Guild Wars 2 Digital Deluxe Game Review

Manufacturer: ArenaNet, Inc.
Product Name: Guild Wars 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
Price As Tested: Standard Boxed Edition: $47.77 Digital Deluxe Edition: $79.99

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been self-supplied.

Guild Wars 2 is the much anticipated sequel to the award winning Guild Wars by ArenaNet. In this review, we will be looking at the character creation process, events and several facets of questing. Guild Wars 2 also includes an excellent player versus player system, including "World versus World", where your server is pit against two other servers in an attempt to control resources which provide in-game bonuses to every player on your realm.

Guild Wars 2 is a fantasy based massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) which sports an upgraded game engine, taking full advantage of current graphics card capabilities. The scenery and music within the game are truly breathtaking, with about as much realism as you'd expect from an MMO in this genre.

The beautifully rendered scenery in Guild Wars 2 insures that you can see the forest as well as the trees. The game certainly shows of the capabilities of newer cards, leading to an incredibly detailed and complex environment. The developers have managed to pack incredible graphics into the game without causing serious lag or playability issues for those with lower end graphics cards. Even with every graphics option enabled, including having the "Performance/Quality" bar set at quality, we were able to play with no noticeable lag on a moderate computer with an nVidia GeForce 440 GT.

Game Specifications:

• Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game [MMORPG]
• Joystick/Gamepad Support
• Full 3D EAX support
• 3D support through nVidia 3D Vision and AMD HD3D

Guild Wars 2 Character Creation

One of the new features of Guild Wars 2 is the choice-based questing system, in which many of the beginning quests are determined by choices that you make during character creation. There are five races to choose from:

• The diminuative and headstrong Asuran arcane scientists
• The noble Sylvari, who awaken to life already knowledgeable from their dreams
• The resilient Humans, staunch defenders of Kryta
• The pragmatic and tough Norn, who hail from the frozen wastes of the north
• The conquering Charr, fierce and unwavering

Guild Wars 2 launched with eight primary professions (think classes, if you play other MMOs). In the current version of the game, there is no method available to change your primary profession as you could in Guild Wars 1, but this may change in the future. The currently available professions are:

• Elementalists command the elements to bring down destruction upon their foes. This role is nearly that of a "glass cannon" - think extremely high DPS with minimal defensibility.
• Engineers tinker with explosives, mechanical goodies and elixirs, using these and other tools to bring their enemies to their knees. Engineers cover many roles, including DPS, buffs and debuffs.
• Guardians are the protectors of Guild Wars 2. They are specialized fighters that use their abilities to shield others from harm, while drawing upon the powers of their chosen deities. This is considered to be mostly a tank role.
• Mesmers are reintroduced in Guild Wars 2 in much the same role as they had in the previous installment. They are considered to be the masters of illusion, using their magic to blind and confuse their enemies. The role that they play is greatly that of debuffing, with moderate DPS.
• Necromancers are adepts of the black arts, raising the dead and stealing the very lifeforce of those that choose to stand against them. They command the powers of life and death, even being able to revive those that have died around them, pressing them into service. This profession is much like that of a summoner, with moderate DPS and debuffing abilities.
• Rangers are the masters of ranged damage within Guild Wars 2. Unmatched in archery, they have the ability to fell enemies from a distance, frequently preventing them from ever reaching the ranger. This is a classic ranged DPS role with moderate survivability.
• Thieves in Guild Wars 2 are the classic embodiment of the assassin. Clinging to the shadows, they're typically undetected until they've delivered their deadly strikes. Owing to incredibly agile moves, they're nearly impossible to hit. This is the perfect role for those stabbity types that prefer to remain unseen.
• Warriors are the all around fighting character. Wielding nearly any weapon and wearing the heaviest of armors, these extremely versatile characters deal out loads of damage. They make incredibly flexible characters with the ability to tank, deal out damage or even place debuffs on their enemies.

The character customization page offers many options to tailor your character, including many details that most other games lack. The level of detail that you can change will insure that you can define your very own, unique look. The dye system from Guild Wars 1 was implemented as well, allowing you to unlock new colors as you find them.

As you progress further in creating your character, you're eventually asked a series of questions which will dramatically modify the quests that you're given in the beginning. Using this system, it's possible to make two characters of the same race and class, yet have a totally different experience. It's also important to note that if you want to group with friends during the early levels, it'll be necessary to make the same choices -- otherwise, you'll be doing different quests.

After you've finished making your character's life choices, you're given a summary screen that offers a rather cunning way to choose your name. You are asked to sign your chosen name to a document that lists your choices. As soon as you click next, you're whisked into a cinematic and your first quest.

All in all, ArenaNet has made character creation a process that allows you to customize your character and the major questline that you'll be completing. The possibility of replaying the game with a totally new experience is one that will bring this reviewer back to play many times over.

GW2 Questing and Map Completion

The questing system in Guild Wars 2 feels much the same as before. You're sent emails from various NPCs asking for help, you then track them out and complete their tasks for various rewards like gold, items or karma. As you proceed through an area, there are various events that will pop up, prodding you to complete tasks like assisting to kill a certain monster, or protecting workers as they rebuild a bridge.

Also new to Guild Wars 2 is a very lucrative map completion system. By finding every location and completing various tasks on any given map, you're given experience commensurate to your level. Once you find and complete every facet of a map, you're awarded a chest with contents that match the level of the map that you're on. For instance, clearing a level 1-10 map will give you basic crafting materials and potentially an item in the same level range.

A portion of the map completion goal includes completing tasks that center on NPC quest givers. It's not actually necessary to speak to the NPC before you begin the task, simply entering the area will pop up a pane with the tasks that you need to complete. Once you complete these, you're given a moderate amount of experience and another point towards completing the map.

Guild Wars 2 Conclusion

With Guild Wars 2 Digital Deluxe Edition, ArenaNet has delivered a game that promises to deliver for some time to come. The added value that the Digital Deluxe Edition brings is mostly worth the extra cost, particularly if you're in a smaller guild. The miniature pet is also rather cute.

Guild Wars 2 performs exceptionally well on most modern hardware - from a modern Core i3 all the way to a higher end Xeon hexacore system. It takes full advantage of higher end video cards without making gameplay impossible on cheaper cards, such as those found in most laptops. That said, the graphics are fresh and realistic at almost all levels of detail.

Guild Wars 2 continues to evolve, even as we play - frequently, new builds are released during live gameplay, which typically include new worldwide events. If you are a dedicated gamer, Guild Wars 2 Digital Deluxe edition will serve you well with added Glory and Influence. We look forward to seeing you in Tyria!

Guild Wars 2 is available in standard boxed edition: $47.77, or digital deluxe edition: $79.99.

Pros:

+ Includes a Tome of Influence that gives your guild a one-time boost of influence, allowing them to progress faster.
+ A unique skill that allows you to summon a Mistfire Wolf.
+ A one-time boost to your Glory, the currency used to purchase PvP related items.
+ A miniature pet, a tiny replica of Rytlock Brimstone.
+ A Golem Banker, or five days temporary access to your bank from anywhere in the world.

Cons:

- With the Digital Deluxe Edition, you're downloading the entire game, versus loading portions of it from disc. It will take you slightly longer to get into the game with this edition.

Please, share your thoughts about Guild Wars 2 below, or in our Discussion Forum.

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