Guildwars PC CDROM
Playing on FPS’s mostly, when told about guild wars by my friends, I assumed it was going to be another one of those tedious MMORPG’s that was just based around training your character for as long as possible, requiring very little skill, but since I recently purchased the game I’ve realized otherwise…
Guild wars magnificently differs from other games of the same format like, Linage 2 and World of Warcraft in two ways. Firstly by the fact that it so boldly states on the CD case,” Your Skill Will Be Your Legend”, meaning that it will be your concise judgement that decides you fate, not your hours played and secondly by the fact that the game is available for a one of payment without tiresome and costly subscriptions, that plague many other MMOs.
The main thing you notice when you run the game for the first time is the fantastic sound, and musically speaking Guild Wars is adept. There’s always the right tune for whatever you’re doing which really helps you get into the overall theme of the game.
Upon starting, there are two kinds of characters possible to create. A PvP (player verses player) character or a RPG character (Main game). The basis of PvP is pretty simple. Build a custom player and fight against other custom players, equipped with items you unlock in the main game. You start the “Main Game” in an effective “training zone”, known as Presering Ascalon, (which is much different from the later Ascalon you will see) in which you can basically get to grips with the game and decide the path you will take in the world.
Following this you are transported to Searing Ascalon, a land Destroyed by the Charr conflict (That strangely looks like its been deep fat fried?). From here it is up to you to make your own choices to proceed through the world gaining knowledge and experience.
But as the title of the game states, “guilds” are an important part of the game. Your guild is basically your “clan” as most gamers would call it. There are several benefits of being in a guild. Firstly the visual bonus of your player being equipped with a unique customized cape, showing you have an edge over players without that aren’t in guilds. Secondly the ability to compete in GvG. Meaning you can battle with 8 members of your guild against 8 members of another guild, and climb of fall in the guild ratings ladder.
What really relieved when I progressed into the game is that guild wars has its own kinds of creatures. They’ve taken the time to design a whole world of life, instead of just using that standard; Elf, Orc, Human and Dwarf approach. In how many other games do you find yourself fighting a giant scorpion with 2 tails?
One thing I would criticize the game on though is the lack of freedom that games like Morrowind or even Runescape offer. On games like Morrowind if you see a door or cave, there is indefinitely a way of reaching or opening it, in guild wars you find you self, always on set paths, following the route the designers created. Though, the set paths mean that the areas you visit are rather detailed. Right down to the last blade of grass, the environments are almost perfect and are some of the best I’ve seen in many games.
Guild wars is a good, strong game with plenty of potential. I would advise anyone to play it, even if they would consider themselves to dislike the MMO genre. It stands out and proves you don’t have to pay monthly to enjoy a first class game…
