Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Guild Wars: Factions builds upon the cooperative online RPG (CORPG) structure introduced in Prophecies, striking a balance between shared hub cities and instanced adventures. In cities like Kaineng Center or Daion Bazaar, you’ll encounter dozens of players—perfect for trading, recruiting for missions, or simply socializing. Once you leave these urban hubs for explorable areas or story missions, you slip into a private game instance with your chosen party, ensuring seamless progression without interference from other groups.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The PvE component offers a rich tapestry of quests and missions. Standard quests award experience and Faction points to boost your standing with either the Luxons or Kurzicks, while multi-stage missions propel the main storyline forward. Completing missions grants not only XP but also unique gear and Faction reputation, encouraging you to revisit areas with different party compositions and skill builds.

On the PvP front, Factions expands beyond traditional arenas and Guild versus Guild battles. You’ll find story-driven PvP missions that tie directly into the overarching conflict between the Luxons and Kurzicks. Victories in these missions shift control of borderlands and open up elite PvE missions for your chosen side, creating a dynamic warfront where every match contributes to the larger campaign.

Character creation and progression are equally rewarding. You choose one of eight core professions at level one—Warrior, Ranger, Necromancer, Monk, Elementalist, Mesmer, Assassin, or Ritualist—and later dual-class to mix abilities, yielding 56 possible class combinations. You only carry eight skills into each mission, and with over a hundred to choose from, strategic planning is essential. Coupled with a level cap of 20 and harsh death penalties in missions (up to 60% HP loss on revival), Factions rewards thoughtful builds and teamwork over button-mashing.

Graphics

Factions transports players to Cantha, a continent steeped in Japanese-inspired aesthetics. The architecture features curved rooftops, ornate lanterns, and lush gardens, while bamboo forests and cherry-blossom groves evoke an authentic East-Asian atmosphere. Even nearly two decades after its release, the hand-painted textures and vibrant color palette hold up remarkably well, giving the world a timeless, storybook feel.

Character models benefit from clean lines and fluid animations. Spells and skill effects pop with dynamic particles—flames dance across the ground, ice shards glimmer in moonlight, and ethereal Mesmer illusions swirl in midair. Boss encounters showcase detailed animations and visual telegraphs that help seasoned players anticipate devastating attacks.

From a technical standpoint, Factions remains accessible. It requires no subscription, and while it doesn’t push modern GPUs to their limits, the game runs smoothly on modest hardware even in crowded cities. Load times between hubs and instances are brief, and dynamic day-night cycles and weather effects—rain-soaked streets in Kaineng, mist rolling over the Shing Jea Monastery—add to immersion without taxing performance.

The UI reinforces clarity and style. Skill bar icons are distinct and themed by profession, while quest trackers and party windows adopt a parchment-and-brass motif that complements the game’s overall art direction. It’s easy to dive into missions without fussing over confusing menus, keeping the focus on exploration and combat.

Story

The narrative of Guild Wars: Factions kicks off with a call for aid from Master Togo to Brother Mhenlo: a deadly plague ravages Cantha, and local healers are at a loss. As a veteran of Prophecies, you’re summoned to assist Mhenlo, setting the stage for a continent-wide crisis. If you’re new to the series, you begin on a tutorial island off the Canthan coast, learning the basics while immersing yourself in the lore from the outset.

Once you reach the mainland, you’re swept into Cantha’s complex history. The former Shing Jea Monastery, once a center of spiritual harmony, now stands besieged by factional strife. Missions unravel the enmity between the seafaring Luxons and the land-based Kurzicks, each with its own culture, leadership, and reasons for war. This rivalry provides a morally nuanced backdrop—neither side is purely good or evil, and strategic victories often come with political consequences.

Factions’ story missions feature in-engine cinematics and rich NPC dialogue, deepening your connection to key figures like Master Togo, Lord Kisu, and the enigmatic Tsuchinoko. Side quests further flesh out the world, introducing you to street-wise smugglers, exiled monks, and plague-ravaged villagers. The branching PvP missions reinforce the narrative stakes: every win for your faction shifts the balance of power in contested provinces.

Subplots explore themes of honor, sacrifice, and the cost of loyalty. As you gain Faction points, you unlock access to secret lore missions that reveal Cantha’s forgotten secrets, from ancient rituals to hidden temples. The culmination of your journey is a series of epic finale missions that test not only your combat prowess but also your allegiance to Luxon or Kurzick ideals.

Overall Experience

Guild Wars: Factions shines as a subscription-free MMO alternative, delivering a structured yet flexible experience. Whether you’re a solo adventurer tackling missions with AI companions or a PvP enthusiast rallying your guild for borderland conquests, the game caters to varied playstyles. The instance-based design eliminates griefing and overcrowding, while robust matchmaking ensures you can always find a group for high-level challenges.

Owning both Prophecies and Factions unlocks access to every skill in the shared pool, enabling creative dual-class builds that few other RPGs can match. The synergy between chapters rewards long-term players, but newcomers can dive straight into Factions without prior experience, thanks to the intuitive tutorial island and streamlined progression.

Balanced PvE and PvP systems make Factions a title you can revisit for months or years. Seasonal tournaments and leaderboard events keep the community engaged, while repeatable missions and faction wars provide endless reasons to improve your skill bar and gear loadout. The level-20 cap forces depth over breadth: understanding synergies and counter-strategies becomes more important than endless grinding.

For players seeking a polished, lore-rich MMORPG without the burden of monthly fees, Guild Wars: Factions remains a standout choice. Its fusion of Eastern aesthetics, tactical gameplay, and factional warfare provides a unique experience that rewards both strategic thinking and cooperative play. Cantha’s vibrant world awaits—choose your side and prepare for a battle that will define the fate of an entire continent.

Retro Replay Score

8.2/10