Guild Wars Nightfall

"Truely a work of beauty, in both gameplay and visuals. Anet does it again"

Truely a work of beauty, in both gameplay and visuals.

Well, after factions, PvP evolved, and alliances were born. What could they do next? Evolve PvE. Nightfall has done just that, and it has worked like a dream.......

Outline:

After the plague of Cantha (Factions) has passed. Another evil has started to show, this time in Elona, an area which influenced some of Tyria. If you are a Elonian character, you play a new Sunspear coming from the island. If you are taking a character from another chapter...well....I can't give away much here. Elona has been given a North African based theme for this chapter.

This time you get heroes to join you. Heroes are sort of Super Henchmen. But they have their own major involvement in the story and some quests. You can customise their equipment, skills, their behaviour and placement in combat and more. Their involvement in combat is FAR more enjoyable than the usual henchers. There is one for MOST professions, and 1 or 2 more depending on whatever other chapters you have.

The new professions this time around are the Paragon and Dervish. The paragon is a spear wielding group leader. Their skills revolve around spear attacks and LOTS of shouts, chants and echos to aid their teammates and overall flow of their team's output. The Dervish is a scythe wielding, cloaked holy warrior that has the unique ability to transform into a god avatar and gain major powers for a limited time. Their abilities evolve around enchantments to enhance the power in their attacks and restore themselves or hurt enemies as they expire.

Finally, there is the Hero PvP. Very simple. Take a team of your own heroes and fight someone and their team of heroes. Sounds simple, but your own sort of strategic mind comes into play.

Now onto the usual areas

Graphics:

I am not lying or going OTT when I say.........this is godlike. This game has some of the most beautiful visuals I've seen in a game like this. The character models have has a makeover to support the new lip syncing (making them far sharper). The armors this time around are still as good as some of the previous ones (in their new style for this theme). The scenery is the real beauty here, you can look around and take a screenshot with the UI off and it's good enough for a desktop wallpaper. Unlike factions, which some people considered restricting in some areas of Kaineng city, Elona has a good mix of large open country, and a sort of closed mazed environment. The enemies have some unique designs, albeit a little limited in variety, but there is a reason for this that ties in with some of the game progression. But there is no limit of surprises in enemies, belive me on this, by the end of the game you will need a deep breath. Finally, the skill effects have a nice surprise for you, nothing like transforming into a avatar of a god, or seeing your wings as you chant to support your team.

If you got the Collector's Edition the art book is a nice compliment to this.

Sound/Music:

Once again, the sound is great. Now that EAX has been added a bit clearer. You can really get into it with a headset on, or surround speakers. The music has undergone a major change since the last chapters and is now, dynamic, meaning it changes to a higher pitched set if you are in combat whether you are in combat or not. The music itself is again brilliant, Jeremy Soule's work has made this element of the game enjoyable. The voice acting has been done justice too, and some of the heroes have voice acting too if you get a cutscene for them. The sound effects are just what you'd expect, no major thillers there.

Gameplay:

This is where the game once AGAIN shines. There is a *HUGE* change here. First we have the new professions. Which again have both an easier to play choice (Paragon) and a more difficult one (Dervish), like the Ritualist and Assassin respectively. Then there is the heroes, which are nothing but good for you.

Elona, a lovely place to venture, and a good setting for this chapter. PvE in Nightfall is a vast change from Factions, and instead goes back into Prophecies. Meaning there is a far larger range of places to go, loads of quests and more open areas for you. In the game titles now affect your characters. For example, those of you who built up the wisdom seeker title will now have a greater chance of salvaging armor parts without breaking the item (meaning you CAN get both parts off a weapon and maybe even keep the original weapon!). The story is good and involving too. You once again make choices which affect your path through the story, but there are no missions this time which bring 2 parties of 8 together this time folks!

As for Quests and missions, they are quite varied this time around too, I had a big surprise when I was suddenly thrust into a new map area to defend a village against a FURIOUS onslaught from monsters, something unheard of so far from the game. Then there is going to a PARTY and getting involved in all sorts of festivities including a mime duel and drinking contest!. The game is for the *MOST* part doable with just you and your heroes/hench, given you aren't being forced to team with players by design this time around (With maybe the exception of 1 or 2 missions where the odds just stack to impossible odds). 1 bad note is that the flow of the game requires you gain a certain title before proceeding, this can lead to some frustration due to killing monsters repetitively. But this isn't all bad as it benefits you in ways you will see ingame.

There is also PvP, which you should know if you have the previous chapters. If you are new, PvP in guild wars is like the pinnacle of online RPG competition, nothing is like it on an international level.

Finally the new skills are a nice addition, even the factions classes got some love here. Most of the skills this time around SEEM to be there to allow more direct counters to some builds that became dominant recently. Some even hosting their own pop culture references. "Can't Touch this!" being one!

Longevity

This one is pretty much up to you. I finished it QUICK out of being excited with the game enough to continue (and...other factors, such as this review). You can also take it slow and explore each area of the game and do every quest for the rewards and just to see what kind of wackyness is around the corner.

Mind you that is just PvE. PvP is changing all the time and there is the Guild Ladder. So you won't be left without something to do.

Final Score: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/30/06