I’ve recently started playing Guild Wars 2 again…and it’s left me wondering why I ever stopped. Arenanet has truly created something special here, and if you’ve ever considered yourself a fan of MMORPGs, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Hell, try it out even if you aren’t much of an MMO buff (though I question how you managed to find your way here, if that’s the case). It’s just that fantastic.
[heading]There’s An Ongoing Storyline – And Everyone Can Contribute[/heading]
One of the most impressive things I’ve seen Arenanet do with their game involves something known as the Living World Updates. Basically, every two weeks, there will be a new ‘storyline’ event that’ll change the face of Tyria. Just recently, the villain known as Scarlet Briar took an army of mechanical monstrosities and laid waste to Lion’s Arch – one of the biggest quest and market hubs in the game. After the smoke settled and Scarlet Briar was defeated, the players noticed something very strange – although reconstruction efforts had already begun, Lion’s Arch was still in ruins.
Unlike many modern MMOs, which feature static, ever-repeating world events, Arenanet has instituted end-game content that truly allows players to participate in the history of Tyria – and affect it, as well.
[heading]Character Customization Has Never Been More In-Depth[/heading]
You can customize everything about your character’s looks – and I do mean pretty near everything. Don’t like how a particular piece of armor looks? Transmute it so it looks identical to a more appealing piece of gear. Want to change the color of your equipment? You can do so easily, with a selection of dies shared by all characters on your account. On top of that, every armor and skin you collect will be saved to a Wardrobe page – meaning you can completely tweak your character to give them a look that’s unique to them.
[heading]The Music Is Awesome[/heading]
Jeremy Soule has always been one of my favorite video game composers, and he’s totally outdone himself with Guild Wars 2. Honestly, I don’t even need to write anything here. Just…listen.
[heading]The PvP Is Incredible[/heading]
I have but one thing to say here: World vs World PvP. While Guild Wars 2 does feature a cadre of more traditional modes, the best thing about the game’s PvP is without a doubt its World vs. World mode, which brings together several hundred players onto a single PvP map where they can siege one another’s fortresses, interfere with supply caravans, destroy siege camps, and pretty much participate in the closest thing to a real-world medieval war most players will ever see. Having played a couple games myself, it’s downright incredible.
[heading]It Still Doesn’t Require A Subscription[/heading]
The best part about Guild Wars 2, though? There’s absolutely no pressure for you to play. Since it doesn’t require a subscription, you don’t need to feel obligated to put in hours to get your money’s worth. You can simply play whenever’s convenient to you – a feature that a lot of MMORPGs really don’t share.