- Publisher: THQ Nordic
- Release Date: Mar 1, 2022
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Buy Now
| Buy on |
|
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
-
Mar 1, 2022Ultimately, Elex 2 has some small shortcomings like any video game but not where it matters. If players can look past the rough edges, they’ll find an open-world RPG that puts others to shame and a proper sequel that takes everything from the first game and improves upon it tenfold.
-
Feb 28, 2022Elex 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.
-
Mar 16, 2022Elex 2 has come a long way from the first game back in 2017. Graphically it looks much better and the storyline feels much more robust. The story mode difficulty has made the game much more accessible for those just wanting to play and enjoy the story. The combat hasn’t pushed on too much but it’s not terrible, but it does feel a bit dated. But if you are a big RPG fan then there is plenty of content to sink your teeth into.
-
Feb 28, 2022The combat system is weak and some parts of the graphics seem heavily outdated. But Elex II is much more than the sum of its parts. It is a highly atmospheric and intense role-playing game with marvelous quest design, a worthwhile open world with an ultimate vision of freedom for story-driven games whose overall experience will make you forget most of its weak points.
-
Feb 28, 2022Elex 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. However, if you want to understand all of the references, maybe at least watch a recap video first. Either way, this game holds a lot of promise, especially when you consider all the different routes you can take on your playthrough. Who knows where you’ll end up?
-
Apr 7, 2022ELEX II offers a continuation of the foundations that ELEX was built upon while providing you dynamic story options to choose your path, new characters and factions that enrich a narrative that thankfully continues. Faults and flaws aside, THQ Nordic created a game that was fun to play and, in the end, that's the only thing that matters.
-
Mar 9, 2022ELEX 2 outdoes its predecessor in every way. The story is more interesting, the character writing is even deeper, and the threats are far more colorful and deadly. While the ending promises a third chapter to come, I only hope the devs fix the combat next time — perhaps they should just ditch melee entirely? Ranged weaponry is the only thing really working here, so perhaps double down on that and focus entirely on guns, arrows, and spells — it works well enough in games like Mass Effect, so why not try it in an open-world context? ELEX 2 is just one failed element away from being a truly great game — unfortunately, that element is ‘Action’ and it’s an Action-RPG.
-
Mar 7, 2022ELEX II is a good example of being in the right place but at the wrong time. It’s a great action role playing with some killer gameplay mechanisms and quest designs, but it just can’t compete at the moment, and thus not getting the attention it deserves.
-
Mar 2, 2022ELEX II is as vast, free and engaging as it is crude and flawed. Over-the-top elements clash with a lame technical side and a flawed enemy AI, in a continuous roller coaster of conflicting emotions. It may involve you deeply as well as you may come to hate it for its many imperfections and the punishing difficulty, but however it goes you won't fail to realize this is a game made with heart.
-
Mar 27, 2022Elex II, as with all PB games, bites more that it can chew. Frustrating AI, clunky-janky gameplay and an engine that’s now a bit too old for wear are definite issues here, and the last 1/3 of the game feels like an afterthought. For fans of PB and western RPGs though, there is still a lot to love and enjoy in the second part of Jax’s story and in the wonderful world of Magalan.
-
Mar 3, 2022It’s endearing how hard Piranha Bytes tries with Elex II, but its head and heart are much too big for its body. It takes too long for the combat to become bearable, and the story, while ambitious, doesn’t quite reach the heavens it aims for. If you’re already enamored with Magalan, Elex II offers enough to re-immerse you in that world to make a second visit worthwhile. But everyone else should probably stay home.
-
Mar 2, 2022ELEX II might struggle to find a market when it is put alongside other open-world games, but ultimately there is a lot of good adventuring to be found in this neat RPG.
-
Feb 28, 2022Elex II returns with an acceptable proposal that will delight Piranha Bytes fans but without achieving the qualitative leap it needs to attract the general public.
-
Feb 28, 2022While a little rough around the edge, this anachronistic RPG charms in unexpected ways and offers a better jumping on point for the franchise.
-
Mar 22, 2022If I have to say something about Elex II is that this is a particular game. If you were a fan of the initial game, you will like this one. But if you didn't play it, you might have a less than satisfying experience. The idea of a minimalist hud, an open world that you have to explore to discover its secrets, difficulty in combat, is striking. But there are many things that are not satisfactory, the main one being the combat. Elex II does not manage to get out of that feeling that you are playing a retro game, having been released in 2022.
-
Mar 1, 2022If you like classic RPGs and are able to make big concessions on the technical side, Elex 2 is a game not to be missed.
-
LEVEL (Czech Republic)Jan 30, 2024The sequel to Elex can immerse you, not let go and you can have a lot of fun with it. On the other hand, you may also be put off by a very awkward beginning, weird dialogue, creepy facial animations and a boring main storyline full of clichés. [Issue#318]
-
Apr 25, 2022Personally, I don’t see the appeal, but if its janky, dated RPGs you’re after, it’ll be everything you’re hoping for.
-
Apr 3, 2022Elex II attempts to create a vast and beautiful game that juxtaposes the horrendous nature of the plot. Sadly, its delivery of key mechanics slows the action to a crawl. Furthermore, the terrible controls and archaic combat lack fluidity while stalling your progress. It should have been excellent, but it falls well short of its goals.
-
Mar 1, 2022There are lots of problems, and yet Elex II will hold your attention with a tight grip, even after 60 hours of playtime. All thanks to the crazy setting, worldbuilding, and exploration gameplay.
-
Apr 22, 2022This may have stood a minor chance in the bone dry days of summer, but with so many truly remarkable open world experiences currently on offer at the moment, it’s tough to see why anyone would opt for Elex II.
-
Mar 23, 2022Like most RPG’s Jax will not save the world alone, Elex 2 does offer some companions to take along on the journey. Only one at a time can accompany the player but because the AI is so laughably bad in this game, they really only serve a purpose as a ‘meat shield’. Honestly, my companions were getting dropped more than they were hitting enemies in almost every instance. It was about this time that I really began to wonder what people were talking about when they praised the original game so much. Maybe it is that much better than this one, but Elex 2 is pretty bad. Worse than that I personally didn’t find it fun, no disrespect to those that love it. As I said at the outset, I don’t mind ‘janky’ games, but Elex 2 was just ‘bridge too far’ for me.
| This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
-
Mar 22, 2022Piranha Bytes is known for its – technically speaking – old school productions with rich content. Elex 2 further confirms this reputation and remains a title that one loves as much as he hates it. It will take many hours of suffering before you can really enjoy it. Therefore, it’s hard for the average player to get involved in a game that is graphically outdated and whose gameplay transforms the combat phases into real torture. A title to be reserved for fans of the studio or pad masochists.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 24 out of 38
-
Mixed: 8 out of 38
-
Negative: 6 out of 38
-
Mar 5, 2022
-
Mar 4, 2022
-
Jul 18, 2023