Guild Wars 2 review

Levels

Reach the maximum level of 80 in the basic version of the game, after which the level cap never increases. Every expansion and every episode of Living World (story arcs that ArenaNet releases for free) only provides new content for players.

The exchange rate also never goes up. Once you have the maximum level gear, you have it forever. If you want to try out a different skill build or play style of your character, you’ll need to acquire a new gear set with the correct combination of stats, adding longevity to the end game experience.

Alternatively, you can take part in one of the few heavy grinds found in Guild Wars 2: The Quest for Legendary Gear. The stats on this gear are the same as the ascended ones, but they have the very convenient quality of being able to change the stats at will. And they have particle effects, which give you roughly a billion points to get attention (not a real stat in Guild Wars 2).

Final verdict

Guild Wars 2 offers a lot for both casual and hardcore gamers. There is an immense amount of content. However, hardcore gamers often find they run out of things to do between Living World expansions and episodes. And, typically, gear that focuses on damage is always best when playing with a group. This means that gameplay can stagnate if you’re determined to stick with meta builds.

There are a lot of people playing Guild Wars 2, so there are almost always people around to help you. However, some older areas may seem empty and you may find it frustrating to achieve your goals in these places. This is where joining a guild can really come in handy. There are many out there with large, friendly communities willing to lend a sword, bow, or ax.