Wow, just wow. So much potential in a game is super refreshing. I will do a quick but detailed analysis below in the form of Pro-Cons
Pros:
1. Visuals: Next gen ARPG is here, and this game embodies it. Visually this game is a beauty and the action is visual gratifying. Smashes LOOK, and feeeeell like something getting hit hard.
2. Skill diversity: This is huge, you literally can create infinite combinations with every weapon in the game. Key thing there is the weapon you are holding determines what skills you have access too. Where build diversity develops is clearly in the Passive tree. Which felt purposeful and helpful. Instead of mundane, and confusing.
3. Simple to get, hard to master: This cannot be stressed enough, the game has a learning curve in the beginning but I found by about and hour or so in I was getting used to the systems, currency. Amazing how much that enhanced my game-play experience. I felt emerged and not distracted by what best farming methods were, money was easy enough to come by just playing the game. What a shock
4. Visual Design: They do steampunk/Diablo style really good. I felt every class of clothing got reallllly cool over time. I thought everyone of the pieces of armor felt powerful and unique. Which is important as in some games when you play mage you look like grandpa decided to bust out his pajamas and throw some spells. You could really appreciate it on your character but sure to zoom in. Everything looks cool adding to the fun of getting new gear.
5. Spell Diversity: Really good job here, the game has a unique resource economy for spells that felt new but balanced. I felt rewarded for striking a solid balance between rage and wrath.
6. Story: This will hit both the pro and con list for different reasons. It will hit pro for the new approach to building a new world. I felt more as the story went along I wanted to learn more of the lore. Speaking of, a good addition to the game would be random lore drops that play in the background while I move through the dungeon. The republics, brothers of dawn, and all these other factions at play create a strong backdrop.
7. Music: Haha goodness, I normally turn music off. I purposely left it on, very well done. No words will describe this. Just enjoy.
Plenty others could go here but this is what came to mind at the time of the review.
Cons.
1. Buggy: THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED. however as of writing this review the game is going to be released in several weeks. I am hoping they have attacked the bugs. The eldrich (I think that is his brothers name) fight towards the end was really busted. Like I was goku teleporting around randomly firing hoping to get some hits. It was clearly an issue and of course he kept repeating his voice lines. "FATHER IS ALL I HAVE LEFT" was a line I will scream tonight scaring the crap of both my dogs and wife. I am giving the benefit of the doubt here that the team is aware of this issue as it is in the main Questline, and thus, many players are encountering it. But in general the personal stash bug (it just sits there but can't be accessed), and certain items just straight up acting weird. Time to get the ol buffer out and attack those bugs.
2. Key mapping: So, this was weird to have skills at the 1-6 keys will my roll/dodge button as spacebar. The roll button felt natural, the 1-6 keys didn't. These game has awesome flow but clunky control schemes can wreck that fast. I ended up binding all my skills to ASDFGH and remapping those keys somewhere else. Bear this in mind when trying to incentivize the player to play fast, and chain together abilities for maximum effect.
3. Story: A bit generic out the gate. However it improved as it went along. Perhaps give an opening cutscene for some context so as to give the player a reason to care about the character they are playing apart from the general video game incentive of. "This is your avatar don't let them die"
4. Quality of life notes: Like for example the two handed weapons at a quick glance don't say they are two handed. So as I was getting to know the weapons arsenal I had to equip stuff to understand its function. Not a huge deal but a minor inconvience. There were a few others that I had noticed by they currently slip my mind.
Final Summary: All in All I am VERY excited for this game. It has ample amounts of potential and I legit was getting more and more sucked in as I played. Which for me is a good sign, generally its the opposite effect.
This game can very well smash into the ARPG mountain and cause the great ARPG giants to waiver Perhaps POE and Diablo should keep an eye out. If Wolcen can give us a polished game (As in the main storyline doesn't have gamebreaking bugs) and have an endgame to keep a vibrant playerbase alive and coming back for more. Then I can very much see it entering the arena of hitters like Diablo and POE. ENDGAME should be a key focus. I for one will be playing this game on launch sucking up the great experinece I recieved with the beta. That said this game is poised for pure excellence and a very bright future. The stage is set, can the Wolcen team show up?