I actually liked EOTN..

Kynareth Adeus

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2007

D/Mo

Alright, I tried out the 5 hour trial key for Eye of the North. I still have an hour or two left on it, but I feel that I have a decent idea of what it's like, as I beat the Norn quests on the first event, and as I'm a noteworthy distance into the Asuran quests.

So far, I've noted quite a few things, like the use of reskins, and the particularly limited list of new skills. I've noted that missions have become more like special quests, and I've noted plenty of similar things.

But, through this, I recall massive amounts of hate for the game on the whole. Too short, too shoddy, etc.

But there's one thing that I noticed that no one really talked about:

THE ENVIRONMENT ART.

I mean, it's so awesome and beautiful of scenery that you're in, that you almost apathetic with regards to the reskinned elite armors and the like. You go into a dungeon, and there's a roof over your head! I mean, seriously, 90% of the explorable areas before had open skies! Sure, there was... Sorrow's Furnace with a roof... and... uhh... that one Kurzick mission, and the Deep. That was pretty much it.

The animals that WEREN'T reskins were astounding! I mean, the dinosaurs were awesome! The armors that weren't reskins were pretty awesome too! I mean, look at Ranger Norn!

The use of plants was great as well! The scenery just simply won.

Maybe if people stopped playing the game as a 'see who can wear the most expensive armor' competition and actually paid attention ot their surroundings, they'd actually appreciate it.

CyberMesh0

CyberMesh0

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Charter Vanguard [CV]

N/Me

I agree fully- and even some of the reskin art is cool anyway. Let's start an outcast club.

Crom The Pale

Crom The Pale

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

Ageis Ascending

W/

A great number of us love GW:EN, however those that hate it shout very loud, and most of us were to busy playing the game to shout back

hallomik

hallomik

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

The Illini Tribe

N/Mo

Lots of us liked it and still do.

The humor and challenge of the Norn Tourney, the variety and freshness of the PVE skills, the open design making it easy for a new character to get anywhere fast, the reduction of mandatory, repeatable plot and corresponding increase in endgame dungeon crawls to both increase replayability and make it far less tedious for those of us with many characters to get through the game.

There is a lot to like in GW:EN. Your observation of the beauty of the game, though, was widely acknowledged even by those who complained most.

Meat Axe

Meat Axe

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Brisbane, Australia

R/

The environment art did look very very fantastic. Like that huge crystal in the Northern Shiverpeaks, or the jungle and ancient structures in Asura territory, or the presearing feel of the Charr homelands. And yeah, some of the new creatures looked awesome from a distance. But then, the dinosaurs especially, just annoyed the hell out of me, because they kept killing me. Especially that warrior tyrannosaur boss.

And yeah, the Norn armour looks fantastic. I got it for my ranger, and it is definitely one of my favourite armours that I've got so far. I'll definitely get some for my rit.

But I really liked the storyline of EotN. Sure, it was short, but it was incredibly well-written and absorbing. And I loved the added character interaction in it, such as the henchmen in the outposts having conversations or sulking and whatnot.

EDIT: A couple of things I forgot about that I was actually disappointed with. The Charr homeland area was just too small. I understand that Anet wanted to expand more on the new races, but I was really hoping that we would finally get to see some Charr villages, and find out what female Charr look like (if they do look different, or exist at all...), and be more involved in bringing down the Shaman caste. One mission to bring them down was kind of disappointing.

The other was the final cutscene of EotN, where it basically outlines what's going to happen in the years before GW2. It was just kind of anti-climactic.

super strokey

super strokey

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Soviet Canuckistan

N/

I love gwen, best thing they added to the game so far. Story caps are awesome when done this way. Lots to do and lots of fun challenges. Great game

silv3rr

silv3rr

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

I rather liked GWEN also... but then I'm not as hardcore as most so my opinion's not really that credible.

And yes OMG I loved the environments. My favourite must be the firey forest... it's just so... wow.

Like Meat Axe, I was also hoping there would be more to the Charr homelands.

The armor reskins well... I was disappointed but wasn't too bothered by it... there are more than enough armor sets for the core classes. I wouldn't mind a few more sets for Dervs and Paragons but it's fine as is

dont feel no pain

dont feel no pain

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2005

Uk,Wales

i loved it tbh

artay

artay

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Australia

The Agony Scene

E/

I found it immersive


The way the npc made sounds when you clicked on them "Are you hunting something?" Made me feel like I was in the game.

maraxusofk

maraxusofk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

San Francisco, UC Berkeley

International District [id多], In Soviet Russia Altar Caps You [CCCP], LOL at [eF]

W/

i love gwen too? who complains?

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

I like Eye of the North, I just don't love it. I think the thing most complained about is that it didn't feel worth the $40 USD many paid for it. Still, I don't regret it; it's a good expansion all in all.

Also, don't confuse the complaints about specific aspects of EotN with complaints of the expansion as a whole. Disliking a certain dungeon or quest, or the title grind or PvE skills does not equate with disliking the expansion.

Nevin

Nevin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

I would've liked EotN, even loved.. If it had come out a while ago (2006). But GW just doesn't compare with next-gen video games anymore for me. How can anyone honestly be impressed by GW with games like Age of Conan coming out on the market?

kainmodious

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2007

In Christ Alone

N/Mo

i really liked the EOTN add-on i thought it brought all of the story lines of what happened after profecies together pretty well. plus who can complain about the grafix. loved it and wish they would add more things ike this to the game while we are waiting for GW@ to come out

ShadowsRequiem

ShadowsRequiem

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2005

Inde is Smoking [Hawt] *ToA*

W/E

I thought it was a lot of fun too and i'm planning on buying eotn with thos elrft over gift cards for christmas XD

Though I hate all the new armors as they are reskins but the areas looked really nice!

beregond

beregond

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2007

Paladins of Eternal Truth[POET]

W/Mo

I love GW:EN. I haven't quite beat it yet(made it to Heart of the Shiverpeaks), but I've enjoyed the quests, the missions, and how they work, the scenery, hall of monuments, dungeons.

GW:EN was different from the other 3 games, and I really liked that.

strcpy

strcpy

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2005

One of Many [ONE]

I too really liked it. While the main story line was short for 40 dollars most of the expansion was in the "other" category (dungeons and such). There is a lot of stuff there.

It doesn't seem that you care for the dungeons but a "dungeon crawl" has been one of the staples of RPG's for decades for a reason. I really like the addition of them and is really one of the last types of standard RPG gaming that had little presence in the game. Personally dungeon crawls were always some of my favorite ones.

Some of the complaints (reskins and reuse of tiles) is pretty much industry standard. While I can't say I like it there are few games out there that use less than Anet and many that use WAY more (I find it amusing how many complain here yet wax on and on about the "vast open lands" in WoW which are the same hill, same tree, and same 10 critters for 15 hours of moving around the game - WAY more tiled than GW). The number of skills for the expansion are on par with a normal expansion to other games and so is the price for the total content. It is done for a reason, heck when a 15 dollar a month game with over 8 million subscribers doesn't do it I can't really expect Anet too (and that isn't an "Anet is broke" saying - it is a "No one has unlimited funding").

About the only real complaint I have is the Charr homelands - like an above poster I think they are WAY too small and way too little done with their story. It doesn't feel as full as the Asuran or Norn parts of the stories and is probably one of the races we would have liked to know much more about.

You also only really hear complaints because most people have little reason to post "I like the game" and when they do it tends to be much shorter, not to mention people who dislike it tend to feel a need to point it out every time they have a chance. I rarely pay attention to poster's names, but having starting to do so recently it is kinda interesting to note that there really wasn't *that* many people complaining as much as it is the same dozen or so people making 50 posts a piece per day everywhere they possibly can work it in.

-Loki-

-Loki-

Forge Runner

Join Date: Oct 2005

It was a good expansion. As long as you expected an expansion. I had fun going through it, seeing the Charr homelands finally, fighting totally imba Dinosaurs and doing dungeons with people. I wish they would do one for Cantha, actually.

xshadowwolfx

xshadowwolfx

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

California | Ascalon

Mo/

Enjoyed the graphics and all the extras. The side quests, mini games, character personalities, and others made this great awesome. Something I hope they carry over to GW2.

Vinraith

Vinraith

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crom The Pale
A great number of us love GW:EN, however those that hate it shout very loud, and most of us were to busy playing the game to shout back
This is really all that needs to be said on the subject, so I'll quote it and then go back to playing.

garethporlest18

garethporlest18

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

[HiDe]

W/

If it wasn't for UB I'd never vanquish any areas cause it goes outside my thinking perimeter. I also liked the dungeons and though the Norn areas were pretty. Didn't like the imba dinos so much or those asinine spiders with their BS crap slow the caster shite.

Steboy93

Steboy93

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Feb 2007

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] | Ex-Officer [TAM]

W/

I also liked GW:EN, but unfortunatly the main story was a tad too short

TaCktiX

TaCktiX

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2006

The Order of Chaos Reborn [ToC]

GW:EN rules. Granted, I'm pretty much everywhere but at the moment (ignored all my other characters for my main for far too long), but I know that when I move my Paragon through it, it'll be replayable.

ANet outdid themselves on the cutscene dialogue. I feel like I can genuinely connect with Gwen's frightened hate at the Charr, with Jora's desire to be known as a great hunter again, with Ogden's noble pleas that his people be saved. Name me another MMO that does that.

The emote'ing henchies and the talking NPCs (anyone else noticed that the higher your rep with the NPC's race gets, the friendlier their comments are to you?) are definitely that extra element that adds to the immersion. Forget the phenomenal graphics (have you SEEN the water effects in GW:EN? Holy crap), all the little nitpicky details finish it out. GW:EN is substance behind all the sheen, something a lot of game-makers should take heed of.

Nemo the Capitalist

Nemo the Capitalist

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2006

Trust me you dont want to know my Chasms of Despair

Zaishen Brotherhood

N/Me

EotN sucks man...very limited game...on teh plus sideu get battle musci when ur lsoing bad or winning well in battle

other than that not much

Witchblade

Witchblade

Polar Bear Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

the thing that's getting annoying to me is that dungeons aint no outposts (or even close to one, for most) having to clean tons of mobs on the way and all that.

i wish most were just like Cathedral of Flames and Heart of Shiverpeaks. or at least, having a way to get back there faster after 1st completion( Town Portal anyone? ) The worst thing being experiencing disconnection while doing a 2 hours one I didnt start that Frostmaw thing yet because of that, now that i know there are 5 lvls

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

GW:EN was brilliant!
enough said.
but they coulda put more effort in stuff such as reskins

DarkNecrid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by beregond
I love GW:EN. I haven't quite beat it yet(made it to Heart of the Shiverpeaks), but I've enjoyed the quests, the missions, and how they work, the scenery, hall of monuments, dungeons.

GW:EN was different from the other 3 games, and I really liked that.
This.

That and its HM is actually hard sometimes!

Saleh No.1

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

Wales

E/Me

I quite liked GW:EN i took my time going through it to actually enjoy it thoroughly.

Toriyaki

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2007

Phoenix Connection

Me/

Yeah, GW:EN was more fun than Nightfall or Factions IMO, and I've played the game three times over. I'm glad the storyline is short so you can access right on to the high-end stuff, and there's still tons of dungeons to occupy you. Now THOSE are lengthy.

The step up in graphics keep me playing this game.

Dark Death Cleaver

Dark Death Cleaver

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2007

Washington

Disciples of Homer

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevin
I would've liked EotN, even loved.. If it had come out a while ago (2006). But GW just doesn't compare with next-gen video games anymore for me. How can anyone honestly be impressed by GW with games like Age of Conan coming out on the market?
then go on an age of conan forums and talk about that. this is a guild wars forum.

sindex

sindex

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

California

Swords of Night & Day [SWRD]

You know I would agree with this subject, but due the fact that I cannot really find anything particularly interesting in EotN; (pretty much rehash of old ideas) I disagree. The art direction was fantastic, the story did get a bit better, and the reward system did somewhat improve. Nevertheless the game loss it’s “flare” towards the end. When you look deep into EotN, (past the first few hours) you feel like you have done all of this before. It’s far too repetitive for it to hold any replay value; even with the dungeons themselves.

Overall, I think I would have enjoyed another campaign next to the expansion. I just have a feeling Utopia would have turned out to be a bit better in the end.

Buster

Buster

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

Elona

Clan Eternal Legion

D/W

GW:EN is fun but way too short and there aren't many armors that are appealing to buy unless you just have the basic armor from a previos campaign.

Etta

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemo the Capitalist
EotN sucks man...very limited game...on teh plus sideu get battle musci when ur lsoing bad or winning well in battle
Lol. Nemo's been drinking again.

GW:EN is alright for what it is, an expansion. Anyone expect anything mind blowing and ground breaking will sadly be disappoint. There're lot of great stuff in there, but there're fair share of crappy stuff as well.

McMullen

McMullen

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2005

R/W

The Asura part of the game in the tarnished coast is easily the best looking of them all (with exception to the rabbit hole in norn land). That's not to say the rest of the game looks shoddy, the dungeons are just too damn dark xD

Sparda

Sparda

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2006

The Netherlands

N/

It's how you see it for example i didn't like it that much.
It gave me 14 hours of story line fun the full campains gave me a few months of fun.
So in short terms the story line whas strong but skinny.
As for the new titels they hadn't to put them is still wonder why they did it.
As for some of the reskins of armor i do not care im not a big fan off showing off my gear.
im a fan of well thought play through the game.
As for the bosses they they are not smarter and faster (as they promised) for that they deal big blocks of damage.
As for the environment they are just dazzling (thumbs up Anet)
As for the dungeons the concept of it is nice but i do not enjoy the play in dungeons.

My overall idea about the game it is nice but i expected allot more.
IMO the concept of GW Utopia whas better in my eyes.

Ninian_Grace

Ninian_Grace

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2007

GWOnline

P/W

I personnaly liked it. alot of different things from the old guild wars.

too bad Hellgate: London took a hold of me. kinda made me drift away from GW a bit.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevin
I would've liked EotN, even loved.. If it had come out a while ago (2006). But GW just doesn't compare with next-gen video games anymore for me. How can anyone honestly be impressed by GW with games like Age of Conan coming out on the market?
Because it's the best looking MMORPG out right now.

You can't compare GW to games not out yet! And there's a reason why Anet is making GW2...

I guess I'm one of those odd birds that likes short games. I never finished Nightfall, and looking back, Factions was actually a decent Chapter, nevermind all the backtracking

But I enjoy GWEN, it's perfect for casual players who want to just pick up some quick skills and enjoy the scenery. I haven't done any of the "leet" Dungeons yet (no real desire to), so I can't comment on that aspect.

Shadow Spirit

Shadow Spirit

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

Chicago

your cat eats dog food [pup]

N/E

I've really enjoyed my time with EotN. The quests and dungeons have been really fun. I'm looking forward to playing through it on all my characters.

Sparda

Sparda

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2006

The Netherlands

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
Because it's the best looking MMORPG out right now.

You can't compare GW to games not out yet! And there's a reason why Anet is making GW2....
Let me burst your bubble nice pictures are nice but don't make the game, high res images get old after 10 min.
Innovated Gameplay smooth user interface those specs make the game.
Ohhh yea and a cool and nice story line is also 1 of the things.

This is how i think a game can be rated.

SleetDragon

SleetDragon

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

In my House duh...

Knights of The Primeval Kings [Knyt]

W/

I have to say that its beyond my expectations when I heard they cancelled the campaign and were coming out with this I thought it would be short, boring, and put out to quickly like factions.
Now I do like factions for some parts but as far as all three campaigns go I believe it was one of the, well... more lacking.
EoTN is completely the opposite of what I expected. Scenery Enviroments and new NPC's are breathe taking and deserve some respect even if you dislike the gameplay. Not in most other games can you get a game so graphically beautiful as the entire Guild Wars set of games. EoTN is engaging and interactive and even if you beat the storyline there are still hours of play left just to complete all the dungeons not to mention Hard Mode was just recently released for it. So play the game and Have fun!

freekedoutfish

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2006

E/

You say "I actually liked ETON" like you expected no to? EOTN is a good game, its just finished really fast and limited on replayability unfortunately. Also as you noted the armors are very much re-skins.