Comparing POE2 to D2R RoTW

The below is a response to a youtube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dth_VVYRH4s&t=913s,
but I felt the points were worth noting in this forum.


A couple of points stand out to me:

The pace of the game
The role of “trash mobs”

I recently started playing Diablo II: Resurrected again after not touching Diablo II since around 2010. The updated graphics and the addition of a new class drew me back in. Compared to modern ARPGs, the game is undeniably slower. In fact, I accidentally played through all of Normal difficulty with “walk” toggled on, which made it even slower than intended.

That said, even at its normal pace—especially on a fresh account—the game feels deliberate. The slower pacing actually makes it easier to focus because there’s simply less happening at once. You’re typically fighting 5–20 enemies at a time, not 50+. Whether that’s better comes down to player preference, but I find the more measured gameplay more engaging. As your character grows stronger, the pace naturally increases, but it never quite reaches the “clear the entire screen instantly” style that defines many modern ARPGs. Personally, I prefer moving quickly from pack to pack rather than deleting hundreds of enemies at once. The lower density feels more grounded and manageable.

This ties directly into the second point: trash mobs. Why does killing them feel rewarding in Diablo II: Resurrected, but not in Path of Exile 2—or even Path of Exile?

The answer is itemization. In D2R, even basic enemies can drop some of the best items in the game, particularly in Hell difficulty or Terror Zones. In fact, trash mobs often have some of the best chances to drop high runes. Every kill has potential value.

In contrast, in Path of Exile 2, trash mobs feel largely unrewarding. They provide some experience, but meaningful loot is typically restricted to elite packs and bosses. Even then, it’s rare to find an item you can immediately equip outside of the campaign. Most drops are just starting points for a crafting process, which adds multiple layers before an item becomes usable.

That difference has a major impact on how loot feels. In D2R, I’ve found items like Shako and Arachnid Mesh and equipped them immediately. Those moments are memorable—I can recall where they dropped and why they mattered. The same goes for high rune drops. There’s a strong sense of discovery and immediacy.

By comparison, loot in Path of Exile 2 often feels like a project rather than a reward. Instead of excitement, the reaction is usually, “Can I craft something usable out of this?” That extra friction diminishes the emotional payoff. Additionally, unique items tend to be either underwhelming or highly build-specific, making it unlikely you’ll find something you can simply pick up and use.

Finally, there’s the question of player skill. In both Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2, player skill is heavily front-loaded into build creation and gear optimization. Once a build is complete, gameplay often becomes a one-button screen clear. Mechanical skill plays a diminishing role as you progress.

In Diablo II: Resurrected, even at a high level—my Warlock is currently level 98.5—I still actively use multiple skills in combat. It’s not overwhelming or “piano-like,” but it keeps gameplay engaging and requires ongoing input from the player.

Overall, I find the itemization in Path of Exile 2 lacking. With each update, it seems to drift closer to the “zoom-zoom” playstyle of Path of Exile. That approach may appeal to some players, but if your goal is to push into the mid-to-high 90s, it increasingly feels like the only viable way to play—and that comes at the cost of the more deliberate, rewarding experience that games like D2R provide.

Comparing souls casino ARPG to Diablo 2 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I think saying trash mobs in d2 feel rewarding is a stretch. You almost always skip them and kill only elite packs. No matter wether it`s campaign or "endgame".

Also, I`m not sure wether your statements about high runes is true. Would have to double check that but i think highest chance of dropping high rune = killing a lot of mobs no matter their eliteness but rune droptables from trash ain`t bigger than magic/elite.

As for multi-button gameplay. This is highly subjective and comes down to what build you play. Both games have 1buttons and multibuttons. Unfortunately most people here lean towards 1button preference.

Why not play diablo only if you think it's better

The AI-ification of things is out of hands.