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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
The stand-alone Guild Wars Factions is the second campaign in ArenaNet's massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The Factions campaign, which can be played either connected with the regular Guild Wars or as its own separate game, includes new regions (with an entire new continent), professions, skills, missions, and monsters, along with expanded options for both Cooperative and Player-versus-Player (PvP) play, and enhanced features for guilds. New content includes a number of the skills added to Guild Wars: Factions, including some of the deadly skills of the Assassin and the arcane spells of the spiritual Ritualist. Factions will also introduce a new PvP continent, Battle Isles. Battle Isles will introduce players to new PvP experiences, new and expanded arenas, new quests and a new explorable area as well. [NCsoft]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 92
AtomicGamer
Overall, Factions is an excellent package. While players of Prophecies may look at it and see a $50 price tag and complain, the game is truly complete - it isn't just a straight up expansion pack.
 91
Game Chronicles
The gameplay is now as polished as a new katana and Factions adds plenty of new features to keep players engaged until a third expansion arrives sometime in the next few months.
91
Digital Entertainment News
Anyone who can’t see the value in playing such a beautiful game online when there are no monthly fees required needs... therapy.
90
RewiredMind
Guild Wars: Factions is a rich, detailed and diverse world with plenty of scope for expansion, and already has me looking forward to seeing Chapter 3 when it comes out. This game can convert even the most ardent Planetsiders (most of my Guild actually) and the fun that both chapters offer is never-ending.
90
Cheat Code Central
Fairly balanced and sharp looking, it may lack some of the depth of its competitors but it does more than hold its own by providing an exciting competitive combat experience rounded out by impressive visuals on anyone’s system and the right MMO aspects sprinkled throughout.
90
Worth Playing
The combination of setting, graphical tweaks, and additional content have done nothing more than forge the experience into exactly what it should have been from the very beginning.
90
GameSpy
On a very meaningful level, it gives complete newcomers access to the most exciting aspect of the game right out of the box. And should those players decide to sample everything that it has to offer, they will not be disappointed.
90
1UP
Each module of Factions was obviously overseen by the staunchest of perfectionists, because they work amazingly well. Factions is a must-buy for Guild Wars fans and a must-try for everyone else.
90
Yahoo! Games
Committed Guild Wars players will probably have bought it already -- if you haven't taken the plunge yet, it's the perfect opportunity to try this unique and beautiful game.
90
GameZone
Allowing players to move Prophecy characters to Factions landscapes and quest streams is a definite plus.
90
AceGamez
Once more they've created not only a mesmerisingly beautiful world but also an infinitely playable one to boot.
90
WHAM! Gaming
The series could benefit from features such as other playable races or a crafting system, but you'll likely be so busy adventuring that you won't have much time for gathering herbs.
89
IC-Games
The interface could have done with some tweaking, as it’s not immediately obvious what everything does, but aside from that there really isn’t any reason why you should give Factions a run.
88
Computer Games Online RO
For veteran players, Factions offers little in terms of PvE but more than makes up for it in PvP, especially if you’re a member of an experienced guild.
88
Gamer 2.0
Guild Wars Factions not only gives longtime fans a taste of something new, but it allows newcomers to jump right in and start playing.
87
Jolt Online Gaming UK
It’s not as heavy on the role-playing as a subscription MMO, and it’s not usually as instantly gratifying as an online shooter, but it strikes a great balance for the casual MMO fan and the achievement-oriented action fan alike.
86
Pelit (Finland)
Guild Wars: Factions expands the original game with a new, fresh-looking Oriental-style campaign and new play modes for PvP. Its greatest asset is still the lack of monthly fees, but it is also a good MMORPG with lots of PvP content and a fantastic skill system. [June 2006]
86
GamerNode
Despite the penalties for dying, and the occasional boring quest or tedious running. Guild Wars is an excellently planned and executed MMORPG. It has the mass appeal of NOT costing you money every month.
85
ActionTrip
You get plenty of bang for your buck and if you liked the original, you're bound to like Factions. The "sequel" or whatever you like to call it offers a lot of great stuff, albeit for the more hardcore GW fans.
85
IGN
Perhaps ironically, the more you play, the fresher it stays, thanks to unlocking arenas and skills.
85
GameSpot
The follow-up to the innovative Guild Wars features a large new fantasy world to explore and enough competitive and cooperative role-playing action to easily keep you busy for weeks.
85
Gamers Europe
Of course if you’ve gotten all the bonuses, all the skills for all six character classes and a fancy looking set of fissure armour, then Factions is the stand-alone expansion for you! You get a whole new campaign to play, a lot of new skills to find and a cracking good story to play through, not to mention a case that retains its newness for months. Marvellous.
85
Deeko
Guild Wars: Factions is a standalone game instead of being a true expansion pack, so you get 4 character slots and 8 profession to choose from. Luckily, owners of both campaigns can bring over the original 4 character slots and 2 additional ones in Factions.
81
PC Format
Solid, and cheap enough to warrant dipping into instead of devoting your life to. [July 2006, p.88]
80
PC Gamer UK
Fun, but easily forgotten. [July 2006, p.75]
80
PC Gamer
While it's not a must-have for current players, unlocking Faction's 300-odd new skills and discovering an entire new continent full of missions, monsters, and locales adds a lot of creamy icing to an already tasty cake. [Aug 2006, p.64]
80
G4 TV
Owners of both Prophecies and Factions will eat up the Asian-themed landscapes and ability to travel between both games. For new kids, if MMOs freaked you out because of their overwhelming commitment, Factions will reward for your hard hours quickly.
80
Computer Games Magazine
Still, if you were intrigued at all by the PvP aspects of the original design but frustrated by the steep learning curve--or if you're just brand-new to the game--Factions is the best place to jump in and experience one of the deepest and most rewarding franchises in gaming. [Sept. 2006, p.79]
80
games(TM)
While some may argue that Factions is ‘more of the same’ and nothing greater than a hefty expansion, the sheer amount of fresh content easily makes the title a worthy purchase. [Aug 2006, p.124]
80
Boomtown
Despite finding the storyline enjoyable, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was only there to prepare me for PvP action.
80
GamerFeed
The lure of playing Cantha and experiencing this world, plus the challenge of playing as either the Assassin or Ritualist are plenty of incentive by themselves to enter the world of Factions.
80
Loaded Inc
On the one hand I am greatly disappointed that Factions seems to just be ‘more of the same’ in a different setting with even less missions, yet on the other hand it has reignited my interest in the series and I am once again playing Guild Wars as often as I was once before.
80
EuroGamer
There's still some basic things it lacks, most obviously a decent in-game auction house for trading items, and a better teaming system for locating people interested in grouping, but it does keep a count on how long you've been playing and after a long session pops up a "You've been playing for four hours. Take a break".
80
My Gamer
Factions really doesn't break any new ground, but it does play well to its core competencies, namely delivering a beautiful world for players that love PvE and exploration, alongside a finely-tuned set of PvP and Arena areas for the more competitive crowd.
80
Games Radar (in-house)
And with no monthly fees, Guild Wars Factions serves as an excellent introduction to those unfamiliar with the MMORPG genre or Guild Wars series.
78
PC Zone UK
Ultimately, though, it's more of the same, albeit with a new storyline and exotic new setting. [July 2006, p.82]
77
Strategy Informer
Obviously there are a few limitations such as only having 5 characters, but that’s not too much of a problem. I was personally impressed.
70
VideoGamer
While there's no denying that the Guild Wars franchise is both popular and technically superb, unless you're after dedicated PvP thrills, it's hard to see it genuinely competing with games like World of Warcraft in the long term.
67
The Onion (A.V. Club)
The campaign feels rushed: you'll be halfway to your maximum level before the story proper even starts, and the plot, about a mysterious illness that plagues the land, is clichéd.
J gave it a9: Rob E. gave it an8: MaKRoute M. gave it a10: P M gave it a10: V gave it an8: Timothy P. gave it a9: 0mar J. gave it a6: |
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