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MMORPG.com holds it as the most anticipated game of 2010, Game Informer can’t wait to get its hands on it too and its the only MMO to make Destructoid‘s most wanted PC games list of 2011. If you haven’t investigated or heard about Guild Wars 2 yet you’ve probably been living under a rock. But fear not, this is what this exact article is all about - bringing you up to speed ArenaNet’s latest creation.
As the 7th best selling pc game of all time, many of you will have played Guild Wars, the free to play CORPG released in 2005. The game’s changed a lot since then with new campaigns and content, but its always been criticised for some of the compromises the game had to make. Guild Wars 2 is ArenaNet’s chance to get rid of all of that with a fully fledged MMORPG. Jumping is in, as is swimming (at least ⅓ of the game is underwater). Extensive instancing is replaced with a largely persistent world, but instant map travel remains. Multiple races? Check. Crafting? Check. Auction house? Check. But here’s the clincher - there is still no monthly fee.
Interested and want to know more? Check in after the break.
There are 8 playable professions (known as classes in other games). Only 4 have been confirmed so far - the Elementalist, Warrior, Ranger and Necromancer which are all reworked but well loved professions in Guild Wars. The 4 remaining professions are expected to be named over the coming months, with the Mesmer expected to make a return. However the holy trinity is gone - there will be no dedicated healing profession in Guild Wars 2 with healing being handled by everyone on the team and good battle awareness. The combat system has been reworked from Guild Wars - the highlight of this is the effect of skills working together inside and across professions. For example, firing an arrow over a fire will set the arrow ablaze, firing a gun through a static field will electrocute opponents.
Guild Wars 2 boasts a dynamic events system which replaces quests in the persistent world. Events, such as the destruction of a village, will happen in the world regardless of player interaction - it is up to players to choose if they wish to intervene or not. Doing so may reap rewards and chain new events in the landscape. You don’t need to group with players around you to tackle an event - just participating alongside them will reward you for your efforts.
Of course having a wide open world is a bit daunting, so your branching personal story will direct you through the world. The decisions you make in this instanced environment will effect your options later on - will you choose to save the burning hospital or orphanage? Your character will have a district in your race’s capitol city to record your achievements and how you treat npcs throughout the world will change their reactions to you and what they offer.
There’s a lot more to go into with Guild Wars 2 and a lot more expected to be announced over the coming months whilst waiting for the announcement of a release date. Head over to the official website for more information and videos. Then tune into The Guild Meeting every Wednesday at 6pm GMT starting February 2nd with Tasha, as we cover a different aspect of Guild Wars 2 each week and get you up to date with all the facts and latest developments.
