"Time to Jump In!"

Ok, I gotta say, I love this game. In short, It gets points in 3 areas: Playablility, Storyline, and Music/Video. I say this because of the fact that: It is a great place for players new to the game to jump in! I really started playing around last October, and I immediately got hooked. I didn't even really need to know anything about the original Guild Wars, which was even better. I could sing nothing but praise for this highly addictive computer game. In the end, it even gets more play time then my Wii, which is really, really, REALLY messed up. The game does have shortcomings, but I'll break everything down into sections, first...

Playability: In terms of pure controls, it gets a 10/10. Most computer games do, but this just seems to sing. I say that because the game will usually realize elevation differences, and can be set to auto kite if you need to get somewhere. I had very little trouble picking it up and playing it in the first 30 minutes. I do have some beefs when the video card interferes, though. If you have a VERY crappy video card, then you will get lag spike after lag spike, and you'll rarely get anywhere fast. If your computer is halfway decent and has 512 MB of RAM, on the otherhand, you'll be just fine.

Storyline: Sure, I have seen better stories, but not too many. I mean, in how many games to you have at least 5 different envoys to the next life bartering with you to help save the world? Not too many. However, there is sometimes waaayyy to much drama, which is a problem w/ most RPGs....there isn't a hint of comedy anywhere, except in the random quotes in explorable areas. Go figure. I say 8/10, and this is very easily 60% of the overall grade. However, the game is also way short, but this makes it perfect for anyone who just wants to play a little bit at a time.

Music/Video: Gotta love the Asian feel. Being a lover of most things Japanese, and loving the music of Asia, I found this to be a perfect place for my inner warrior. However, you could have issues with lagging if your graphics card is terrible, or if you are way short on RAM. You tend to hear plenty of the music with a decent 16-bit soundcard, but a 32-bit allows you to immerse yourself, especially w/ surround sound.

Crazy Concepts (in the Guild Wars world, at least...): I gotta say, I love the new factions. It helps to introduce people to a stranger form of PvP (it involves little strategy, just keeping an eye out on allies), as well as having different areas that can only be explored if you align yourself w/ one
Faction or another...

Overall, I have to say that this seems to be a great game, but is very easily made better by having the other games. On its own, the hardcore player will finish it quickly (it has only 13 story missions), and the primary quests usually don't take too long to finish. Oh well. Can't have everything.

~Taka

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/29/07