So it’s pretty, Asian-influenced, and runs super—what’s left? Gameplay!

When you first fire up “Guild Wars Factions,” assuming you don’t have an account with the original game, you’re given the option to create one. This process is simple and brief and then you create (or load) your character. Initially you can choose between an RPG character (normal) or a PvP player who will skip most of the storyline and skip to a higher level to jump right into the combat, but we’ll get to that later. There are numerous classes available to you in the “Guild Wars” universe, plus two additional ones in “Factions.” Among the more common sorts of Rangers, Warriors, Elementalists, and so on, are the additions of Assassin and Ritualist. These two new classes are exciting, but by no means given an advantage over any other class, as the game is excellent at providing balance.

The Assassins are, of course, an exciting addition. Favoring dual-wielded daggers (or other double-handed weapons), these characters are fast and can do quick combos for devastating damage. Ritualists, on the other hand, offer a pleasing mix of defense and offense, coupled with the ability to summon spirits to defend and attack.

Despite may clearly excellent qualities, the game is not without its flaws. Players have to deal with a lackluster plot and an infuriatingly stupid NPC AI. The sequel is geared towards those with “Guild Wars” experience. There is little direction given to point you to working toward a team until you figure it out on your own. The level cap means that while you may be a great player, you’ll never be the God among Mortals that some players favor, although modding and creating items can help some. You are allowed to “Map Travel” between major landmarks instantly, but a huge amount of quests require an awful lot of legwork and endless running to and fro. And occasional graphical drop outs in the distance and (brief) load times when first entering an area can be a little irritating.

The death penalty is one of my least favorite parts of the game, although compared to some games it’s a Godsend. It’s pretty easy (especially solo or early on) to get your ass handed to you. Just rushing ahead of the group a little too soon can have you swatted down by several low or mid-level enemies in seconds. Without buffing spells and plenty of backup, a great deal of challenges and quests end in a quick death. There is no permanent penalty for death, but there is a penalty. First it’s 15 percent of your stats lost; die again, 30; die again 45; all the way to 60 percent of your stats removed.

What this boils down to is the first time you die, the challenge will be more difficult, and it only gets worse from there. You can log out and come back later or rest in a town to get rid of this penalty, but when you’re deadset on doing something and happen to get killed, it can be endlessly frustrating to keep attempting the same challenge while you’re increasingly less equipped to deal with it. Killing enemies is also a way to get rid of penalty stats, but this (for obvious reasons) is more difficult than it sounds.

Despite the penalties for dying, and the occasional boring quest or tedious running. “Guild Wars Factions” is an excellently planned and executed MMORPG. It has the added appeal of NOT costing you money every month. The world is huge (twice as huge if you buy the original game, too). Your character can dip into either world by just catching a ship to instantly teleport there. To top it all off, it’s just downright fun. The skills add an element of crazy damage and strategy to make your player so much more than he/she was to start off with. It’s great fun to explore, easy to level up, and easy to team up. Before you know it, you’ll be in a guild or a faction fighting it out with all manners of beasties and warring with other guilds for control. It’s deep enough for the most hardcore players, and easy enough for just about anyone to jump in and try out an MMO for the first time. “Factions” just does it right.

Review Chris Pereira
October 9, 2009