Guild Wars 2 Trailer Inceptions Expectations
ArenaNet releases Guild Wars 2's live action trailer.
So that happened.
The much anticipated and teased trailer for Guild Wars 2 was released and, well, it's a trailer.
Focusing on the concept of ArenaNet's MMO bringing a new experience, the large majority of the video is a live action sequence set in a "gritty," stylized version of reality.
The massed crowd then takes the leap -- or walks over coals -- to symbolize the emergence into Tyria.
At that point it all becomes what we might expect, cool visuals, an awesome enemy.
The symbolism is over wrought and with the Inception-style score it really muddies the water in my opinion.
With such an incredible resource to fall back on, one would think that the game itself would be the focus of the trailer, but instead we have a ponderous, foreboding intro that boggles my mind.
Not because the message or metaphors are hard to understand, but because I have no idea why ArenaNet went in this direction.
Not using the sweeping, joyous score in the game itself is also odd. As I've said on many occasions, the hand-crafter labor of love that represents the incredible design achievement of Guild Wars 2 has staggered me continuously.
So to produce this trailer as an exemplification of what the game is and how to best present it is utterly confusing.
Watch it several times and let us know what you think.
I'll be doing the same, while scratching my head.
Scott "Jarimor" Hawkes, Editor in Chief