Guild Wars: Nightfall

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Free online fantasy RPG has some violence.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that like the previous Guild Wars massively multiplayer online games (MMOG), combat is an integral part of the game. Players attack and kill computer and human-controlled opponents with swords, and other medieval weaponry, but there's no blood. Parents also should be aware that outfits and players can remove their character's clothes down to their underwear. There is a filter, but online communication can be unpredictable. Unlike other MMOGs, however, there's no monthly subscription fee.

  • Heroic fantasy-themed storyline generally has player defending the good guys and beating up the bad guys. Players learn strategy and teamwork in group play.
  • Bloodless fantasy violence. Players kill computer-controlled monsters and fight other players to the death with medieval-style weaponry, i.e. swords, bows, etc.
  • Character outfits can be racy, and clothing can be removed down to underwear.
  • Online interactions have potential for unwanted topics. Profanity filters block some language in chat, but not all.
  • Not applicable.
  • Characters can buy and consume alcohol, which mimics drunkenness by causing the screen to blur and characters to behave erratically for a short time.

What's it about?

GUILD WARS: NIGHTFALL is the third in a series of games that allow the player to explore, quest, and fight in an online mythical world. In the role of a fantasy hero, players battle solo or in groups against monsters and other players.

From a menu of options, players choose their hero's physical and combat attributes, including skin color, hair style, magical abilities, and fighting skills. Players take their hero on quests to defeat monsters, which awards experience, new abilities, improved clothing and weapons, and game currency. The missions are easy by design, so that if necessary they can be completed without the help of other players.


Is it any good?

 

Nightfall's first-rate campaign takes place in Elona, an area adjoining the original Guild Wars' play region, Tyria. The player becomes the hero seeking to prevent a mysterious event called Nightfall, which will return an evil godlike being to the world. Of the three Guild Wars games, Nightfall's story is the strongest and most satisfying to finish. The game also introduces Heroes, computer controlled henchmen that can help players on their quests.

As with other Guild Wars games, end-game content revolves around player versus player (PvP) combat. But, unlike many MMOGs, successful PvP play doesn't depend on players having better equipment or character abilities; characters come with the highest level of both these things, so that success relies on skill, strategic thinking and teamwork, and not just on equipment quality.

Nightfall is a MMOG, but only loosely; the only thing that's "massively multiplayer" about it are the towns where players congregate to go on quests or PvP. The actual game areas are "instanced," meaning that individuals and teams get their own copy of the world in which to quest by themselves. This makes the game cheaper to produce and thus free to play, but the trade off is that it prevents potential random encounters with other people. Interaction with the game population happens only in the towns, providing less opportunity to form unplanned "pick-up" groups.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about online safety with their teens. Why is it important to maintain privacy while online? Is everyone always who they claim to be? What does effect does online anonymity have on people's behavior? Families can also discuss the unique business model of the Guild Wars franchise. How can an online game make money if no one pays a subscription fee?


This review was written by Dwight Odelius
Parent of 14 year old
August 26, 2009
 
Nightfall is the latest full "chapter" in the Guild Wars series of games. Many players think it has the best story. Nightfall introduced "Heroes", which are computer-controlled companions that the player can equip with items and skills, so that you can play the game by yourself if you so choose (although it's much more fun playing in a well-coordinated group, or guild. Since the Guild Wars games don't have a monthly fee like most MMO's, a parent doesn't have to be too concerned if the kid gets bored with it for some reason after a few months and stops playing it (it won't be a continual drain on your credit card).

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
also an amazing game!
this game has a great story, encorages team work....the outfits...really dont reveal anything that your kid doesnt see girls wearing everday in school..you can get drunk which results in your character saying things like "im king of the world" and kneeling or sitting. The underwear...not even worth mentioning it doesnt reveal anything, the violence is tame...no blood or gore seen, language,most of it is censored...depends on who you interact with...soooo...if your an rpg fan this is a GREAT game for you.

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This review was written by Dwight Odelius
Platforms:Windows
Available online?Available online
Genre:Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG)
Developer:NCsoft
Release date:October 27, 2006
Price:$49.99
ESRB rating:T for Use of Alcohol, Violence

This review was written by Dwight Odelius

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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