This is my GW2 post-mortem. I am now back to WoW, waiting for MoP. I hit 80 in GW2 about a week after release and have experienced all dungeons and all forms of PvP.
Why GW2 is not going to be the next WoW
GW2 had the best leveling out of any MMO. Ever. This is pretty much a fact that can be corroborated by many many sources, including mainstream as well as indie reviews. I’ve played WoW since vanilla (off-and-on since WotlK) and leveling has always sucked in WoW. GW2 absolutely changed the paradigm here, no questions about it. Unfortunately, once you hit 60 or 70, it all begins to fall apart:
- Waypoints are often contested
- Few people in high-level zones compared to low-level zones
- Most events impossible to solo
And at 80, things just got worse when dealing with the end-game:
- Dungeon grinds are inane
- Exploration modes are frustrating, not challenging
- Dying as an inherent game mechanic just doesn’t work, nor does it feel right
- Revisiting old content is not end-game, the fact that your level scales down just adds insult to injury
PvP:
- The ridiculous downing mechanic is just that: ridiculous
- CC, in turn, is almost always used to prevent rezzing
- There is no depth to the game when everyone uses their stuns or knock-backs only in one specific scenario
- WvWvW is stupid for melee (you just get blown up), but sort of fun for ranged classes
- PvP balance is all over the place right now (although this will hopefully get fixed)
How GW2 could’ve been the next WoW
With that said, however, I do think that GW2 could’ve been the “next big thing.” How?
- 15 dollars a month. Sorry ANet, but if you want to consistently dish out manageable updates, you need the income (and many, including myself, are more than willing to pay)
- Use the trinity – your system looks good on paper, but it’s a disaster in practice (anyone that’s done exploration mode dungeons can attest to this)
- Dying is not a game mechanic – dying should be a bad thing. You should not be allowed to come back to finish a boss fight after you died.
- Underwater exploration is fun, but underwater combat is stupid (no, really, it is). Blizzard’s blunder with Vashj’ir should’ve taught you this.
- You need end-game progression. You really do. However, I do realize that a lack of end-game is a consequence of not paying 15 dollars a month.