This Monday, January 10, it was possible for us, during a short preview of an hour and a half, to be able to test the new features that will come into effect when Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons. On the program, we will discuss the areas that we were able to visit during this short session, the new mount, fishing etc…
However, we are not going to talk about the new specializations since it was already possible to play them during the test sessions on the standard version. Without further ado, here is our first opinion on what’s new in Arena Net’s new MMO expansion.
A rather present community aspect
Let’s first address the group mission carried out in the Wild Lands of Echovald. This is made up of several events. A first escort phase, followed by an exploration of the complex, ending with an anarchic and intense battle where a weapon or machine must be destroyed in the center of the complex. MMO enthusiasts will not be disoriented by the succession of these stages.
However, being able to ride the Siege Turtle during the mission brings a new bond between players by allowing the first to direct the mount, while the second pound the enemies and protect the mount via two skills. This alchemy is rather nice and original even if we would like it to be more in-depth to be deployed in a more impactful way during the accomplishment of the missions.
Then let’s talk about fishing, an activity now essential for any good self-respecting game. To fish, you will have to embark with your companions aboard a skiff. On the latter, it is possible to spot and stop near areas teeming with fish. Once this is done, all you have to do is equip yourself with a bait and cast your line. A mini-game is then triggered during which a simple bar representing the movements of the fish will move from left to right.
All you have to do is mimic these movements with the arrow keys for a while in order to capture your fish, a source of different resources and ingredients depending on the quality of the latter. If the mini-game is rather simple, what we tend to appreciate here is the deployment of skiffs which offers rather convivial and pleasant moments. This nice side aside, let’s hope that fishing manages to find a real place in the MMO by offering interesting and useful resources!
A different living world?
In End of Dragons, players will be able to visit the Cantha region. This Empire has lived in seclusion since the advent of the Jade Wind which petrified a whole part of the continent. However, this curse has also allowed the emergence of new technologies by tapping into this somewhat special magic.
We then discover places reminiscent of the golden age of this old continent, with for example the Guild Hall, and other places where nature has regained its rights with the exception of a few recent installations drawing on the dragon magic. As saying that the artistic direction of this third extension really has something to seduce.
The decorations are inspired, original and successful. But the novelty is not only visual, since End of Dragons welcomes a new team challenge: Attack Missions. If you missed the game’s dungeons, you might just take a liking to this addition. Nevertheless, the gameplay aspect of Strike Missions is closer to what we see in Raids.
An intermediary in Raids?
Indeed, during our attempt to complete one of these events, the team ofArenaNet explained to us that she saw these Attack Missions as an intermediate tier to Raids. One of the objectives of these missions is therefore to successfully put a foot in the stirrup for new characters wanting to venture into raids, by offering them tough challenges with similar mechanics. Our feeling in the heat of the moment is however the following: the level is still well below the Raids and we are afraid that it is not enough!
The Strike Mission we conducted was like a boss fight. Fans of the game will also recognize Mai Trin on the screenshots. However, getting to grips with GW2 Raids today is no small feat, given the strong communities that have already formed and the unreliability of training groups on them. It is then estimated that it is unlikely that the gap will be so easily widened.
This reflection made, however, we really cannot deny that the feeling is good. The confrontation with Mai Trin proved to be addictive thanks to the diversity of mechanics and the very good rhythm of the fight. Then let’s quickly move on to the new legendary weapons that will come into effect in End of Dragons. Infused with Draconic magic, they allow you to act on the appearance and skills of weapons and we leave it to you to see them in action in the images above.
We therefore appreciate the additions of this extension but we hope that they will manage to find a real use and place in the game. The new mount, the fishing, the skiffs are certainly nice but we have to see if all these new features will be relevant. Nonetheless, Strike Missions are a real addition that we hope will breathe some life into the Living World of Guild Wars 2!