Update - 'Combat sounds have been improved'

I was going to post this as a bug but on reading the update notes I am fearing that it's intentional....

It's probably lost in the middle of all the screaming about solo farming, AI behaviour etc but what are people's thoughts and experiences on changes to combat sound FX?

So far I have noticed just the one thing (update came at 4am UK time) and it's awful:

The sound of my axe hits landing has changed completely to a new one that just sounds so bad my immediate thought was it must be a bug.

Before it sounded like, well, a huge axe.... hitting something ripe and squishy like a pumpkin. Perfect.

Now it sounds like someone hitting a huge bowl of jelly with a stick.

It's like a kind of horrible 'thwock thwock thwock' sucking sound that is totally wrong.

I'm using Windows XP and a Creative SB Audigy 4.

From the lack of other topics on this I am wondering whether people haven't noticed any difference and/or the change is just something affecting people with my hardware. From reading the update notes it just says 'Combat sounds have been improved'... I am dreading getting home and finding out what else is affected. It's already reminding me of the pre-Factions sound engine change last year where I couldn't play my Warrior for weeks because the sounds were just so awful.

I really hope something can be done about this.... where was the need to 'improve' the sound to a worse sound? I didn't see the threads complaining about combat sound effects before.

I dont really mind that change.

I've noticed some changes in the sound an arrow makes when hitting a target, It makes a rather nice *plock* or *kduk* or *tkuh*, depending on the enemy you hit. So, for me, combat sounds have been improved.

Yep, same for my ranger's arrows ^^ swords make nice *cling* sounds too, as in duels.

Sounds better to me so far. I'm liking the sound my Ranger's arrows make when fired...and they make a nice "thunk" when they hit a target too. Heard the soudn a friend's Koss (with a sword) made when he was smacking something, sounded like a blade clanking against armor. Pretty good, I think.

I noticed a few new sounds such as hitting an irontooth drake with my sword and it sounded like I was hitting a piece of iron.
That made everyone laugh. [must have got him in the tooth]

Not sure if it is all bows but my Stormbow has a cool new sound effect when you shoot as well.

I'm using 5.1 surround sound. Whenever I shoot an arrow, the sound comes from behind.

I like all the changes (Especially the daggers!) except for the axe..
Used to be some ahrdcore brute weapon, now its just "plick! tick!"

The sound of my daggers is like Sephiroth's Katana... But my daggers aren't so big... >_<

And when the attack is blocked... I don't think that everyone uses a wood shield...

Interesting posts. OK so it's definitely not a bug then, and I don't need to re-install GW, drivers, Windows etc :-)

I'm looking forward to getting home and trying out the full set... the arrows sound is getting some praise.

It's specifically the axe sound i'm not liking.... and I see that I am not the only one. Anyone else with a view on the axe sound?

I'm also liking the sounds mostly. The blades (sword, dagger) are a big improvement, and the bow is, idk, just a much more interesting sound than before.

But yeah, the axe sound deserves a buff. Should be a much scarier sound.

Hammer's pretty dull, and seems unchanged.

I love the new bow sounds they sound a lot better than they used to imo

(I play rangers 80% of the time so I hear bow sounds all the time lol)

I just solo'd the scar eater on hard for the hell of it and oni's popped.

Man it was crazy as fast as they attack and hearing their claws.
Sounds nice.

I noticed bows also make a better sound.

I heard the Axe sound for the first time fighting Tengu and it sounds hilariously bad.

I like the new bow sound though, I haven't heard much of anything else though.

Swords sound so much more aqsome.

But I agree, Axes sound terrible now.

Sounds seem to be improved to me. They no longer cause severe lag like they did when they "updated sound" last week.

I like the sounds. Finished Great Northern Wall last night and when the charr hit the gate defenders, it sounds like a *battle* going on.

i dig the new sounds. the new dagger sfx are particularly sweet, imo

agreed that the axe sfx wasn't an improvement though XD

True dat! The arrows sound so freeking awesome now. Everything sound better to me... I need to try out swords & Axes Since I loved the previous sword sounds.

I also love the new combat sounds. Especial the metal clanging.
To me it sounds much more real then before.