Guild Wars 2 Beta Weekend

This is the first time I've been able to play in the Guild Wars 2 Beta Weekend events.  I wasn't cool enough or invited to any of the others.  Apparently I had to pre-purchase the game, not just pre-order it (which I did as soon as I could).  I'm not really big on giving a company money for a product when a release date isn't even available.  Just my "thing".

That aside, I was super excited to see that I had finally made it!  I finally got my shot to to give the game a go.  This seemed like the best time, too.  This looks the last event before launch AND it finally gives us a look at two of the classes people have been very excited about.

I don't really have a lot of free time, so I didn't get a chance to play a whole lot.  I got a couple hours last night and I am going in for some more tonight, but I've got enough that I can get out some first impressions.

The game looks boring.  Visually it is absolutely boring.  The models and game world doesn't look bad, far from it.  The game just isn't an over the top super polished masterpiece that we are used to seeing.  The game runs on a very wide array of PC specs and seems to pretty much cater to the ENTIRE audience of those who can run the first one.

I played a Ranger and a Thief.  I was excited to play both and I think that both classes will be very good.  I will probably give them both a shot.  The game has moved on from the originals class system (or multi-class system).  There isn't a whole mini-game of making the best class based on certain abilities, that has been replaced with a weapon system that is fluid and absolutely awesome.  It might just be some of the most customized fun I have ever had.  I'm not sure how it progresses as you level, but in the lower levels (sub 15) it is great.

The Ranger is your normal ranged class.  You can get in close and do some work depending on your weapons, but it isn't nearly as fun.  What sets the class apart is how neat some of the ranged stuff is for them.  Using melee weapons does give the class a very interesting feel, but it isn't what I want when playing a Ranger.  The pet aspect is also very fun.  Picking your own pet and allowing it follow you around or attack.  There are even weapons that make your pet better.  It will be fun to see how this class plays in all of it's different ways at max level.

The Thief is probably the class I will play first.  A sneaky-stabby class that can also use a gun.  It's like my Witch Hunter fantasy all over (best class ever in WAR).  Hopefully I will get to play this class for a good amount, though.  =P  The class looks like a blast and the only reason I didn't play it as much as the Range is because I found out that I hate the Sylvari.  That aside, it's fun.  The seamless gameplay between gun and dagger is so amazing.  The fluid motions and the easily understandable use of abilities is a breath of fresh air.  I am very happy with the entire experience.