Okay so I’ve played an amount of the game now. Have a level 80 and a few other characters started. I have a few things I really love, and a few things I think there should be, and some that I dislike.
First thing, the PvP system: The quick matches are really awkward to get in and out of, and it’s too many load screens. The PvP itself feels very strangely balanced and I don’t find it enjoyable. I was fond of the PvP in GW1, and in other games, but not so much this one. WvWvW, while kind of fun, I think doesn’t have enough waypoints spread around because if you die, and you will die, you have to walk a looong way most of the time. The last thing is much more nit-picky. I don’t like that the Hall of Monument pets should be available to any ranger in quick matches.
Okay so Mounts: Some people hate the idea, some people want them. I’m on the fence. On the one hand, yes, there’s fast travel (I don’t like fast travel as a general rule. It feels lazy to me.) but even with the fast travel, not only is that spending your money (for those of you who are lower level, it adds up at 80, costing as much as 4.8-5 silver to travel across the map, and about 1.5 silver to move about 10 feet.) and the zones are quite massive, generally. So if you don’t do what some other games did, and add mounts the size of mountains, and just add small, and simple things like horses, or some fantasy creature of similar size, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I’ve seen the argument that people will sit on NPC’s, making it impossible to target/talk to them. This argument isn’t very valid purely because the characters alone can be large enough to do this with ease. Charr and Norn of course being the primary culprits. So personally, yes I would be in favor of mounts if they’re kept reasonable, and absolutely no flying mounts.
The Content Overall: I think the map is pretty big. I like how big it is. I love how messy the terrain is in some places, makes it feel less ‘developed’ and ‘sterile’ like some games have an issue with. I also like the hearts, vistas, points of interest and just the uncovering of the map. I do not like, however, how perfectly square or rectangular the maps all are. Obviously this isn’t something to be changed on the fly, or even ever. But it may be something to consider with future content updates. I also felt like I was able to progress through everything too quickly. I played pretty casually and hit 80 a few days ago. I didn’t really craft hardly at all, even at 80 I think my highest is barely 100. I also stalled on my personal story, taking time to decide what Order I wanted to join. So leveling seems too easy, to me.
One thing that really bothered me was hats. They all hide your hair. That’s really … lazy. Take that silly cloth thing out of it and just put hair underneath. I really loved the pirate hats and things except for it adds a stupid cloth around your head and cuts all your hair off.
I think there need to be big content updates. Unlock all those surrounding areas as you progress, add more things in the gem store, like recustomizations and such. More armor transmute sets. Weapon transmutations would be cool. Mostly zones and story lines and maybe even future prestige classes. I have heard a lot of people say they want Dervish back.
So yeah. That’s what I can think of right now. Feel free to respond/discuss, etc.