However, the other characters tend to be more middling than memorable. You know you’ve failed as a parent when your son speaks so bluntly about your failures. But just giving the main character these relationships makes him eminently more likable and casts him as more of a himbo. Essentially, Jax gets Dex on weekends and looming-apocalypse days, and Jax is fine with that arrangement. In Elex II, Jax is given a son, Dex, to look after and an on-again, off-again significant other, Caja. Despite the character’s sordid backstory, his growly voice makes him come off as a gruff meathead. The way the developers utilize the conversation system in this fashion makes moments like this feel dynamic even though they’re scripted.Ĭoming into the sequel, the aspect I was most trepidatious about (besides the combat) was having to again fill the shoes of the protagonist Jax (sadly not the bionic-armed Mortal Kombat character). It was a cool little moment that felt real (or at least fiction-real) and illustrated a key point about the world’s cultural tensions. When he eventually finished and walked away, I could continue my conversation. When I tried to intervene, the guard brushed me off, essentially saying it was none of my business. While he was complaining about how people treated him there because of his religious affiliation, a guard came up and started harassing him. In one instance, I was chatting with a Morkon trader who had set up shop in the Berserkers’ camp. Once you settle into a location and start getting into the stories of the Magalan populace, you quickly become immersed in the narrative’s depths. The developers have put a lot of effort into stitching together a Frankenstein of a world despite borrowing heavily from the likes of Mass Effect, Dune, and Mad Max, Elex II creates a setting all its own.Įlex II’s story is a more welcoming point of the game than the combat. Webs of conspiracy are weaved between the different societies, and you can either help them unfold or put a stop to them. Fighting off an alien invasion is hardly new material, but meddling among the world’s idealistic factions was the first game’s sweet spot, and the same holds for Elex II. If you do endure, however, you’ll discover a rich story in a captivating world. And when you do become capable enough to viably battle, combat only becomes bearable at best, and it was never something I looked forward to.Įlex II paints a pretty picture from certain angles. Having to flee most of the time is frustrating and discouraging. You have to find ways to get stronger outside of combat before you can fight enemies effectively. This isn’t a Souls-like where you’re meant to learn your way around a tight system, either. Tutorials on how combat works are inadequate, so you have to play around to get a feel for things. It forces you to rely on companions to do the heavy lifting (once you find them) or use your jetpack to flee to safety.
Piranha Bytes has no qualms about dropping unmanageable enemies on you, especially early on. The controls are laggy, making combat awkward. There’s a lot of work involved in fending off an invading force, so you better get to it!įirst impressions aren’t everything, but Elex II would be a total failure if they were. Jax is back, and he once again takes it upon himself to solve everyone’s problems. And now a new, mysterious force from the sky threatens the existence of all the peoples of Magalan. There’s a new power rising: the Morkons, a religious cult-like group with a fixation on death. The hippy Berzerkers have taken a more militant turn the tech-devoted Clerics are rapidly losing members the Outlaws are still a mess the Albs are re-envisioning their purposes and philosophy. For fans of the first game, the names are the same, though the details have changed. Magalan is home to several factions continually embroiled in conflict for dominance of the planet. It’s simply more of the same, and with maybe even less success. But while Piranha Bytes touts new combat and greater immersion, it’s no sea change from the first game. Maybe part of the letdown is sequel-itis, or that it appears to be the dreaded second chapter in a three-part story. Unfortunately, while I can applaud them for the effort, the result sticks to the ground even as it stretches in vain to try and touch the sky. But now there’s Elex II, so time to try again.Įlex II is yet another lofty attempt from the ambitious developer. The result was compelling, but just impenetrable enough to keep all but the most dedicated away.
The developers stitched together sci-fi and RPG tropes into a strange, unique world of warring factions for you to leave your mark on. Piranha Bytes’ Elex was an ambitious game with some great ideas, though calling it rough around the edges would be an understatement.
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