PixlBit

This is a review I previously published on my personal blog.

 

Oftentimes, MMORPGs are very generic, and sometimes haphazard in structure. There’s also the very annoying monthly fee required to play the game that is incorporated into more popular franchises. The frustration of many players at these inconveniences is felt across the board, and it is something that players just seem to have to deal with to get their MMO fix.

Not this time.

Guild Wars 2 is an impressive, new MMORPG that brings a fresh feel to this genre. It is absolutely free to play, something that sits well with the RPG following. Guild Wars 2 is set 250 years after the ending of Guild Wars, and much has changed since. The dragons have awakened, and set forward a series of cataclysmic events that put the world of Tyria in danger. The races of Tyria must battle the dragons in order to save their home, and this task is accomplished with the help of, you’ve guessed it, YOU, dear player.

Guild Wars only allowed you to play a human, although with later expansions, you were able to meet some of the various races that inhabit the far-off lands. This time, you are able to experience their hardships through your own eyes, playing an Asuran, (small, intelligent beings), a Charr (ferocious feline warriors), a Norn (giant, shape-shifting barbarians), a Sylvari (humanoid, plant-like beings) or a human. Each time you create a new character, you are able to customize a storyline for that character. Every choice you pick has an impact on the way YOU experience the world of Guild Wars 2. You will meet many important characters in your adventures, some of them becoming enemies or great allies in your fight against the dragons.

There are eight professions for you to choose from: Warrior, Guardian, Engineer, Thief, Ranger, Elementalist, Mesmer, and Necromancer. Each has a variety of weapons to choose from, accompanied by custom skills sets for each weapon set. The combat is quick, easy to control, and most importantly, fun. There is also a chance for you to explore the underwater realm, harvesting crafting materials, meeting the Quaggan race (and potentially saving them from the evil Krait), or battling various creatures of the deep. The combat is amazing, being able to attack on the move, dodge, and it’s very flexible. Probably the best thing is the fact that you don’t just sit there punching skill keys-it actually takes thinking and strategizing to defeat your enemies. Learning the best weapon combinations and what skills work best in your favor is a chance to customize your character even further, as every character and weapon combo has different skills. And while dynamic on land, underwater combat leaves a lot to be desired. I am definitely NOT a fan of underwater combat - it’s hard to control your swimming while attacking the enemy, and it’s just kind of static and boring sometimes. I had so much fun fighting on land with my Thief; all acrobatics, quick attacks, and shadow covers, and it was fun to watch. Then I ventured underwater, and it just really took away from the experience. Exploring the underwater worlds is incredible; the scenery is breathtaking. The combat is just…disappointing, for lack of a better word. It’s not totally avoidable either; part of my personal story line was spent underwater for a mission, and then there are points of interest on the map that are only underwater.

There are dynamic events that are constantly happening throughout the world of Tyria, and there is no telling how long an event will last. There are giants events that people can participate in throughout the world, or you can choose to visit a special dungeon that has spawned for the world event. Every time you log in, there is potentially a new event going on or that has happened and changed the world around you. The events respond depending on how you react to them. The best outcome of these events is probably to cooperative play with other players. It’s definitely one of my favorite things about this game – being able to work towards a specific goal while fighting alongside a vast legion of players is fun and rewarding. There is no having to wait for a boss or event to reload or respawn if someone reaches it before you – just join in the fight! Everyone gets an equal opportunity in the events and the game, and it really helps to create a casual and fun experience without bringing out the angry, competitive side in all the players. I always have a lot of fun jumping into events, and it’s awesome because everyone is helpful. I have yet to run into a player that just leaves me dying on the ground after a particularly difficult battle.

Let’s talk about the personal story that has been incorporated into this game. When you create your character, you pick their race, profession, and looks…and then you go deeper. You customize your story with what you choose as your character’s background, hopes, regrets, and other various choices depending on race and profession. As you progress down your story line, you are able to still make choices within your missions. Your commanding officer will ask for your help in determining how to approach an enemy, what Order of Tyria you wish to join…all these are decisions that you will face within your game, and the outcome will be different every time. If you need help, just invite a friend -but YOU still write this story. My Sylvari Thief is probably my favorite character, and her storyline progressed amazingly. The fact that I was able to help strategize certain battles and deal with the necessary sacrifices really allowed me to immerse myself in the game, instead of feeling an odd detachment throughout the game. My character really came to life through my choices.

Enough with PvE. Time for the competitive areas of this game. PvP modes are vast, and there are tons of different modes. Small teams of players compete against each other to capture specific areas, or destroy the enemy’s weapons. It’s incredibly easy for new players to just jump in and play whenever – it’s easy to just join as a casual gaming experience. For more competitive players, you can try out Tournament mode, which pits teams of five against each other in monthly tournaments. Everyone is on relatively equal footing in PvP; you don’t have worry about your level 30 character being pitted against a level 80 character. Everything is scaled to max level, so everyone is level 80, allowing for equal battles. World vs World is another competitive mode. It involves hundreds of players split into three huge teams. Each team represents a server (world), and each map is filled with all kinds of objectives that are worth points for each specific team. Players gain experience and loot the same way that they do in the explorable world of Tyria. You can engage in building siege weaponry or massive battles between players, and as an added bonus, if your server does well, you get perks and special bonuses.

Overall, I love this game. I really do. There are some cons though, underwater combat being a big one. The queue times for World vs World can be RIDICULOUSLY long, ranging up to five hours wait time. So if you enter the queue, be prepared for the wait. Level-scaling really doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers other players, because I enjoy the challenge no matter where I am on the map. It would suck if an 80th level player came through my starting area and ripped through all the enemies. On the flip side of that, I really think that the dungeons should scale down to solo parties, instead of having all enemies be champion or veteran level. I’m trying to finish the personal story on one of my characters, and I can’t play through the required dungeon for the dragon battle because I need a party of five. That’s incredibly disappointing after all my hard work to get there. I know people will disagree about solo-ing dungeons, but if you scale down everything else, scale the dungeons for solo players. The crafting system is kind of pointless sometimes. Most things that you can craft, you can buy at the Black Lion Trading Company, sometimes at a cheaper cost. It seems a bit useless after a point. However, if you max out your crafting skills, you can craft your own rare and exotic armor to sell. These points aside though, I still love this game. The cooperative play, combat, and story are incredible and well-designed. The scenery is beautiful, and there are many secret areas that often lead to valuable chests and rewards. The world itself is rewarding in numerous ways, and Guild Wars 2 is a satisfying fresh take on the MMORPG franchise.