Beta Impressions

I had the opportunity to participate in the GW2 beta test this last weekend, and I can say my overall impression is that the game is a tremendous amount of fun.

Peering through the rose colored glasses firmly planted upon the nose of my MMO memory, I frequently say that DAoC is the best MMO I've ever played.  I've never been a huge fan of PvP, but I absolutely loved DAoC's RvR gameplay (see an upcoming post about why I don't compare PvP and RvR or WvWvW).  The World vs World vs World (WvWvW) gameplay in Guild Wars 2 was an absolute blast, and extremely reminiscent of DAoC's RvR.  All the trappings were there: siege equipment purchased by players and built by players; castle walls, gates, and doors; keep lords; small, medium, and large capture points; team vs team vs team battles; front lines that shift back and forth, and the panicked fleeing of an army routed.

The landscape and setting was different, the combat system incredibly different, but it felt like DAoC.

On the flip side, still comparing to DAoC, the PvE in GW2 is HARD.  The learning curve is steep, and there's not much help from the game (though ArenaNet has said they intend to fix that).  It is not for the faint of heart, and I don't think any amount of in-game tutorials will help with that.  There's just too much different in Guild Wars than the preceding half-dozen MMOs.  If you're used to WoW, or SW:TOR, or Rift and you play Guild Wars in a similar manner, you're going to die.  You'll need to unlearn everything you've learned about planting your feet and running your rotation and learn to move.

I've recently come hesitant to rain praise upon a title and a developer based on first impressions, media, and hype.  I went crazy for SW:TOR, but tired of it very quickly after release.  It was the same for Rift.  I've learned my lesson, and approach Guild Wars with that in mind.  What I played of Guild Wars was incredibly fun.  I loved the art.  The combat felt new and fluid and satisfying.  The profession design was innovative.  The world was rich and vibrant.  The quest system, though not a huge departure from the norm, was different enough to make it stand out.  I liked it, and am really looking forward to release.