Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Best in series"

To be honest, i not really into MMOs but i tried several MMOs from time to time, but mostly gave up do to the ridiculous financial scheme. So when i heard that GW2 is still following the same principle as GW1, i m in for it.

First impression, its a very much the same MMORPGs in the market but A.net put extra effort in intergrating ideas from other SP RPGs like Dragon age to produce a robust MMORPG to date. So what you get is a hybrid of a Singleplayer RPG experience in a MMORPG package. Each character has its own personal quest and friends could tag along with you to help out and allows "Dropin-Dropout" players in the playthrough so making the questing seamless. If you played Diablo 3, this concept is very similiar, but unlike D3, GW2 made good use of the "constant internet connection".

As i said, GW2 is similiar with most MMORPGs, that the fact that A.net didnt really evolve MMOs to a new level. Its the same deal, GW2 is just an slight improvement from any MMORPGs in regards to the "GAMEPLAY".

As a MMO "hater", i appreciate NCsoft for setting a benchmark for all MMORPGs by having a good management and a good finiancial planing system to treat players well with their hard earn money. Pay2win has to go and so with the subscription plan scheme. This game earns it in shaping the future of all MMOs from the sleazy backdoor deals to the mainstream audience.

GOOD:
1. Excellent networking method in handling large crowds of users.
2. Made get use of the "dynamic events" as well as handling personal quest and a great deal in improving regular mmorpgs questing system to be less tedious "although a majority of the quests still follow the same principle of any mmorpgs (fetch quest & village caretaker)."
3.Lots of value for a $60 retail game considering its a full MMORPG.


Nay:
1. rather dull combat system, and it has been streamline too much for any hardcore RPG gamers to enjoy.
2. balance issues with skills&class
3. a very standard rpg build system and there isnt any variation between races/classes.
4. insufficient server capacity to handle the constant increase of players and often kicked to the reserved server.
5. standard fantasy storyline, majority of quest are dull, and involve fetching, escort, and kill a number of "E".

Overall, if your into MMOs or happens to have weeks or months to kill off, this the ONLY game for you and it will not hurt anyone in the process, except for the $60 you initially need. If your the type whos curious about MMOs, GW2 will not impress you, but its a start to prove that not MMOs are bad.