I must be playing a different game then everyone else. This game is not a step forward it is a step back.
So where to start.....
First of all this game runs like a rock unless you have the latest Nasa grade computer. I have a pretty fast computer. Runs other games just fine. 3ghz, 2gig ram, 256mb Radeon x700 pro..... this game runs terrible. Even EQ2 ran great on my computer and this game supposedly uses some of the same engine etc but EQ2 ran smooth on my system even at up to 1280 res.
Vanguard on the other hand I turn down to 1024, turn 2/3 of the graphical settings off and it still runs at about 10 fps. I saw someone in one of the other reviews say that just because it takes a super powerful computer that doesn't make it bad....... ummm in a way it does. They are alienating a ton of players for a return that is not worth it.
Ok anyway beyond that the graphics at higher settings are not anything that far beyond EQ2 anyway. Next there are all sorts of graphical problems besides performance. Weird clipping issues, mobs disappearing and more. The UI is ancient as well. The windows are very crude and even the mouseovers for abilities etc are not helpful. You open something liek your songbook on a Bard and there is no explanation to help you on what it is or what to do.
Sound is another issue. I tested the game on 2 computers. On both computers I had weird choppy sound issues. Popping sounds and on top of that the sound is annoying. In the one starter area a town is on fire with villagers fighting. They all make the same annoying sounds amplified because of weird positional audio issues.
Nothing feels fresh and nothing runs properly. Perhaps there is some good stuff if you get further down the road. But with games like Wow and even Sony's own EQ2 out there that run better and have much better content to get you going this is not worth the effort. If you just hate every other mmo and have a nasa speed computer then maybe this is for you. If not stay away.