Recent reviews by Olverius Fisto

The Lord of the Rings Online: In-Depth Review from an MMO Veteran

CHAPTER I: Audio & Atmosphere
Audio -- 9/10
Rich, atmospheric soundtrack inspired by Tolkien themes, enhancing immersion across all regions.

Atmosphere -- 10/10
Calm, reflective and deeply immersive... one of the strongest emotional environments in gaming.

CHAPTER II: Visual & Technical State
Graphics (Visuals) -- 7/10
Aging engine, but strong art direction keeps the world beautiful and timeless.

Performance / Smoothness -- 7/10
Generally stable, though occasional lag and UI limitations still exist.

CHAPTER III: Gameplay & Combat
Gameplay Pace -- 9/10
Slow, methodical and rewarding... ideal for players who prefer thoughtful progression.

Combat Feel -- 7/10
Classic tab-target system... functional but not modern or highly responsive.

CHAPTER IV: Story & World
Story -- 10/10
Lore-rich narrative expanding Tolkien’s world with meaningful side stories.

World & Immersion -- 10/10
One of the most immersive worlds ever created... you don’t just play it, you live it.

CHAPTER V: Progression & Endgame
Progression Systems -- 8/10
Deep and long-term (Legendary Items, virtues, reputation)... rewarding, but complex.

Endgame Content -- 8/10
Solid variety (raids, instances, missions)... slower and less competitive than modern MMOs.

CHAPTER VI: Community & Replayability
Population -- 7/10
Niche, but stable... enough players for all content without overcrowding.

Community Feel -- 9/10
Mature, relaxed and immersion-focused... less toxicity than most MMOs.

Replay Value -- 9/10
Massive world, multiple classes, endless activities and long-term goals.

CHAPTER VII: Monetization & Accessibility
Monetization -- 7/10
Not pay-to-win, but expansions and convenience systems create a soft paywall.

Solo Experience -- 10/10
Exceptional solo-friendly design... fully playable at your own pace.

CHAPTER VIII: Systems & Learning Curve
Complexity vs Clarity -- 7/10
Deep systems with high value, but sometimes poorly explained for new players.

FINAL VERDICT: Worth in 2026? -- 8.4/10
For someone who values immersion, meaning and atmosphere... LotRO is one of the best MMO experiences available.

PS: The number of hours reported by Steam does not represent my actual playtime, as I primarily use the official game launcher.

Hello exiles,

Today, I want to share my perspective on why I believe Path of Exile 2 (POE2) has the potential to become the greatest ARPG of all time, particularly from the viewpoint of a seasoned Diablo II player.

To begin with, it's essential to understand the origins of both POE2 and POE1. In a notable 2019 video titled "Designing Path of Exile to Be Played Forever", Chris Wilson, CEO of Grinding Gear Games (GGG), outlined four fundamental design principles:

1. Replayability through randomization (Each playthrough offers a unique experience due to variability in environments and loot, ensuring that players encounter something new even after extensive gameplay).
2. Deep itemization (the complexity of the itemization system amplifies player satisfaction. Items symbolize progress and motivate players to seek better gear and optimize their builds, with crafting playing a crucial role in experimentation).
3. Continuous content updates (regular league updates introduce new mechanics and elements at fixed intervals, motivating players to return).
4. Community involvement (by incorporating player feedback into updates, developers create a sense of ownership among players, keeping them engaged over time).

The four principles outlined here form the core essence of Diablo II, the fundamental game for all ARPGs, where the GGG team dedicated a significant amount of time.

To visualize this concept, think of a tree: its roots and trunk symbolize Diablo II, the crown represents POE1, and the surrounding forest embodies POE2. This analogy indicates that by understanding and respecting the principles set forth in Diablo II, GGG has expanded this legacy through the development of POE1.

Additionally, by introducing a 'surprise' element reminiscent of soulslike games, we can establish the concept of POE2.

Finally, I will delve into several key aspects that set POE2 apart:
1. Reinventing the genre and dynamic combat system (POE2 is a complete reinvention designed to elevate the ARPG genre through innovative gameplay mechanics; the combat system focuses attention on strategy over mere button mashing).
2. Visual and technical advancements (the improvements in POE2 are significant, with enhanced effects, detailed environments, and smoother animations; the new engine contributes to a more immersive experience).
3. Incredible versatility in builds and engaging endgame content (with extensive character customization options, players can explore various passive skills and equipment combinations; the developers prioritized endgame content by integrating dynamic world exploration with new mechanics introduced in POE2).
4. Community involvement (the excitement surrounding POE2 is amplified by an active community engaging across forums and social media platforms, fostering anticipation for the game's release).

Stay sane, exiles!

HERO SIEGE - Honest Review from a Diablo 2 Veteran Perspective

GAMEPLAY ASPECTS
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Story? In the depths of Tarethiel a group of monks used the Brimstone Talisman, waking up the slendering demons below. The Act was fortold in the Ancient Book of Revelations and that Satan would raise from Hell to rule the Earth! - 8/10

Features? The prodigy child of Diablo 2, Diablo 3 and Binding of Isaac @ Runewords; Crafting; Professions; Mercenary & Companion; Paragon Board; Ubers; Maps (Warmholes, Unstable Rifts, Shadow Rifts, Arch-Demon Rifts); Events; Android Support; NO PvP - possibility to TARGET-FARM an item! - 8/10

Replayability? It was designed to have a huge replay value! - 10/10

Beginner friendly? Definitively YES. Theory-craft is very complex - possibility to create your own functional build! - 10/10

Price? Cheap, but with many DLCs! - 7/10

Cosmetics? In-game cosmetic-shop; quality-cheap items, NO P2W! - 9/10

Controls? Simple and easy to use UI, that works like a charm! - 9/10

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TECHNICAL ASPECTS
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Does the game look well? Retro-Pixeled Art Graphics - 8/10

Does it sound well? Environment and music feels very good! - 9/10

Load times? Close to instant, Multiplayer interface have some bugs. - 7/10

GRIM DAWN - Honest Review from a Diablo 2 Veteran perspective

GAMEPLAY ASPECTS
How long is the game? It was designed to have a huge replay value! - 10/10
What kind of features are there? Dual-class system, hundreds of unique items, crafting and quests with choice and consequence! - 9/10
What's the story all about? Grim Dawn takes place in Cairn, a setting in which humanity has been brought to near extinction by a trans-dimensional war! - 9/10
Gameplay and mechanics? Diablo 2 like game, but harder; 4-men CO-OP, 36 different class combination, 250+ unique skills, 200+ enemy heroes and bosses, 20+ secret areas, 82 constellations, 5 rogue-like dungeons, 73 auto-generated rifts, 10 battlegrounds, 250+ crafting recipes, 200+ rare affixes, Multiplayer trading and PvP! - 9/10
Beginner friendly? Definitively YES. Theory-craft is very complex; possibility to create your own functional build! - 10/10
Price? Average. Base game 24.99 € + 2 expansions 33.60 € + 1 DLC 7.80 €. - 9/10
Cosmetics? NO in-game cosmetic-shop; possibility to transmogrifying majority of items! - 9/10
Controls? Simple and easy to use UI, that works like a charm; possibility to hide UI! - 10/10

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TECHNICAL ASPECTS
Does the game look well? Dark. Grim. Gore; amazing job on graphics! - 9/10
Does it sound well? Environment and music feels very good! - 9/10
Load times? Close to instant; possibility to play Singleplayer as an Offline mode. - 10/10
1 Comm

LAST EPOCH - Honest Review from a Diablo 2 Veteran perspective

GAMEPLAY ASPECTS
How long is the game? It was designed to be played forever! - 10/10
What kind of characters are there? 5 classes with 15 subclasses, each with unique skills, passives and playstyles! - 9/10
What's the story all about? You travel through time in a desperate attempt to save Eterra. - 9/10
Gameplay and mechanics? Diablo 2 roots; more accesible than Path of Exile, harder than Diablo 4! - 9/10
Beginner friendly? Definitively YES. Theory-craft in this game is simply the best; possibility to create your own functional build! - 10/10
Pay2Win? Definitively NO. Only Cosmetic Shop. - 10/10
Cosmetics OK? Superb designs. - 9/10
Controls OK? Simple and easy to use UI, that works like a charm; possibility to create your own loot-filter! - 10/10

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TECHNICAL ASPECTS
Does the game look well? Amazing job on graphics! - 9/10
Does it sound well? Environment and music feels very good! - 9/10
Load times? 0 on Offline Mode, but sometimes you need to wait too much on Online Mode! - 7/10

Destiny 2 succeeds where the original failed the most: its delivery of a story-driven campaign good enough to match its finely tuned first-person shooter gameplay and great looks. Gathering loot and upgrades through missions and activities with my Fireteam and then finally running the climactic Raid together was a blast. And every time I thought my friends and I were scraping the bottom of the content barrel, Destiny 2 teased us with more that was just a few Light levels away.

A game with an amazing potential for esports.

The best game I ever played! All games I love packed into one!

Graphics: ☑ Beautiful
Gameplay: ☑ Very good
Audio: ☑ Very good
Audience: ☑ Teens ☑ Adults
PC Requirements: ☑ Decent
Difficulty: ☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master
Grind: ☑ Too much
Story: ☑ Lovely
Game Time: ☑ To infinity and beyond
Price: ☑ Worth the price
Conclusion: ☑ 9 / 10

the best fps