Guild Wars 2

Here's my take on Guild Wars 2. (330 hours in)

It's satisfying my desire for a game where I can explore and appreciate its artwork (on a gaming pc), having a decently customizable character. To me, it feels like a newer mix between The Elder Scrolls and a more mature version of The Legend of Zelda. It's nice how with a simple scroll of the mouse, you can seamlessly change from first person shooter to Diablo-style arial view.

The free-to-play basic game seems like a really big demo. There are inaccessible areas that require you to purchase an expansion pack to gain access. Once purchased, you will have access to mounts, "creatures used to enhance travel through the world of Tyria and certain parts of The Mists." This quote was taken from Guild Wars 2 Wiki, as well as the following quote. "Free-to-Play and Core accounts receive a one-time 10-hour trial of the mount on that character." The game is too big to explore it all on foot; mounts are required. Also, you will have to pay for greater customizations. Thus, there's no need for a monthly subscription when you can spend much more in microtransactions.

Acquiring useful items, namely mounts, takes significant work and can be frustrating and confusing. I've relied on online tutorials. This has been the most complicated game for achievements that I've ever played. Once you've acquired a few useful items, the game changes to become more fun. I like to customize my character's appearance, acquire good weapons and armor, and have a few mounts unlocked. Now I can fully enjoy exploring the world and playing through the stories.

The multiplayer is enjoyable and the community is friendly. It feels effortless to join missions with other players. It's the best feeling of controlling an avatar in a virtual open world with other players. I like PvE, but I haven't actually tried the other modes yet.

p.s. ...be prepared for giant boobies!

p.p.s. ...epic dragon battles!