Yeah, it's been more than a month since Guild Wars 2 released, but as it is with any MMO, the true test of quality is longevity. I am sad to say that I can't even remember the last time I logged into the game itself. Maybe last week to check something quickly, but definitely not any significant amount of time to get anything done. I clocked more hours playing Diablo 3 than Guild Wars 2 and it has taken me a very long time to find out why.
Guild Wars 2 is a good game. A great game, in fact. Combat is fluid, environments are amazing, and I have had some good fun dealing with the dynamic events. I thoroughly enjoyed the leveling process as I moved from zone to zone, story to story and, before I knew it, I was at max level doing the hardest content in the game. I loved the fact that I could help friends who were lower level and there would still be a challenge. I was less impressed with World vs World PvP and didn't really care much for structured PvP, which is arguably the best content the game has to offer, and this is most likely why I am no longer putting time into the game.
I'm really a PvE player. In terms of player vs game, there really isn't much of it in Guild Wars 2. Like every MMO, there is a grind to obtain more currency for buying items, and like every MMO, there is a carrot on the stick. However, the carrot on the stick in Guild Wars 2 is cosmetic items - to make your character look good. But what happens if I already like how my character looks? That's right, there's no more incentive to do the grind.
I have checked every other piece of gear available, and they don't look as nice as what I just crafted for myself. Sure, there are a few pieces here and there like weapons, but that's really it. In some cases, I just use a low level item model because I just happen to like how that looks. Nothing so far has compelled me to run the same dungeon 60+ times to get enough currency to buy an entire set of armour. It doesn't help that there's no group finder in the game. I loved the leveling so much in the game that I didn't bother doing dungeons at level and, frankly, I completely forgot they even existed at one point.
Dynamic events are better overall to rerun, but the options for the karma currency are quite limited - and some are also quite ugly. There is also little variety to dynamic events. They do happen frequently enough, but that has been detrimental to the overall experience. It no longer really is dynamic when you can wait for the event to just happen and when everything in the event is expected and by-the-numbers.
Sure there are still things to do, like finish off quests and world completion, but I've never been a completionist. In addition, since the game has a monthly subscription fee of $0, I can take my time to do all that and not feel like any money is wasted. At this point in time, there is just no reason for me to log back into the game.
In terms of the PvP aspect, yes, I do not live in the World vs World maps. Perhaps I am missing out by not doing structured or tournament PvP, but that is just not the kind of player I am. I do enjoy sprinklings of PvP as I move around the world. Moments when fights erupt between factions and escalate to a full blown war are some of my fondest memories in MMOs. Yes, I suck at them, but it is fun in it's own merit because it feels like it matters; it makes a game world feel more organic and I will punish the other side for whatever atrocity they have commited to ignite this war - no matter how petty or if it is my side that started it. Sadly, this can never happen in Guild Wars 2. All PvP is limited to the designated instances and, ultimately, it leaves the main game world quite stale and sterile. Dynamic events cannot really make up for spontaneous player activity.
I will not argue that PvP is where Guild Wars 2 is strongest at. World vs World standings exist and tournament PvP appeals to all those who just loves competetion for the sake of competetion - and winning. But, as an MMO, that just can't be where this game can stand on.
Probably my biggest issue is that, with all the posturing ArenaNet has been doing by saying it has eliminated the grind, that all there is in the game. There is no better definition of irony than this. Yes, you do not need this gear to do any content, but grinding for the gear is all that is left to do. And since I have already achieved the gear-related goal of finding armour I liked, then my character's progress is done. Level 80 and looking good.
Do I regret buying Guild Wars 2? Not at all. At the very least, it is what I would have paid for a single player game and I certainly have put quite a number of hours into it. I have not uninstalled the game, as I would like to revisit the world of Tyria again...but right now, there is just no reason to do so. Despite my pre-launch misgivings, I really wanted to love the game, but it didn't help that all my criticisms were realized in the end.
