Guild Wars 2: So, what's the consensus?

It's a pretty good MMO, probably tied for first in MMO's I've played. For the amount of time I played it was fun tell they nerfed exp from speed runs in dungeons and buffed mobs that didn't need buffed.

I got bored after one day, refunded it. Started playing RIFT instead.szafto

[QUOTE="szafto"]I got bored after one day, refunded it. Started playing RIFT instead.bonafidetk

[QUOTE="szafto"]I got bored after one day, refunded it. Started playing RIFT instead.bonafidetk

I think it's amazing. It never feels like grinding, even if it kind of is at times, but the game always keeps you moving and saying "hey, what's that over there" and doesn't feel like the normal quest system of RPGs or other MMOs. The combat is great and the visuals are amazing. And the fact it has no sub fee is excellent too.

One gripe I have along with many others, is that the game doens't explain things very well to you like for crafting etc.

I think it's amazing. It never feels like grinding, even if it kind of is at times, but the game always keeps you moving and saying "hey, what's that over there" and doesn't feel like the normal quest system of RPGs or other MMOs. The combat is great and the visuals are amazing. And the fact it has no sub fee is excellent too.

One gripe I have along with many others, is that the game doens't explain things very well to you like for crafting etc.

seanmcloughlin

this

I'm really enjoying it but the fact that Borderlands 2 and Torchlight 2 just came out this week is annoying, too little time to play!

It doesn't give me the same drive WoW did years ago but it's still a solid title. It takes some time to get into though. I thought it was boring until I got used to the game a bit more after some days and exploring a bit higher level area's.

Also cash shop does not harm the game in any way, any item on the cash shop is also purchasable with normal ingame gold !!

I love it, the game is pretty much perfect in what it sets out to do. The only gripes I can come up with is the story feels too family friendly when the game itself is begging for something a bit more serious and there are some issues with bugged NPCs. Easily the best game I've bought at full price (i.e no preorder discount) since the Witcher 1.

I thought it was really good and I don't regularly play that much MMO. I love the emphasise in exploration and the landscape is just a beauty. Ran into a couple of bugged quests but overall I never thought I would be having this much fun in an MMO. 9/10.

Yes, great game.....check out my polls that involve GW2, should give you an indication:

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/topic/29294505/poll-which-of-these-has-been-your-favorite-pc-game-of-2012-pc-versions

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/topic/29277410/poll-so-which-should-i-get-with-birthday-money-diablo-3-or-guild-wars-2

pretty telling

Diablo 3 in general was unceremoniously trounced in the 2nd Poll

It's great but the world is not big enough and there's too much people at the same places. Also, the reward for doing stuff pretty suck most of the time since it has real money market to game currency conversion, they want to keep the inflation low but it makes it kind of a pain cause the longer you play, the poorer you are.masterdrat

the world will get bigger, trust me, A-net will get it done

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

I think it's amazing. It never feels like grinding, even if it kind of is at times, but the game always keeps you moving and saying "hey, what's that over there" and doesn't feel like the normal quest system of RPGs or other MMOs. The combat is great and the visuals are amazing. And the fact it has no sub fee is excellent too.

One gripe I have along with many others, is that the game doens't explain things very well to you like for crafting etc.

Krelian-co

this

yes, I 2nd this, but I still haven't figured out crafting, I need to hit the Wiki

It's excellent. I've hit the cap, have mostly exotic/rare gear and Im still enjoying fighting things, exploring things and I am even uncovering things and traits about my profession that I am learning about. Even to this day, I am still not happy with how I optimize my mesmer clones at times - I drop a combo, or get an order mixed up or I do a poor Diversion shatter (I think that skill has one of the highest skill caps in the game).

In short: I am enjoying the game for what it is regardless of hitting the progression ceiling, and that's a good sign.

I want to do more sPvP, too and WvW, but I want to access areas and PvE content so that I can easily play with others as well as my friends who are getting the game after their semester is over.

The general consensus is mixed, some people arent that happy about it, especially the poor Dungeon endgame and gear progression at level cap. Others are unhappy about hte lack of trinity, others feel that WvW is a zerg (which probably implies they are doing it wrong).

As for me, I love it, and is easily my RPG of the Year.

I thought it was pretty bad. I guess I like a sense of progression in MMO's and guild wars lacked that severely for me. Also the WvWvW pvp was pretty weak, just huge zergs running around.Croag821

No one is forcing you to stick with the zergs.

In fact, Zerging is doing it wrong, there is a reason Zergs NEVER claim Stonemist Castle. Not to mention how extremely unefficient they are. I WvW a lot, and for most of the part, I am not in Zerg groups. Trust me, servers are only gonna get more organized as time comes.

Best MMO I've played in years, quite easily. It's a very good game, worth the cash especially if you actually are into MMO's. This is one that will age like a fine wine as well so it will only improve in the long run I believe.

Flawless MMO and it deserves 9.5 not 9.0 as GS reviewed. I think its one of best MMO's ever. Btw i am MMO RPG player started with Ever Quest 1999. So belive me one of best MMO's out there.

I suspect the motivation for a lot of the complaints isn't what is wrong but what has changed. Guild Wars 2 isn't your standard MMO formula.

For example, a lot of the long standing complaints about MMOs have been fixed. Loot stealing, kill stealing, resource node stealing are impossible in this game. If you help someone kill a mob you get credit for the kill and get to loot it. There is no need for a need/greed role. The game sees two people in the fight so it sees two lootable corpses. One for each person.

It address resource nodes in the same way as lootable bodies. All those resource nodes you see on the map are yours. Everyone else has their own.

Quests are much more organic. Instead of a bunch of lazy sobs paying you to do their job there are events taking place that you jump in and help out on. So what if they repeat, you do same quests a dozen times over in other games and your precious "end game" is nothing but overrated grinding. At least in this game it makes sense. Another run of beer to the local pub... this will happen a lot in the real world. Fend off another undead attack .. its not like they give up and go home. In Guild Wars 2 it feels like you are part of an active world instead of a set full of statues paying you to do their jobs.

Crafting does need a better tutorial. Here is what I've learned.

1. you can have two ... pick just one. The special components (claws, poison gland, totum, etc) are used in all the ones i looked at. Even with one you will end up buying some on the auction house.

2. Buy a scythe, pick, and axe ASAP. Pick up everything. The bank box is an acount box. If character 1 does not use it character 2 might.

3. Don't leave the level 1 - 15 zone until passing rank 75 in your crafting profession. The material needed up to 75 is only in the 1 - 15 zone.

4. reseach patterns. you will advance much faster. For example, basic bow - shaft + string + blood. Make 1 shaft, 1 string, and replace the blood with one of the addons that grants vitality. click the anvil in the crafting window. pull all 3 down to the reseach pane and start the research. You'll get the new bow, the pattern, and your skill will jump a couple of ranks.

5. You can access your bank box from the crafting window.

[QUOTE="bonafidetk"][QUOTE="szafto"]I got bored after one day, refunded it. Started playing RIFT instead.Cataclism

why? cause ncsoft is the publisher and unless you got it off plaync like some backwater noob any attempt to request a refund would be denied on the spot cause you did not buy directly from them. unfortunately guildwars 2 wasnt sold using playNC @ launch IIRC so aquiring it from them is very unlikely and even if you did you wouldnt ahve gotten your money back. their policies stirckly would have limited you to another game from their library instead. (which is again what pc gamer magazine learned when trying to get a refund for tabula rasa (when it was still around).

atm the only known game to offer refunds of any kind has been star wars galaxies but they only gave you a voucher for a different game. i believe the matrix online also handed out full refunds when they shuttered that.

the game is amazing and ill be playing this longer afetr she has run her course. guildwars as a franchuise has walked on water a second time.

my score is a 9.7/10

From someone whose been playing mmo's hardcore for a long time since EQ I can tell you this game is quite amazing.

They managed to stay true to the series while bringing it to a new light. And for someone whose growing older like me and has much less time to put into hardcore grindy mmos it's perfect. I can still do what I love ( pvp ) and be on an even playing field.

Game itself is beautiful and I love the lore of Guild Wars. Visiting all those old landmarks around the world brings back memories which I love.

And finally the most important thing for me and one of the reasons I believe WoW was such a success is the game feels responsive. You don't have that awkward stutter between skills and such. The animations and skills are fluid and for me that's HUGE.

I'd give it a 9.5 and i can't wait to go see Elona and Cantha! Seriously good job A. Net.

And finally the most important thing for me and one of the reasons I believe WoW was such a success is the game feels responsive. You don't have that awkward stutter between skills and such. The animations and skills are fluid and for me that's HUGE.

I'd give it a 9.5 and i can't wait to go see Elona and Cantha! Seriously good job A. Net.

Prexxus

Yeah a lot of people seem to take that smooth feeling for granted, it's what put me off a lot of other MMOs and attracted me to WoW, combat was always fun.

[QUOTE="Prexxus"]

And finally the most important thing for me and one of the reasons I believe WoW was such a success is the game feels responsive. You don't have that awkward stutter between skills and such. The animations and skills are fluid and for me that's HUGE.

I'd give it a 9.5 and i can't wait to go see Elona and Cantha! Seriously good job A. Net.

cyborg100000

Yeah a lot of people seem to take that smooth feeling for granted, it's what put me off a lot of other MMOs and attracted me to WoW, combat was always fun.

+ fun combat makes me feel cool.
+ comfortable attack animations and movement makes it cooler
+ Plenty of stronger enemies to fight while pretending you are bad*** for soloing them.
+ Community feels friendly and really comes together, helping each other out and all that.

- lack of world pvp do make things a bit dull at times
- World vs World feels slow. Much running around to one place and then spend minutes bringing down the oil kettle and all that and then spend ten minutes hitting a door while occassionally targetting heads that pop out from the walls
- no 1 v 1 arenas make me raaaaaaaaaageeee
- dull and uninspired crafting system a la WoW's "press Craft to Craft".

Regarding the real money market, I can't say there's anything there at all I want to purchase. It feels, lacking. Like those equippable gear, there's like ten items there, three of those being glasses.

+ fun combat makes me feel cool.
+ comfortable attack animations and movement makes it cooler
+ Plenty of stronger enemies to fight while pretending you are bad*** for soloing them.
+ Community feels friendly and really comes together, helping each other out and all that.

- lack of world pvp do make things a bit dull at times
- World vs World feels slow. Much running around to one place and then spend minutes bringing down the oil kettle and all that and then spend ten minutes hitting a door while occassionally targetting heads that pop out from the walls
- no 1 v 1 arenas make me raaaaaaaaaageeee
- dull and uninspired crafting system a la WoW's "press Craft to Craft".

Regarding the real money market, I can't say there's anything there at all I want to purchase. It feels, lacking. Like those equippable gear, there's like ten items there, three of those being glasses.

xWoW_Rougex

[QUOTE="xWoW_Rougex"]

BrunoBRS

You sound kinda offended...

First of all, Worlds Vs World is not the same as world pvp. Part of the World PvP thrill is just going on with your daily life and then BAM, someone tries to kill you, you always looked around scanning your surroundings for possible threats (or victims). In WvW, you enter a battleground and if you want to have small scale battles, like a 1 v 1 battle and so on you have to run around quite a lot and actively look for it.

Secondly, siege weapons, how does that make it any more fun anyway?
- Siege weapons don't build themselves, there is only so much one person can do.
- As far as what I can do... I'd have to run back and forth like some delivery boy for supplies, not very fun either.
- Siege weapons and other non-player stuff are the bane of all PvP. It takes the Player out of Player Vs Player when you start focusing on building an object, then you take down object, then the gate-object. don't focus on the players, focus on the mortar-objects!

It didn't really hook me. I played it once for a few hours and haven't felt compelled to play again. I feel stupid for listening to my friends and spending sixty dollars on it.

It didn't really hook me. I played it once for a few hours and haven't felt compelled to play again. I feel stupid for listening to my friends and spending sixty dollars on it.

xLittlekillx

I don't think you've played it long enough.....too much in the game that a few hours won't cover

Great game, not my personal GOTY so far but its the best mmo in awhile imo.

Great combat, controls, art design and the World vs World is alot of fun. There definatly is some bugs that need to get worked out and the story is not very good but other then that its very good.

Game doesn't explain things very well? Well, there's an online manual but I doubt anyone ever bothers to notice that. It's right on the launcher where you click "Play." Everything else is rather intuitive. I don't see how it can be confusing or difficult to learn. But if a game is way too easy, people will whine it's hand-holding.. Can't please everyone I guess.. GW2 has flaws, some glaring flaws. Even then, it's still incredibly fun and a fresh of breath air from other MMO's. People seem to forget that this game is way too young. Other MMO's like World of Warcraft was plagued with bugs. People only seem to remember the "aftermath" which is the more polished, updated version many years later. Elann2008

Game doesn't explain things very well? Well, there's an online manual but I doubt anyone ever bothers to notice that. It's right on the launcher where you click "Play." Everything else is rather intuitive. I don't see how it can be confusing or difficult to learn. But if a game is way too easy, people will whine it's hand-holding.. Can't please everyone I guess.. GW2 has flaws, some glaring flaws. Even then, it's still incredibly fun and a fresh of breath air from other MMO's. People seem to forget that this game is way too young. Other MMO's like World of Warcraft was plagued with bugs. People only seem to remember the "aftermath" which is the more polished, updated version many years later. Elann2008

After one month of regular play, I still enjoy it. That is honestly saying a lot from the standard MMO player with years of WoW under his belt. The most important aspect of GW2 is the very intentional direction arenanet wants to to take it. They started a paradigm shift of no holy trinity, no gear grind, and an equalized pvp experience and they will stick to it. This gives me confidence in the direction of the game and it is really important to understand why this distinction makes it different from other MMOs that are FORCED to go free to play.

I love the phenomimal art direction of the game and the combat is the most fun of any mmo yet. One nuance I have never heard expressed is the gear customization. In games like WoW, you have standardized gear for dps/tanks/healers, but in GW you can customize for quite a bit more flexibility. Despite every class being dps in GW2, the option for building more than a pure dps set is there and I think that is pretty neat.

Bottom line, I'm astounded this is a free to play game and I hope the mmo community realizes they should get a lot more for $15 a month. I'm not saying GW2 surpasses WoW in content, but the game has genuinely brought into question if paying $15 a month for 6 month interval content updates is really worth it.