Every problem I've had with PoE2 are the same problems I had with D4 on launch.

I've been playing the game for 16 hours now. I've got a level 35 warrior and a level 25 ranger. And I am not enjoying my time due to the below reasons.

• Character progression is constantly backsliding.

Every time take another small step towards a character upgrade the surrounding mobs also get stronger. Leaving you feel like you're constantly powerless. The skill tree is an absolute joke with nearly every option feeling quite useless or unimpactful. Support gems often feel the same way.

• Large, empty, open maps that take forever to traverse and clear.

Due to the map repopulating with enemies and the lethality of white mobs, you have to clear everything slowly and carefully. A death could set you back 5-10 minutes. However even besides that the maps just feel miserable to walk through. I feel slow, and I get bored because the maps are so massive while clearing which leads to me trying to rush, which leads to even more backtracking when I inevitably die.

• The game is boring.

Yes. The game is difficult. However this is an issue beyond difficulty. The game is monotonous. The game is boring. Maybe there is some hidden layer of depth that will eventually make everything click and feel great after 200 hours and a premade build. But at the moment it feels like I could play this game for 100 hours and still be using the same simple 'combos' to slowly clear white packs. No loot that drops is exciting. No ascendancy upgrades are exciting. Nothing about the game feels exciting, it all feels boring.

Sorry to be blunt, but the game is just not fun. And I'm done playing it.