The early game struggle is real. I've cursed out the computer, the mouse, the screen, Jax, and all the companions till I'm hoarse. What fun! It's frustrating, but so much better than being godlike and killing everything with ease.
"... Unless you're a try-hard, like me..." We've all tried to beat that one enemy that shouldn't be beaten, don't worry. That dude at the start of Sekiro, the Khan from Ghost of Tsushima... We have to play like someone is watching sometimes lmao.
I always loved how satisfying the leveling up is in Pyrana Bytes games. As much as it's difficult at the beginning, it feels like being a God when you reach high levels
I genuinely think Magalan is my favorite open world to explore. It is big enough to have a lot of variety in environments, while also being dense enough to find interesting locations, loot and secrets around every corner. The jetpack is just the cherry on top.
The world design in PB games is truly AAA. It's like Breath of the Wild, but decades earlier and never empty. If they had not been pushed by JoWood to release their last AAA, Gothic 3, too early, they would likely have replaced Bethesda on the market, and the Risen and Elex series would have given Skyrim and The Witcher a run for their money. But they could never expand enough to make their talent shine and now have been shut down by THQ Nordic/Embracer Group. Always bad luck with the publishers. I'm sad to see them go now, but I hope other studios recognize their talents.
19:20 I love that we can't tell the Cold in dialogue options. It should have been the same for any skill dialogue. Role-playing is choosing what you think your character would say. Adding skill/cold stats to an option negates the role-playing severely. 22:40 I believe there is an overhaul that fixes your side of the progression. Removes stunlock, and some of the item stat requirements.
I never thought of it like that. I don't agree though, mostly from the gameplay perspective. It makes it harder to replay the game in a different way (unless you remember every dialogue option which affects your cold value). It would be absolutely crazy if all dialogue skill checks are unpredictable, if that's what you're saying. I think you should always be able to see clearly what options you have for dialogue checks, regardles if your skills are sufficient for selecting them (which Elex actually does). I think that adding any sort of RNG factor to dialogue selection is a very bad idea, from the gameplay perspective. Even though ironically, dnd role play is heavily based on RNG. I get what you mean though, but that sort of d&d role play doesn't covert well not only in Elex, but even in the most fateful cRPGs that are built from the ground up with that in mind.
@@click4gameplay well I might have been a bit vague. I meant removing the skill check stats. If you pass it, it is just another text option. You don’t know which option is skillcheck. It isn’t random, it is just so that you choose the ‘smart’ option yourself without someone putting a neon sign saying this is because you have charisma 4. And also it can be easily a setting so that you can turn it back on for a 2nd run to see what makes a difference.
@Urn Turn i completely disagree. Imagine trying to understand your responses rather than just reading “skill x 60/100”. That isn’t role playing, that is just lazy skill check. I however do not mind having this as an option so that people who dont wanna rp can play normally. I however want to actually converse.
Elex has got one of the best stories I have ever seen. The exploration is even better, the music will literally blow your mind. The narrative is PERFECT. I still remember the first time I entered the Deadlands trying to get in the big facility, Man....i was frightened AF. Or when the first time i tried to strike straight to one of the Big bases of the main antagonist faction and then, when i passed from the desert to the stormy mountain, it started the track Abessa highland......WOW.....Just WOW.... The immersion in this game is so real.... I wish Elex 2 will be Harsh like the first.
@@rafaelsantiagosupportkingi9265 Yes but don't fool around, the game is not a cakewalk like skyrim, it's challenging and in the early hours it's hard. Save often
Although it took me 3+ years to pick this game up, after being a Gothic and Risen masochistic fan all the way, and in turn had me on the fence, I must admit your Elex videos made me a silent fan of your channel. Now in 2021 I'm casually and fully enjoying Elex at my own pace, with many of your tips helping me dodge a lot of headaches that come along with this bittersweet janky gem of a game. Looking forward for Elex 2 and of course, your upcoming content. Saludos from Chile.
@@KM-lc6hj Steam... the graphics are really old and "bad" but if you play it like a little bit longer, Gothic is one of the best Games in the world especialy Gothic 2.
@@KM-lc6hj btw bro u can get some graphic patches ^^ but the steam version allready has an community patch PRE installed to make the game work on modern systems + bug fixes. but if u want u can mod gothic 1 into an epic graphic upgrade that feels surreal but it takes ofc a good GPU atleast midrange
For anyone who dont know, the game just went on a -80% Sale on Steam Old 49,99€ Now 9,99€ For me anyway here in Sweden :D Hope it helps anyone like me who didnt bought it before
I loved this game. There are a few games that I seem to complete anymore and this was one of them. The progression, the story and how good the world felt kept me playing. Plus the feel of getting stronger and destroying the things that kept killing me earlier in the game was rewarding. By the end I felt like I earned the bad-ass feeling of storming up north and finishing the game.
@@davidwood9718 If you never played it this makes no sense. Even at maxed level without skills and gear you are dead in a single hit from many mobs, there are sections even maxed out you just cant survive without really knowing the mechanics and timings and patterns.
There are actually FIVE factions if you think about it: Berserkers, Clerics, Outlaws, plus Albs and plus Alb Separatists. If you go through the game this is evident where you see the "factions" all have their vision of what they want the world to be.
If you want to be extremely technical than there are actually SIX factions as the domed city, while a technically mixture of all 4 factions(all you mentioned barring Albs) they clearly have more in common with each other than with their original factions, especially the Cleric and Berserker guys in there. Also the relationship between the Cleric leadership in the domed city and that in Ignadon isn't really clear cut either.
@@Owlr4ider right! good catch! Doomed City "slipped away" from my memories. BTW: do you have any suspicions as to what factions will be in Elex 2? I ask especially about those 2 that are on the left side of the promo picture. From the right side we have: Clerics, Berserkers, Albs and then... there are those two. Both seem like "Outlaws" but look different and I'm certain that those figures represent 2 factions instead of one.
@@stiken4421 The bottom left on the promo picture, assuming we're looking at the same one, seem to be Outlaws. The one on the left with the skeleton mask/face, I have no clue. Maybe some sort of experiment gone wrong like the Zerg in the Starcraft franchise or perhaps some ancient enemy of the "Ancient Ones".
@@Owlr4ider the clerics in ignadon are still linked to the hort and dont have more in common with the other factions in the hort. but the berserkers in abessa cant go back to goliet. they would be banished.
Great video! As an Elex vetetan, I have to say that you forgot to mention the jetpack attack, which can make the combat a lot easier since it does a lot of damage. At least it does when I play the game. And of course the importance of trophy collecting abbilities. I recommend to learn it as quickly as possible because it will provide a decent amount of elexit.
Trophies and Chemisty and then chuck Elex potions. I refrained from.using any Elex potions about 3 years ago in my first try, but the game became really had and really tedious, because I didn't join a faction early and did run out of quests I could do without being thorn apart by enemies. Now I picked this up again a week ago during the holdays and I chucked down potions left right and center.
Honestly I like RPG’s that make you do the Zero to Hero progression. Mirroring was great with this where your first two hours is just trying to not die to whatever you immediately come across. I’ll have to try this one out.
In a few words: Elex allows short player flight which changes the way you fight and explore. The world is large, dense and memorable, with verticality. Exploration of hard to reach places is rewarded. Enemies are very tough at first, making it scary and dangerous to step out, pushing the player to respect all situations. Fighting is like the witcher with a jetpack, timed attacks plus an escape. The world feels like a mix of Skyrim, Fallout New Vegas and Mass Effect. If you like atmosphere, player choice and factions, this is for you.
I love something about Elex, I keep coming back to it but I just always lose steam and don't finish it. I've started 3 times and made decent head way with all 3 factions in each but I just never really liked or wanted to join any of these factions. I hope Elex 2 has some more appealing faction choices.
I chose clerics bc i like their skills and armor/weapons, but i agree they all have their downsides. Berserkers are primitive, clerics are religious & weird, and outlaws are just feel like the evil choice.
Dude, I found you through Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, and though I had heard of the Gothic series, you taught me how good it is. I had never heard of Elex, so I owe you for this one also - thanks! I would love to see you do a review of Thief 1 and 2, even though they are not role playing games, but I think that you would love them also if you haven't played them, and we would really like to hear your thoughts on them if you have. I can't say enough how addicted I am to your channel, so thanks for that....
Played Elex to completion twice and loved it to death. First time I was stumbling through the game like any other newbie, second game I min-maxed as a melee Berserker to try to make the melee system work and see if the combo system+extra damage from min-maxing actually makes it worthwhile to use over ranged. At the end of the day I beat the game(on hard) without a problem but the awkwardness of the melee system did pop its ugly head from time to time with those poorly telegraphed hits you mentioned and whatnot. I'm not sure what I think about this point actually, I was strong enough to be able to take a bunch of hits from most enemies by the end of the game but some mobs could still 1/2 shot me even with full late game gear and attributes(lots of hp) and when those hits that 1/2 shot you are poorly telegraphed it still gets frustrating. On the one hand I like it that even when you're extremely powerful you can still actually die if you mess up, on the other hand this messing up isn't actually your fault most of the time but the game's janky melee combat. Ranged combat doesn't have these issues and in my first playthrough as a bow Berserker I had a much easier time in the end game than with my fully min-maxed and optimized melee Berserker strictly because of the janky melee system. Also unfortunately the extra damage from the combo system doesn't make melee combat worthwhile over ranged Imho. Firstly there's the jankyness of melee combat. Secondly the positional play of melee combat and the stamina system(I kept it as is) significantly lower your overall DPS compared to ranged. It doesn't help that attack speed with ranged weapons(with magazines, bows and crossbows with their reload are obviously different) is significantly faster than with melee making the whole min-maxing for melee effort very futile. It's 1 aspect of the game that's very poorly balanced Imho and I hope they'll fix it in Elex 2, as in make melee more rewarding to be worthy of the higher risk involved. So as an advice to anyone wanting to play this game, for the first time or otherwise, do yourself a favor and don't be melee based. Don't get me wrong it's fine to get into melee from time to time but when creating your own Jax prioritize a ranged/heavy weapon of your choice and prioritize the relevant attributes for it. Melee is fine for easy fights to conserve ammunition and to break the monotony but when it comes to challenging fights like some of the ones in the main quest, which I won't spoil, and the tough monsters roaming in the world, fighting them at range is so much easier regardless of the difficulty you're playing. Also as a side note, if you prefer ranged weapons than Cleric is the best choice, if heavy weapons Outlaws are the best choice. Berserkers don't offer anything to ranged combat, even their 2 unique bow skills are extremely underwhelming. Also the bow itself, while technically the highest damage weapon in the game(well the best bow compared to the best other ranged and heavy weapons), doesn't actually have the highest DPS due to the need to constantly which greatly lowers your DPS. So it's only really highest damage per ammunition, which is rather irrelevant as by the mid-late game money stops being an issue.
Its funny that you said "completlly open world without loading screens is nothing amazing for today(2021) standards" but there is 2024 and games with fully open world you can count on one hand.
Took me a good few hours with this game before I figures out the melee combat. Like you said the game doesnt really tell you. But when I figured it out I actually started enjoying the game a lot all together.
I've just finished Elex (first playthrough) I enjoyed it as much as every single Piranha game (which means: A LOT!) lol Since Gothic they are "encoded" in my DNA XD
I bought elex after watching the elex 2 trailer, that trailer got me really interested in the game, and today i finished elex with all achievements, i need to say that i really enjoyed elex and i think it's a bit underrated, it's a good game but it has it's flaws, but as a whole it's really enjoyable, the only thing that makes me mad it's the combat, it could be an amazing game maybe as big as skyrim or the witcher if the combat was not so "euro jank"
Nicely done, video. Because of it, I bought Elex. It was the tipping point, actually. I have been on the fence for years. Knowing there was only 30 means, unlike Todd's empire, they get some leeway. I wish you could choose your character, like Mass Effect, but the world looks too amazing to pass up. This was the main reason for not buying it. I feel, to be a full fledged RPG, you need to be able to create your own character even if your backstory is somewhat limited, like the aforementioned Mass Effect. You still get to choose many aspects of your past, your character's look and gender. Well, THQ had a sale, and it's only 15$ bones, so, what the hay. Thanks for this informative video.✌🏼
2022 and I just started playing it seriously, it's hard to stay at it at the beginning, cause you don't get powerfull. But after a while it gets really nice
Yea it's underrated, with 300,000 lines of dialogue and very few games match its quality. Fallout New Vegas, Dragon Age Origins, Kotor, Witcher, Mass Effect and only a few other. Even the Witcher took inspiration from the studios formula they used in older titles. The truth is most people stick with very new IPs and don't give anything new a chance. The graphics are good, the world is great, the performance is great, over 100 hours and no crashes on Series X, great characters im and writing, plenty of customization and missions, play style diversity, the challenge is there, the enemy variety is there and the list goes on. People confuse budget with quality, and the AAA gaming space isn't going very good now, only very few studios are doing well. The combat also isn't as bad as many say. It's better than Witcher, better than Skyrim, and even Dark Souls is very basic and bare minimum to say the least. People are tripping.
2022 is around the corner. I got Elex on sale and wanna play it, but I don't think I'll have the time before Elden Ring comes out. Maybe latet in 2022 or 2023. Definitely gonna play this game-may even go for the platinum trophy.
Poor or weird combat is one of the staples of Piranha Bytes I pretty much expect it of their games and somehow it doesn't lower the quality of my experience xd
Good review, sums it up pretty well. With > 400 hours in the game and 7 or 8 playthroughs I would have some additions, but I think you got it pretty well.
actually the damage increaeses in melee comabt for each succesessfull combotiming. One miss will restart the multiplier even if the bar indicates it wrong. On ultra you can nearly oneshot the hardest enemies with the one handed mace. This works by spending all but a sliver of you stamina in a chain attack and slowly moving towards your enemy, the last hit(special attack) can be the first to actually connect(for one handed mace the special attack is a three time hit that ignores amor).
One thing I found amazing is the quests for example one were a outlaw was working with a bazerker to get tech from the pit one thing you can do its turn him in and get paid and double exp for out of box thinking
E U R O J A N K Actually liked Elex despite the overpowered stunlocks, such a cool world they built up and we are both suckers for branching narratives. Plus, the jetpack was really fun. Also gotta say the fan patch that removes the fog makes the game look so much better.
Man I saw Elex 2 was announced and got super excited. I remember how clunky the first was but watched this video and remembered that even though it’s clunky the exploration is just fun as hell. The combat being clunky still doesn’t kill the game. It’s still fun in its own way. Thanks for reviving the fire in me for this game again.
I love the Witcher 3 and a lot of your criticisms for this game remind me of my own impressions of the Witcher 3's gameplay mechanics and scaling. That's intended as a compliment in it's own way for Elex.
Didn't want to edit my post from 9 month ago. I played the game 9 month ago in german, as I am german. However, I decided to replay the game and changed the voice to english, as someone told me that tvis would give an extra replay experience. He was right. The english dialogue is much better and smoother and also fits most of the situations much better than the german one, even though the pitch and sound of the german voice of the main character Jax fits better. Just listen to the dialogues with f.e. Rainer or Irdur in both languages.
Going on my 3rd play through... I have all the Pbytes games, they don't hold hands, make you work for everything and are generally good solid new designs without copy pasted BS like all the other ones. You will have a fresh new experience every time to pick one up. ELEX is by far my favorite game from them next to the Risen series.
Remember to use some Mods to make the game more enjoyable. 1.a must have is Elex Overhaul. It completly rebalances the game in terms of Weapons, Armor and Enemy Attributes. It makes Ranged combat more accessible and effective. Ammo can be crafted more easily and it's way cheaper. Each Ranged Weapon has now it's own Recoil, Rate of Fire, Armor Penetration, etc... Also Magic got revamped too and it's much more Powerful. 2. quieter Footsteps Mod to please your ears. 3. Fog Tweaker. Removes the Fog entirely and you can enjoy the full Landscape and World of the Game 4. darker Nights & fixed HDR Mod. Makes the Night time more Dangerous since you can barely see without a propper source of light and you have to focus on the Noises the Enemies make 5. Reshade. Makes everything a little more sharper and Colorful
ELEX was fantastic game, I started it on ultra difficulty but around level 15 I ended up watching a few more videos and changing it to normal and it was still difficult at times. :)
I'm playing it right now on series x, on quality mode it has uncapped frame rate so it's running beautifully and looks extremely good graphics wise in my opinion 👌🏻
@@recovery1977 thanks yeah I have both of the new consoles so I'll definitely check it out on the series x. Also C4G if you happen to read this I appreciate you responding and letting us know!
I played on ps4 Pro and the graphics look the same but even on pro was experiencing extreme frame drops during the final battle and a few other battles towards the end.... other than that the the game also struggles rendering the dome and the cleric home world.... as well as a few minor areas. Overall I had a very good time but this might be a deal breaker for some.
This is the first time I even heard about this game! It looks freaking awesome!!! Perfect time to get it too! I don’t have to wait to long for the sequel !!!!!!
I finally decided to start playing this game. I'm only an hour and a half in, nd this game has already surpassed my low expectations I've had for this title. I'll continue on for the better experience. 👍 --- I briefly played the Elex 2 trial on Playstation.. I figured it was time I start playing through the original.
I'm playing the first one cause I have OS Extra right now. It reminds me of the best RPGs of my youth. I find charm in every aspect of this game so far, even in the jank. Probably going to get the 2nd one soon. 👍
I've never played the ELEX games, when it comes to Piranha Bytes I have only played Gothic 1-3, and Risen 1 & 2 (I did play a little bit of Risen 3 but not really enough to come to a concise conclusion on how I feel about the game.
@@Karadjordje-rb9ms it has open hub areas and so far what I’ve played is awesome. I jumped into playing Far Cry 4 before number 6 drops lol. But can’t go wrong starting either one first.
TL:DR full game all quests is for around 45-50h, if you play more than that i think you are just walking around without a clue... you basically dont need to join any fraction for a loong time, until the main quest forces you to do so, i joined after 32h of playing the game is nice in general, i recomend, doesnt matter 2020, 2021, you can also plan to play it in 2022 before elex 2 if you like that wooden mechanics from gothic then you will be okay with that I played on pc with xbox controller
Great video. "You need around 50-60 hours to finish the main story" .. well, I am 50 hours in and only now I am ready to choose my faction (did all the joining-quests from the different factions). I am a very slow player :p
Legit remember joining clerics cause they had the coolest armor/only nitpick was that enemies were ridiculous op even at max lvl like 4 hits from some low lvl whatever would drop like 70% of my health.
I finished Elex thrice and for me the beginning of the game is a lot of fun precisely because the enemies are hard and almost impossible to kill. The game gives you all the tools you need to evade and avoid them so why would I even try and fight them before getting some levels and gear? Getting from town to town and from quest to quest on foot and via jetpack while maneuvering around all the dangerous creatures is definitely one of my most favorite parts of Elex.
@@anantamawinstead5894 Definitely. It's not a so called AAA game, and in many respects it does not hold your hand -- hence the bad review scores. Also the game is huge, so if you can get a deal on it I expect you won't regret it no matter if you like it or not.
@@michaostrowski6316 Thanks Michael, I see. However, knowing you finished it 3 times tells me the game also has its own good qualities so I am going to try it out!
Agreed. Gothic 2 is my favorite game of all time, and i've loved Risen as well. Elex feels like a game that some other company made trying to emulate Gothic and Risen.
Gothic 2 is the pinnacle of gaming, and Risen is right up there, but for me, Elex was a tad more enjoyable than Risen 3 (which I also loved). Admittedly, a big part of it was due to the fresh setting (compared to every other PB game at least), and the single huge world as opposed to multiple islands.
Well Elex is actually still sitting in my steam library i have to properly try it out when i have a time so i will see i also playing the greedfall now so there unfortunatly isnt much of time. When you are in work 6 days in a weak its harder and harder to find a time to play.
The problem is it is rock hard when you're low level, making what should be easy "starting missions" in most RPGs, incredibly difficult even on "easy". This is why many, like me, bought this game, but haven't really played it for more than a couple of hours. For example, the quest to get the Beserker into your party, involves having to travel all over the map, and dealing with enemies much higher than you!
This is something you can easily misconceive in PB games. There are no real quests in PB games in the sense of a checklist you do at each spot before progressing to the next. Instead, think of the quests as "issues" that the people have, and that you record in a log. And you deal with these issues once naturally given the opportunity during the games progression. It is unusual, but makes it feel a lot more like an adventure. The best advice in PB games is to early on talk your way through to get some levels and kill only easy singular enemies, then learn stealth and lockpicking talents if there are any. And then ROB THE SHIT OUT OF EVERYONE. If you get caught, it is game over, but you are smart and save the game before each heist, so success rate is 100%. Being criminal is very rewarding in these games.
Elex 2 combat tutorials incoming. 😂😂 ⚔️⚔️
If you decide to give Elex a try, use my GoG link,
and support the channel: cutt.ly/JZhZ1Pm
I finish few days ago a Mars: wars logs < for me good game and started second game Technomancer < even better RPG
Не заставляй нас долго ждать.
Nnpb
Bro what are your system specs and which monitor are using during this gameplay?
Your game looks gorgeous.
Btw Are using any mods?
I love the struggle in the early game, it makes end game that much more satisfying
Absolutely
@Reg The Galah, you've just described Piranha Bytes: The Game. And that's (one of the many reasons) why I love them all so much.
Patch one eye and put one arm behind your back during play. You'll be greatl rewarded when the credits roll
I found the fellow oldschool runescape player!!!!!!
The early game struggle is real. I've cursed out the computer, the mouse, the screen, Jax, and all the companions till I'm hoarse. What fun! It's frustrating, but so much better than being godlike and killing everything with ease.
"... Unless you're a try-hard, like me..." We've all tried to beat that one enemy that shouldn't be beaten, don't worry. That dude at the start of Sekiro, the Khan from Ghost of Tsushima... We have to play like someone is watching sometimes lmao.
sentenza at lvl 2
That fucking OONGA BUNGA thing at the beggining of the new star wars thing
New star wars game
Don't remind me of Sekiro....spent 3 hours trying to beat him on the 1st try....getting cheapshot by a ninja.....
I always loved how satisfying the leveling up is in Pyrana Bytes games. As much as it's difficult at the beginning, it feels like being a God when you reach high levels
I genuinely think Magalan is my favorite open world to explore. It is big enough to have a lot of variety in environments, while also being dense enough to find interesting locations, loot and secrets around every corner. The jetpack is just the cherry on top.
I've been thinking of buying it. So, you recommend it?
@@anantamawinstead5894 For sure, give it a try!
Uuuuuuurrrrrrrgghhhh i keep seing this. Im a sucker for exploration in games. Im soooo on the fence with buying this game
The world design in PB games is truly AAA. It's like Breath of the Wild, but decades earlier and never empty.
If they had not been pushed by JoWood to release their last AAA, Gothic 3, too early, they would likely have replaced Bethesda on the market, and the Risen and Elex series would have given Skyrim and The Witcher a run for their money. But they could never expand enough to make their talent shine and now have been shut down by THQ Nordic/Embracer Group. Always bad luck with the publishers.
I'm sad to see them go now, but I hope other studios recognize their talents.
I had a lot of fun (150h) with Elex! The atmosphere is unique. I dig the world and the soundtrack.
19:20 I love that we can't tell the Cold in dialogue options. It should have been the same for any skill dialogue. Role-playing is choosing what you think your character would say. Adding skill/cold stats to an option negates the role-playing severely.
22:40 I believe there is an overhaul that fixes your side of the progression. Removes stunlock, and some of the item stat requirements.
I never thought of it like that. I don't agree though, mostly from the gameplay perspective. It makes it harder to replay the game in a different way (unless you remember every dialogue option which affects your cold value).
It would be absolutely crazy if all dialogue skill checks are unpredictable, if that's what you're saying. I think you should always be able to see clearly what options you have for dialogue checks, regardles if your skills are sufficient for selecting them (which Elex actually does). I think that adding any sort of RNG factor to dialogue selection is a very bad idea, from the gameplay perspective. Even though ironically, dnd role play is heavily based on RNG.
I get what you mean though, but that sort of d&d role play doesn't covert well not only in Elex, but even in the most fateful cRPGs that are built from the ground up with that in mind.
@@click4gameplay well I might have been a bit vague. I meant removing the skill check stats. If you pass it, it is just another text option. You don’t know which option is skillcheck. It isn’t random, it is just so that you choose the ‘smart’ option yourself without someone putting a neon sign saying this is because you have charisma 4. And also it can be easily a setting so that you can turn it back on for a 2nd run to see what makes a difference.
@Urn Turn i completely disagree. Imagine trying to understand your responses rather than just reading “skill x 60/100”. That isn’t role playing, that is just lazy skill check. I however do not mind having this as an option so that people who dont wanna rp can play normally. I however want to actually converse.
Elex has got one of the best stories I have ever seen. The exploration is even better, the music will literally blow your mind. The narrative is PERFECT.
I still remember the first time I entered the Deadlands trying to get in the big facility, Man....i was frightened AF.
Or when the first time i tried to strike straight to one of the Big bases of the main antagonist faction and then, when i passed from the desert to the stormy mountain, it started the track Abessa highland......WOW.....Just WOW....
The immersion in this game is so real....
I wish Elex 2 will be Harsh like the first.
Yup I super enjoyed my play through as well
Are there a lot of calm melodic exploring music like in skyrim?
@@rafaelsantiagosupportkingi9265
Yes!
@@rafaelsantiagosupportkingi9265 Yes but don't fool around, the game is not a cakewalk like skyrim, it's challenging and in the early hours it's hard. Save often
Although it took me 3+ years to pick this game up, after being a Gothic and Risen masochistic fan all the way, and in turn had me on the fence, I must admit your Elex videos made me a silent fan of your channel. Now in 2021 I'm casually and fully enjoying Elex at my own pace, with many of your tips helping me dodge a lot of headaches that come along with this bittersweet janky gem of a game. Looking forward for Elex 2 and of course, your upcoming content. Saludos from Chile.
Gothic I heard good things about that game. How can I play it on pc?
@@KM-lc6hj Steam... the graphics are really old and "bad" but if you play it like a little bit longer, Gothic is one of the best Games in the world especialy Gothic 2.
@@Bildung131 don't really care about graphics as long as the game is good
No, no Jem here, just jank
@@KM-lc6hj btw bro u can get some graphic patches ^^ but the steam version allready has an community patch PRE installed to make the game work on modern systems + bug fixes. but if u want u can mod gothic 1 into an epic graphic upgrade that feels surreal but it takes ofc a good GPU atleast midrange
Got me playing now. Bought last week but you have talked me playing it now, Good one.
For anyone who dont know, the game just went on a -80% Sale on Steam
Old 49,99€
Now 9,99€
For me anyway here in Sweden :D Hope it helps anyone like me who didnt bought it before
I loved this game. There are a few games that I seem to complete anymore and this was one of them. The progression, the story and how good the world felt kept me playing. Plus the feel of getting stronger and destroying the things that kept killing me earlier in the game was rewarding. By the end I felt like I earned the bad-ass feeling of storming up north and finishing the game.
Yes, the fixed levels made this work so well... it was nice to revisit the old areas and just mow though the mobs.
So no skill involved, no strategy, no thought, just I've got higher numbers now, so I can now defeat (insert enemy name) yea.....sounds real rewarding
@@davidwood9718 If you never played it this makes no sense. Even at maxed level without skills and gear you are dead in a single hit from many mobs, there are sections even maxed out you just cant survive without really knowing the mechanics and timings and patterns.
@@davidwood9718 Yes, that's the point of progression. Level scaling is such a stupid concept, it kills the puropse of leveling up.
There are actually FIVE factions if you think about it: Berserkers, Clerics, Outlaws, plus Albs and plus Alb Separatists. If you go through the game this is evident where you see the "factions" all have their vision of what they want the world to be.
And plus "Free People"! Micro one but story wise - important.
If you want to be extremely technical than there are actually SIX factions as the domed city, while a technically mixture of all 4 factions(all you mentioned barring Albs) they clearly have more in common with each other than with their original factions, especially the Cleric and Berserker guys in there. Also the relationship between the Cleric leadership in the domed city and that in Ignadon isn't really clear cut either.
@@Owlr4ider right! good catch! Doomed City "slipped away" from my memories.
BTW: do you have any suspicions as to what factions will be in Elex 2?
I ask especially about those 2 that are on the left side of the promo picture. From the right side we have: Clerics, Berserkers, Albs and then... there are those two. Both seem like "Outlaws" but look different and I'm certain that those figures represent 2 factions instead of one.
@@stiken4421 The bottom left on the promo picture, assuming we're looking at the same one, seem to be Outlaws. The one on the left with the skeleton mask/face, I have no clue. Maybe some sort of experiment gone wrong like the Zerg in the Starcraft franchise or perhaps some ancient enemy of the "Ancient Ones".
@@Owlr4ider the clerics in ignadon are still linked to the hort and dont have more in common with the other factions in the hort.
but the berserkers in abessa cant go back to goliet. they would be banished.
The best documentary on this game on the TH-cam.
Thank you very much.
This game is pure dope.
Great video! As an Elex vetetan, I have to say that you forgot to mention the jetpack attack, which can make the combat a lot easier since it does a lot of damage. At least it does when I play the game. And of course the importance of trophy collecting abbilities. I recommend to learn it as quickly as possible because it will provide a decent amount of elexit.
Jet Pack Attack vs Patron Slam Punch
Trophies and Chemisty and then chuck Elex potions. I refrained from.using any Elex potions about 3 years ago in my first try, but the game became really had and really tedious, because I didn't join a faction early and did run out of quests I could do without being thorn apart by enemies. Now I picked this up again a week ago during the holdays and I chucked down potions left right and center.
I've never played this so I'm pretty excited to watch this! Cheers C4G!
You should.
I've had it since day one and think its absolutely garbage 🤷
Honestly I like RPG’s that make you do the Zero to Hero progression. Mirroring was great with this where your first two hours is just trying to not die to whatever you immediately come across. I’ll have to try this one out.
Sweet memories of throwing hundreds of grenades for stun locks.
In a few words: Elex allows short player flight which changes the way you fight and explore. The world is large, dense and memorable, with verticality. Exploration of hard to reach places is rewarded. Enemies are very tough at first, making it scary and dangerous to step out, pushing the player to respect all situations. Fighting is like the witcher with a jetpack, timed attacks plus an escape. The world feels like a mix of Skyrim, Fallout New Vegas and Mass Effect. If you like atmosphere, player choice and factions, this is for you.
You made me buy the game and I'm having a blast. Thanks for laying out all the positives and negatives so I knew what I was getting into.
Great video on this bro! I've definitely enjoyed watching and I'm seriously considering purchasing it!
The truth about this it's a interesting good looking game and i love it
Elex 2 great game. Dont miss it. The company knows how to make great games.
I finally started playing Elex 4yrs later on my Series X and it’s soooo good, but def difficult. 6hrs in and going steady! 🤘
I'm getting it today
Amazing review, thank you.
I’ve played the game a few times and it’s not bad now after your video I could try again
Im addicted to content like this.
I prefer Elex over Elex 2. After finishing Elex 2 I restarted Elex 1.
I love something about Elex, I keep coming back to it but I just always lose steam and don't finish it. I've started 3 times and made decent head way with all 3 factions in each but I just never really liked or wanted to join any of these factions.
I hope Elex 2 has some more appealing faction choices.
I chose clerics bc i like their skills and armor/weapons, but i agree they all have their downsides. Berserkers are primitive, clerics are religious & weird, and outlaws are just feel like the evil choice.
And the armors look ugly imo, look at gothic 2 armor and compare it elex armor, it's day and night
I can relate to this
Just picked up a copy for $5, I’m excited to get started.
Dude, I found you through Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, and though I had heard of the Gothic series, you taught me how good it is. I had never heard of Elex, so I owe you for this one also - thanks! I would love to see you do a review of Thief 1 and 2, even though they are not role playing games, but I think that you would love them also if you haven't played them, and we would really like to hear your thoughts on them if you have. I can't say enough how addicted I am to your channel, so thanks for that....
Played Elex to completion twice and loved it to death. First time I was stumbling through the game like any other newbie, second game I min-maxed as a melee Berserker to try to make the melee system work and see if the combo system+extra damage from min-maxing actually makes it worthwhile to use over ranged. At the end of the day I beat the game(on hard) without a problem but the awkwardness of the melee system did pop its ugly head from time to time with those poorly telegraphed hits you mentioned and whatnot. I'm not sure what I think about this point actually, I was strong enough to be able to take a bunch of hits from most enemies by the end of the game but some mobs could still 1/2 shot me even with full late game gear and attributes(lots of hp) and when those hits that 1/2 shot you are poorly telegraphed it still gets frustrating. On the one hand I like it that even when you're extremely powerful you can still actually die if you mess up, on the other hand this messing up isn't actually your fault most of the time but the game's janky melee combat. Ranged combat doesn't have these issues and in my first playthrough as a bow Berserker I had a much easier time in the end game than with my fully min-maxed and optimized melee Berserker strictly because of the janky melee system. Also unfortunately the extra damage from the combo system doesn't make melee combat worthwhile over ranged Imho. Firstly there's the jankyness of melee combat. Secondly the positional play of melee combat and the stamina system(I kept it as is) significantly lower your overall DPS compared to ranged. It doesn't help that attack speed with ranged weapons(with magazines, bows and crossbows with their reload are obviously different) is significantly faster than with melee making the whole min-maxing for melee effort very futile. It's 1 aspect of the game that's very poorly balanced Imho and I hope they'll fix it in Elex 2, as in make melee more rewarding to be worthy of the higher risk involved.
So as an advice to anyone wanting to play this game, for the first time or otherwise, do yourself a favor and don't be melee based. Don't get me wrong it's fine to get into melee from time to time but when creating your own Jax prioritize a ranged/heavy weapon of your choice and prioritize the relevant attributes for it. Melee is fine for easy fights to conserve ammunition and to break the monotony but when it comes to challenging fights like some of the ones in the main quest, which I won't spoil, and the tough monsters roaming in the world, fighting them at range is so much easier regardless of the difficulty you're playing. Also as a side note, if you prefer ranged weapons than Cleric is the best choice, if heavy weapons Outlaws are the best choice. Berserkers don't offer anything to ranged combat, even their 2 unique bow skills are extremely underwhelming. Also the bow itself, while technically the highest damage weapon in the game(well the best bow compared to the best other ranged and heavy weapons), doesn't actually have the highest DPS due to the need to constantly which greatly lowers your DPS. So it's only really highest damage per ammunition, which is rather irrelevant as by the mid-late game money stops being an issue.
Its funny that you said "completlly open world without loading screens is nothing amazing for today(2021) standards" but there is 2024 and games with fully open world you can count on one hand.
I had no idea there was a sequel in the works! I'm so excited
Took me a good few hours with this game before I figures out the melee combat. Like you said the game doesnt really tell you. But when I figured it out I actually started enjoying the game a lot all together.
I've just finished Elex (first playthrough) I enjoyed it as much as every single Piranha game (which means: A LOT!) lol
Since Gothic they are "encoded" in my DNA XD
I really need to finish a play through on this game
I bought elex after watching the elex 2 trailer, that trailer got me really interested in the game, and today i finished elex with all achievements, i need to say that i really enjoyed elex and i think it's a bit underrated, it's a good game but it has it's flaws, but as a whole it's really enjoyable, the only thing that makes me mad it's the combat, it could be an amazing game maybe as big as skyrim or the witcher if the combat was not so "euro jank"
Nicely done, video. Because of it, I bought Elex.
It was the tipping point, actually. I have been on the fence for years.
Knowing there was only 30 means, unlike Todd's empire, they get some leeway.
I wish you could choose your character, like Mass Effect, but the world looks too amazing to pass up.
This was the main reason for not buying it. I feel, to be a full fledged RPG, you need to be able to create your own character even if your backstory is somewhat limited, like the aforementioned Mass Effect.
You still get to choose many aspects of your past, your character's look and gender.
Well, THQ had a sale, and it's only 15$ bones, so, what the hay.
Thanks for this informative video.✌🏼
The first time I heard the birds in the red trees was so memorable for me and I'll never forget it. Haunting and beautiful.
2022 and I just started playing it seriously, it's hard to stay at it at the beginning, cause you don't get powerfull. But after a while it gets really nice
I got this game and the 2nd one for 24$, it was hard to get into at first but I’m really enjoying the game now and leveling up
Yea it's underrated, with 300,000 lines of dialogue and very few games match its quality. Fallout New Vegas, Dragon Age Origins, Kotor, Witcher, Mass Effect and only a few other. Even the Witcher took inspiration from the studios formula they used in older titles. The truth is most people stick with very new IPs and don't give anything new a chance.
The graphics are good, the world is great, the performance is great, over 100 hours and no crashes on Series X, great characters im and writing, plenty of customization and missions, play style diversity, the challenge is there, the enemy variety is there and the list goes on.
People confuse budget with quality, and the AAA gaming space isn't going very good now, only very few studios are doing well. The combat also isn't as bad as many say. It's better than Witcher, better than Skyrim, and even Dark Souls is very basic and bare minimum to say the least. People are tripping.
it worth even replay ! planing to do that on pc (my first play-through was on ps4)
2022 is around the corner. I got Elex on sale and wanna play it, but I don't think I'll have the time before Elden Ring comes out. Maybe latet in 2022 or 2023. Definitely gonna play this game-may even go for the platinum trophy.
Poor or weird combat is one of the staples of Piranha Bytes
I pretty much expect it of their games and somehow it doesn't lower the quality of my experience xd
Good review, sums it up pretty well. With > 400 hours in the game and 7 or 8 playthroughs I would have some additions, but I think you got it pretty well.
actually the damage increaeses in melee comabt for each succesessfull combotiming. One miss will restart the multiplier even if the bar indicates it wrong. On ultra you can nearly oneshot the hardest enemies with the one handed mace. This works by spending all but a sliver of you stamina in a chain attack and slowly moving towards your enemy, the last hit(special attack) can be the first to actually connect(for one handed mace the special attack is a three time hit that ignores amor).
Good review! I was kinda iffy on buying Elex (As much as I loved the Gothic series, this new ip was.....new), but now, I think I'll buy it Gog.
One thing I found amazing is the quests for example one were a outlaw was working with a bazerker to get tech from the pit one thing you can do its turn him in and get paid and double exp for out of box thinking
I'll make this short and sweet...I LOVED this game. : )
E U R O J A N K
Actually liked Elex despite the overpowered stunlocks, such a cool world they built up and we are both suckers for branching narratives. Plus, the jetpack was really fun.
Also gotta say the fan patch that removes the fog makes the game look so much better.
I love the dialogue ( besides a few mistakes ). Way better than any recent bethesda games.
Why should we play Elex in 2023? Because it is a AA masterpiece
Just finished the Game for the first time and it was big fun! I am stoked for elex 2 to see what PB created this Time =)
Once you get the hang of it, it's honestly very fun!
I'm playing it in 2023 and having a blast :)
Man I saw Elex 2 was announced and got super excited. I remember how clunky the first was but watched this video and remembered that even though it’s clunky the exploration is just fun as hell. The combat being clunky still doesn’t kill the game. It’s still fun in its own way. Thanks for reviving the fire in me for this game again.
I love the Witcher 3 and a lot of your criticisms for this game remind me of my own impressions of the Witcher 3's gameplay mechanics and scaling. That's intended as a compliment in it's own way for Elex.
Didn't want to edit my post from 9 month ago.
I played the game 9 month ago in german, as I am german. However, I decided to replay the game and changed the voice to english, as someone told me that tvis would give an extra replay experience. He was right. The english dialogue is much better and smoother and also fits most of the situations much better than the german one, even though the pitch and sound of the german voice of the main character Jax fits better. Just listen to the dialogues with f.e. Rainer or Irdur in both languages.
Going on my 3rd play through... I have all the Pbytes games, they don't hold hands, make you work for everything and are generally good solid new designs without copy pasted BS like all the other ones. You will have a fresh new experience every time to pick one up. ELEX is by far my favorite game from them next to the Risen series.
Remember to use some Mods to make the game more enjoyable.
1.a must have is Elex Overhaul. It completly rebalances the game in terms of Weapons, Armor and Enemy Attributes. It makes Ranged combat more accessible and effective. Ammo can be crafted more easily and it's way cheaper. Each Ranged Weapon has now it's own Recoil, Rate of Fire, Armor Penetration, etc... Also Magic got revamped too and it's much more Powerful.
2. quieter Footsteps Mod to please your ears.
3. Fog Tweaker. Removes the Fog entirely and you can enjoy the full Landscape and World of the Game
4. darker Nights & fixed HDR Mod. Makes the Night time more Dangerous since you can barely see without a propper source of light and you have to focus on the Noises the Enemies make
5. Reshade. Makes everything a little more sharper and Colorful
ELEX was fantastic game, I started it on ultra difficulty but around level 15 I ended up watching a few more videos and changing it to normal and it was still difficult at times. :)
Never played a Piranha Bytes game before. Should i start with Elex 1 or 2 ? Thanks.
I'm guessing you're playing this on PC? I'm curious how much different the graphics look on consoles
Yea, I'm on PC. I'm not sure about the console version though. I remember that some PS4 users had problems with crashes, back in the day.
I'm playing it right now on series x, on quality mode it has uncapped frame rate so it's running beautifully and looks extremely good graphics wise in my opinion 👌🏻
@@recovery1977 thanks yeah I have both of the new consoles so I'll definitely check it out on the series x. Also C4G if you happen to read this I appreciate you responding and letting us know!
Are console versions patched?
I played on ps4 Pro and the graphics look the same but even on pro was experiencing extreme frame drops during the final battle and a few other battles towards the end.... other than that the the game also struggles rendering the dome and the cleric home world.... as well as a few minor areas. Overall I had a very good time but this might be a deal breaker for some.
This is the first time I even heard about this game! It looks freaking awesome!!! Perfect time to get it too! I don’t have to wait to long for the sequel !!!!!!
I finally decided to start playing this game.
I'm only an hour and a half in, nd this game has already surpassed my low expectations I've had for this title.
I'll continue on for the better experience. 👍
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I briefly played the Elex 2 trial on Playstation.. I figured it was time I start playing through the original.
I'm playing the first one cause I have OS Extra right now. It reminds me of the best RPGs of my youth. I find charm in every aspect of this game so far, even in the jank. Probably going to get the 2nd one soon. 👍
elex is good game, everyone should play it.
Just started playing Elex for a 2nd time. I RE-Discovered gaming during covid..
I love this game! One of my favorites of last gen.
It's always worth playing!
I take back what i said about this game. I like it alot now
.
14:48 From what faction are the armor and weapons you use?
This game can be really good if you allow it,I said I'd never play it but I did and I still am and I love it.
I've never played the ELEX games, when it comes to Piranha Bytes I have only played Gothic 1-3, and Risen 1 & 2 (I did play a little bit of Risen 3 but not really enough to come to a concise conclusion on how I feel about the game.
I’m playing Greedfall atm and than after jumping into ELEX. 😁
I dont know what game should I play first. Is greedfall good? Is it open world like elex ?
@@Karadjordje-rb9ms it has open hub areas and so far what I’ve played is awesome. I jumped into playing Far Cry 4 before number 6 drops lol. But can’t go wrong starting either one first.
@@gri22lybear so greedfall is worth of trying. Thanks man. I love this type of games only. I'l try greedfall then Elex is next.
TL:DR
full game all quests is for around 45-50h, if you play more than that i think you are just walking around without a clue...
you basically dont need to join any fraction for a loong time, until the main quest forces you to do so, i joined after 32h of playing
the game is nice in general, i recomend, doesnt matter 2020, 2021, you can also plan to play it in 2022 before elex 2
if you like that wooden mechanics from gothic then you will be okay with that
I played on pc with xbox controller
I love ELEX the same way I love the Elder Scrolls.
Mid gameplay but settings and lore that immerses you. (The ES story on the other hand...)
Elex is such a high quality game, its mindblowing. I liked Risen 3 a lot but Elex is on an entire other level. Still kickin, nice video.
Ovo možeš samo ti svaka čast
Picked up today for $9.99.....well guess I'll be diving in soon to check it out
Elex 1 is the most breathtakingly beautiful and insanely addictive game ever made.
Nice video I want to pick this up now
Never played it never even heard of it but will be trying it now! :D
Because it is free on PS plus!🙂 downloading it atm.
Bought on sale. Thanks!
Excellent overview.
Replaying this game again for the 17th time lol especially enjoying this play through more because of the sequel coming.
Great review dude
Great video. "You need around 50-60 hours to finish the main story" .. well, I am 50 hours in and only now I am ready to choose my faction (did all the joining-quests from the different factions). I am a very slow player :p
Legit remember joining clerics cause they had the coolest armor/only nitpick was that enemies were ridiculous op even at max lvl like 4 hits from some low lvl whatever would drop like 70% of my health.
Have you played New World? I would love to see you commenting about the game, I just loved
Just replayed Risen 3 ^^
I finished Elex thrice and for me the beginning of the game is a lot of fun precisely because the enemies are hard and almost impossible to kill. The game gives you all the tools you need to evade and avoid them so why would I even try and fight them before getting some levels and gear? Getting from town to town and from quest to quest on foot and via jetpack while maneuvering around all the dangerous creatures is definitely one of my most favorite parts of Elex.
Thrice!? i've been thinking of buying it but I*N reviews are bad. I know they're very biased and suck though. So, you recommend it?
@@anantamawinstead5894 Definitely. It's not a so called AAA game, and in many respects it does not hold your hand -- hence the bad review scores. Also the game is huge, so if you can get a deal on it I expect you won't regret it no matter if you like it or not.
@@michaostrowski6316 Thanks Michael, I see. However, knowing you finished it 3 times tells me the game also has its own good qualities so I am going to try it out!
I got this game on five below and been wanting to play it but have no time seems cool
I'm playing it right now lol, love this game
Very interested in your take on this. I didn't like Elex at all, i might give the Sequel a shot but honestly it feels worse than Risen for me.
Same here. Elex is the only game I did not like from PB
@@--isaac same
Agreed. Gothic 2 is my favorite game of all time, and i've loved Risen as well. Elex feels like a game that some other company made trying to emulate Gothic and Risen.
Gothic 2 is the pinnacle of gaming, and Risen is right up there, but for me, Elex was a tad more enjoyable than Risen 3 (which I also loved).
Admittedly, a big part of it was due to the fresh setting (compared to every other PB game at least), and the single huge world as opposed to multiple islands.
Only game i dont like from PB is Risen 2
Well Elex is actually still sitting in my steam library i have to properly try it out when i have a time so i will see i also playing the greedfall now so there unfortunatly isnt much of time.
When you are in work 6 days in a weak its harder and harder to find a time to play.
The problem is it is rock hard when you're low level, making what should be easy "starting missions" in most RPGs, incredibly difficult even on "easy". This is why many, like me, bought this game, but haven't really played it for more than a couple of hours. For example, the quest to get the Beserker into your party, involves having to travel all over the map, and dealing with enemies much higher than you!
This is something you can easily misconceive in PB games. There are no real quests in PB games in the sense of a checklist you do at each spot before progressing to the next. Instead, think of the quests as "issues" that the people have, and that you record in a log. And you deal with these issues once naturally given the opportunity during the games progression. It is unusual, but makes it feel a lot more like an adventure.
The best advice in PB games is to early on talk your way through to get some levels and kill only easy singular enemies, then learn stealth and lockpicking talents if there are any. And then ROB THE SHIT OUT OF EVERYONE. If you get caught, it is game over, but you are smart and save the game before each heist, so success rate is 100%. Being criminal is very rewarding in these games.
have you tried Guijan 3? i'm pretty interested in that looks cool