Guild Wars

 PC
  • Publisher: NCSOFT
  • Release Date: Apr 26, 2005
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 503 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 403 out of 503
  2. Mixed: 52 out of 503
  3. Negative: 48 out of 503
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  1. OliverK.
    Jun 10, 2005
    4
    Really weak role playing part. Its hard to get a group of 4 people together and go on quests, so that u r left to do things alone (With the help of AI NPCs)(I talk about European Servers) The PVP might be good, but not as good as games that are designed exclusively for this. the fact that they dont have seperate servers for different language areas makes it worse. (Again, european servers)
  2. AnonymousAnonymous
    Oct 9, 2007
    0
    A completely crap game, possible the worst game I've ever played, it is intensly dull, you choose 1 - 8 skills, and the fun ends there, the story is incredibly boring andall the game consists of is just boring missions after boring mission, and at the end.. What do you do? Play random arenas? Play heroes ascent? more pressing 1 - 8. I'm sorry, this is NOT my idea of fun, it is A completely crap game, possible the worst game I've ever played, it is intensly dull, you choose 1 - 8 skills, and the fun ends there, the story is incredibly boring andall the game consists of is just boring missions after boring mission, and at the end.. What do you do? Play random arenas? Play heroes ascent? more pressing 1 - 8. I'm sorry, this is NOT my idea of fun, it is incredibly incredibly boring. When I first bought the first one, I completed tutorial island hoping it was going to get some more action, but I was proved wrong, and still it was mission after mission.. Cutscene after Cutscene. The ONLY compliment I have is that it is cheap, but definately not worth it, if this game had a monthly payment, then literally no one would play. It is an awful game, it is tedious, the graphics are nothing special, I could never see the fun in playing this.… Expand
  3. Sygon
    Dec 22, 2011
    1
    Terrible, maybe I went into the game expecting some fun PVP but its not, broken unbalanced classes. I played this game about 2 months ago. The feature of how your character auto follows your opponent (wow real skill) is incredibly annoying. The game is worse than SWTOR when it comes to being on "rails". I am excited for GW2 but if it is anything like GW1 I will not be purchasing.
  4. AndyZurnZurn
    Oct 5, 2006
    0
    Never seen a more retarded game. I have 100 hours in and i am still level one. My brother has played less than me and he is level 6. That is realy high. After I take my bubble bath I always play this game but no more. I'm done being a pussy This game is no longer of intrest to me after i become level to. Ducks are taking over the world!!
  5. C4K3
    Jan 15, 2011
    4
    It was a great game. Sadly one day arenanet decided to go "hey, let's completely destroy all PvP in the game, and then make the PvE grind the primary interest of the game" Now PvP is filled with unskilled noobs that think grind = skill (I just recently watched a couple of obs, not a single person in any of them knew how to qstep) You are forced to either use builds fully automated bots canIt was a great game. Sadly one day arenanet decided to go "hey, let's completely destroy all PvP in the game, and then make the PvE grind the primary interest of the game" Now PvP is filled with unskilled noobs that think grind = skill (I just recently watched a couple of obs, not a single person in any of them knew how to qstep) You are forced to either use builds fully automated bots can play better than you, or end up being significantly weaker then your enemy. Arenanet entirely fails at balancing the game, only if a skill is so unbalanced it literally gives permanent immortality (Shadow Form) is it even fixed, and that's after A WHOLE YEAR of people abusing it. I don't think I need to say much about PvE, it's fun the first time you complete it, but after that it's just pure grind. It was a great game 5 years ago, and probably would have been now if PvP wasn't destroyed. I've spent a lot of fun hours in this game, RIP original Guild Wars… Expand
  6. PaulS.
    Apr 26, 2005
    3
    I had such high hopes for this game. Went to the store and bought only to find that after installing I can't play it for a few days. What kind of nonsense is this. They have a poorly organized gimmick for pre-orders that has not been executed well. Don't get this game. This is a sign of things to come for this game.
  7. RichardK.
    Oct 20, 2005
    3
    Gee, DooM without the neat weapons, cool monsters or game control. Enter Guildwars, kill the same thing over and over and over and over FOREVER! No clear win, PvP is limited and poorly done. No monthly fee cause no one in there right mind would pay for a second month. Strong point, well you can get mostly nude and dance! Designers say reward skill, not time, no, the truth is they reward Gee, DooM without the neat weapons, cool monsters or game control. Enter Guildwars, kill the same thing over and over and over and over FOREVER! No clear win, PvP is limited and poorly done. No monthly fee cause no one in there right mind would pay for a second month. Strong point, well you can get mostly nude and dance! Designers say reward skill, not time, no, the truth is they reward nether, you fight for poor drops, buy keys to chests for useless loot (sell it for more gold, to buy more keys, be still my throbbing heart) all so that gold can get stripped from the players, salvage for useless junk sans ell it and oh yes, dance mostly naked. Your character is limited to 20th level, but monsters go higher, mostly you face DooM like swarms without DooM like weapons, and you die over and over, fun! Good news is the death penalty is light and easy to work off so you beat the level by killing the non-repawning critters off with your respawing player! Please belive me, skill is of very, very import in Guildwars, just be willing to farm for days of useful items and die untill you win.… Expand
  8. SlybriM.
    May 2, 2005
    4
    LIke Star Wars Episode I or Heather Graham...Pretty to look at but BORING!!!!
  9. Maxx
    May 4, 2005
    2
    Boooring! Nice to look at, but boooring. Yeah it doesn't cost any $$$ every month, but look what you are getting. Pay the 10-15 bux a month a get a real MMORPG, cuz this one doesn't cut it.
  10. RedB.
    Jun 10, 2005
    4
    A game with a lot of potential that fails to deliver. For example, the designers wanted to reduce travel time, so introduced teleporting. Butthe cities are large and boring and you have to walk back again and again to mission sites so the travel time that is there is a worse experience than most games. A limit of 4 characters? Come on! The levels are structured so linearly you have to A game with a lot of potential that fails to deliver. For example, the designers wanted to reduce travel time, so introduced teleporting. Butthe cities are large and boring and you have to walk back again and again to mission sites so the travel time that is there is a worse experience than most games. A limit of 4 characters? Come on! The levels are structured so linearly you have to fight the same darn mobs again and again, you cant scale the shallowest hill or jump down the shallowest depression. And the fantasy is humorless and lifeless.… Expand
  11. PalliN.
    Jul 5, 2005
    2
    "This game is awesome!" is what I was thinking almost loud , back in the few days after release. After few weeks and few finished PvE chars it just started to lose it. I found myself logging in rarely and when I did, I usually logged off in 30 minutes. Nowdays, few months after the release, I rather stick my eye with a fork than log in to this crap. The game simply don't have enough "This game is awesome!" is what I was thinking almost loud , back in the few days after release. After few weeks and few finished PvE chars it just started to lose it. I found myself logging in rarely and when I did, I usually logged off in 30 minutes. Nowdays, few months after the release, I rather stick my eye with a fork than log in to this crap. The game simply don't have enough content. Period. PvE is very linear with pretty boring storyline and since this game is not about items (which is kudos for the 'balance'), I don't see a point in exploring and killing the same stupid 3-4 mob groups over and over again. And for the much hyped PvP/GvG.. Well.. Was kinda of disappointmet. It seems to be in balance and well I think it has too much of balance and that makes the PvP/GvG pretty tiring in my opinion. It just gives me the feeling that every char is the same, no matter what class(es) you're playing. I also don't like that the developers listen every single whine out there and nerf the game all the time. Now they even removed the lowlevel arena experience points and replaced them with some stupid faction points, which you have to get to unlock some skills etc. for your PvP-chars.. Well, currently I have 4 maximum level PvE made chars, which means that there's no room for me to make any PvP characters and I ain't willing to delete any of my current chars, since I've already deleted a few to give room for new ones. Not enough charslots. Perioid. And no more reason for me to practise in lowlevel arenas (which is always the same boring map / arena) since I get no useful reward for it. Experience points however were useful for my lowbie PvE toons. There simply nothing to do. Content is enough for two weeks seriously. Thank god I got it really cheap, otherwise I would've felt as I was robbed. However, I don't feel like giving zeropointer this time, so I'll give 2 points for a nice try and it still beats the crap out of WoW.… Expand
  12. TimD.
    Dec 13, 2005
    3
    This game is just horrible. I gave it a 3 for awesome graphics. No depth. No challenge, it's a mindless grind. It is far too easy for my liking. There is no sense of acomplishment in reaching the max level. I play WoW and don't have a single 60, my highest just hit 58 and I've been complaining about the people who gank lowbies, so I'm not one of those kind of people This game is just horrible. I gave it a 3 for awesome graphics. No depth. No challenge, it's a mindless grind. It is far too easy for my liking. There is no sense of acomplishment in reaching the max level. I play WoW and don't have a single 60, my highest just hit 58 and I've been complaining about the people who gank lowbies, so I'm not one of those kind of people who thrive on being elite and being able to pwn the little people. This game is just too easy to pique my interest. I was in Best Buy thinking if I should buy this or EQ 2. I wished, 3 days after buying guild wars, that I had gone with EQ2.… Expand
  13. PhilipP.
    May 3, 2005
    1
    It's Diablo without the eerie sounds, the good dungeon crawls, and the fun. I can't play this game for more than 10 minutes without feeling like I'm wasting my time. Sure, it's pretty, but that doesn't make you want to play. The sound is aweful and generic, the fighting is boring; there's just nothing there. Very disappointing.
  14. DanielM.
    Jan 23, 2006
    0
    This is a pathetic game, how it won best MMORPG over Warcraft is beyond me. This just shows that this "best games of 2005" has no credibility. Im sure the 100 or so people playing GuildWars would agree though.
  15. DevilWithoutACause
    Oct 13, 2005
    2
    Graphics only play a supporting role. This game is like a bad case of blue balls. I was so excited about playing this one that it took my breath away. 2 hours into this "Oasis" of a game and equality and a linear experience and I wanted to put a bullet in my brain. The church of Scientiology or the Later Day crackheads could market this trash to their brainwashedGraphics only play a supporting role. This game is like a bad case of blue balls. I was so excited about playing this one that it took my breath away. 2 hours into this "Oasis" of a game and equality and a linear experience and I wanted to put a bullet in my brain. The church of Scientiology or the Later Day crackheads could market this trash to their brainwashed congregations...everyone else is probably gonna hate this one.… Expand
  16. marney
    Apr 28, 2019
    2
    The game from my point of view is a whole platform gamer's paradise most of the game play seems to involve jumping from ledge to ledge and if you dont make the jumps you miss out on loot if you're a platform game fanatic this is heaven for you.If you buy the main game plus xpacs there are still areas you are gated from using, the game constantly dumps garbage items like dyes xp scrolls etcThe game from my point of view is a whole platform gamer's paradise most of the game play seems to involve jumping from ledge to ledge and if you dont make the jumps you miss out on loot if you're a platform game fanatic this is heaven for you.If you buy the main game plus xpacs there are still areas you are gated from using, the game constantly dumps garbage items like dyes xp scrolls etc it seems they are determined to fill your stash with garbage,i guess as an incentive to buy more bag room from gem store.Character slots with both xpacs are enough to make just 5 characters you can of course buy more from the gem store. Game play can be ok but sudden 1 hit deaths kill that for you, constantly facing invulnerable mobs for no reason i can detect they just turn invulnerable in mid fight re-spawn rates are crazy if you fight a mob of 4 by the time the last falls all four are back up it must be a mechanic to force team play so a wasted purchase for solo players.The game gives very little info about the task you are requested to perform quest event whatever not even the direction it might be in it is at times bewildering don't buy this game unless there's absolutely nothing else to play.The graphics may appeal to some they are very good hence the score.… Expand
  17. Broyax
    Apr 11, 2017
    2
    Tiens, Guild Wars soldé à 8,50 euros seulement ! et pourquoi ne pas en profiter pour l'essayer ? surtout que c'est sans abonnement (un excellent point !) et après SWTOR j'avoue que j'étais curieux. Ah évidemment ça a bien vieilli graphiquement mais ce n'est pas tellement plus laid que SWTOR globalement. ça reste mignon et beaucoup moins cul serré au niveau des tenues que le mmo Star Wars.Tiens, Guild Wars soldé à 8,50 euros seulement ! et pourquoi ne pas en profiter pour l'essayer ? surtout que c'est sans abonnement (un excellent point !) et après SWTOR j'avoue que j'étais curieux. Ah évidemment ça a bien vieilli graphiquement mais ce n'est pas tellement plus laid que SWTOR globalement. ça reste mignon et beaucoup moins cul serré au niveau des tenues que le mmo Star Wars. L'interface est aussi plus pratique à l'usage... bref, y a pas à tortiller, c'est bien pensé.

    Toujours est-il que l'absence de voix et de vraie direction narrative par rapport à SWTOR est une belle douche froide et que comme tout mmo qui se respecte -et c'est là l'essence du genre- on se fait rapidement chier. L'intérêt tout de même (!) c'est qu'on peut se faire chier en groupe ! bêêêh...

    Le gameplay de ces mmo rpg est typique et a toujours comme caractéristique frappante cette absence d'intérêt, ce manque flagrant de finesse et cette course débile aux points d'expérience (c'est effectivement le nerf de la guerre) sans queue ni tête. Finalement, le mmo c'est le dernier stade de l'évolution des jeux vidéo : la lobotomisation totale et la fin de l'amusement. C'est bien triste.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best PC Game of 2005
12
#12 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
16
#16 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 53 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 53
  3. Negative: 0 out of 53
  1. Inside Gamer Online
    90
    It’s impossible to describe the joy playing Guild Wars offers. It isn’t particularly deep, but it’s highly rewarding nonetheless. A friendly design and interface, and the simple, elegant combat, are bound to appeal to a wide range of gamers.
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  2. GameSpot
    92
    It innovatively and successfully combines many of the best, most addictive properties of action RPGs, online RPGs, and competitive multiplayer games in one beautifully produced package, which offers a tremendous lasting value yet none of the monthly fees typically associated with online-only games.
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  3. Yahoo!
    90
    If tedious leveling up, dull combat, or uninspired player vs. player gaming are your quibbles with today's massively multiplayer offerings, Guild Wars is the cure.
    Read full review
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