem to be specifically made for Twitter feminists and redditors. In Elex 2 you'll be doing mostly the same thing, only without the few interesting bits of the Original. Also, Jax is so whiny and annoying and now he has a stupid kid and a nagging ex wife to deal with. I guess this is PB's idea of an emotional core. Also quest design is even worse than the first game. This is Gothic 3 level of fetch/kill quests, I think even modern MMOs have better design.

    On the gameplay side, it still sucks. A minor improvement for the Malee combat, but still bad even compared to other mediocre AA games like Greedfall. Ranged is still OP, like in most PB games, but the newly-includded flying enemies are the worst thing I've seen in a game latelly. Not only are they small and have smaller hitboxes, but they also move around so fast that you can barelly hit. They are more annoying than challenging.

    Lastly, performance is attrocious. I don't have a monster PC, but still the framerates are so low for a game that looks like it was made in 2010 on a low budget.

    Are there good things? Sure. The environment and world design still look great. Exploration is still fun and can be rewarding and the Jetpack upgrade system is pretty neat. But this is just not enough. I was a big Pyranha Bytes fanboy and even I can't recommend this. If you really need your Gohic fix you should tryChronicles of Myrtana: Archolos instead.    … Full Review »
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