Guild Wars is a very popular massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG - or mmmorpug when spoken out loud * ).  If you don’t know that acronym by now, it’s unlikely you’ll have heard of the GW franchise. And what better way to delve into the world of mmmorpugs than with GW: Nightfall?

It’s an expansion that can happily stand alone, so you don’t need to buy the original game or any of the other expansions to be able to play. But I suspect you probably will want to once you’ve had a crack at GW:N, as Guild Wars has everything a MMORPG should have, and there aren’t any monthly subscriptions to irritate the bill-payer. The player-base is large and (from my experience) friendly too.

In terms of gameplay, it shares strong similarities with the other MMORPGS I’ve played, but it does have a very polished feel and well-versed veterans of the genre will be comfortable with the controls in no time. Newcomers have a nice series of quests to get to know their character’s capabilities and the game’s features.

For people familiar with the original game, this new expansion adds new classes in the form of Paragon and Dervish who have their own unique skills and abilities. Used carefully, Secondary classes can give you some great combinations.

Another good addition is the use of Heroes to bolster your team which is great for those solo levelling-up sessions where you need a tank to hold the baddies at bay while you pick them off – or a healer to keep you patched up while you soak up the damage. Your selection of Heroes increases as you progress through the quests, and as such they are embroiled in the storyline. Heroes come in addition to Henchmen (over which you have much less control), and your questing party can be made up of other players, Heroes, Henchmen, and pets (if there’s a ranger among you).

All in all Nightfall is a fine new member of the Guild Wars family and well worth checking out.

* heh, just kidding, never say it out loud like that. At least not in public.

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