Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Guild Wars: Nightfall Pre-Release Bonus Pack doesn’t alter the core mechanics you know and love, but it does give you a tangible advantage when you first step into the world of Elona. With the Fiery Sunspear of Shelter in the hands of your Paragon, you’ll unleash flaming projectiles that burn foes over time, making early quests and PvP skirmishes feel a bit less daunting. Meanwhile, the Icy Soulbreaker of Enchanting for the Dervish adds a chilling twist to your whirlwinds, granting you extra crowd-control potential from the moment you enter the field.

Beyond these two powerful weapons, the pack also includes one free character slot. This alone can save you the hassle of purchasing additional slots later on, allowing you to experiment freely with builds, professions, or alternate playstyles without breaking the bank. Whether you want to create a specialized PvE powerhouse or forge ahead with a unique PvP stalwart, the extra slot gives you that breathing room right out of the gate.

To sweeten the deal further, you receive a 14-day / 10-hour trial code that covers Guild Wars: Prophecies and Guild Wars: Factions. This generous trial period is perfect if you’re a newcomer looking to sample ArenaNet’s earlier campaigns, or if you’ve been away for a while and want to catch up on story and mechanics. The smooth transition between the trial and your existing Nightfall account means you can build familiarity with past content before diving into Elona’s desert sands.

Graphics

While the bonus pack doesn’t modify in-game visuals directly, it does deliver high-quality media assets that any Guild Wars fan will appreciate. You’ll find three Nightfall wallpapers in resolutions ranging from 1024×768 up to 1920×1200, showcasing dramatic vistas of Elona’s shifting sands, lush oases, and the ominous Obsidian Sanctum. Each wallpaper captures the game’s rich color palette and finely detailed art style, making for excellent desktop backdrops or mood-setting pieces as you prepare for your next session.

The included bonus CD also contains an array of official screenshots from Nightfall, offering you a behind-the-scenes look at key areas, character models, and spell effects. Whether you’re hunting for design inspiration or simply admiring the environmental storytelling, these images highlight the polish that goes into each zone. They serve as a visual roadmap to everything you’ll soon explore firsthand.

Lastly, the pack features trailers for Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall. These high-definition cinematics underscore ArenaNet’s evolution in graphical fidelity, from the lush jungles of Cantha to the towering ruins of Arah. Even if you’ve watched them online, having them on disc means uninterrupted playback and a chance to pause on particularly striking frames—ideal for anyone curious about the series’ visual progression.

Story

The bonus CD goes beyond mere visuals by delivering lore documents dedicated to the Paragon and the Dervish, two of Nightfall’s signature professions. These write-ups delve into the martial traditions of the Sunspears and the mystical heritage of the Veilborn, offering context for the unique skills you wield in combat. Reading about their origins enriches your sense of purpose when you embark on each mission, making story beats feel more personal.

Combined with the trial access to Prophecies and Factions, the lore materials allow you to appreciate the narrative threads that bind Tyria and Elona together. You can trace the Sunspears’ fall from glory in Factions or revisit the Priory’s struggles in Prophecies, then see how both factions converge in Nightfall’s grand finale. This narrative continuity is a hallmark of the Guild Wars saga, and the bonus pack ensures you won’t miss a beat.

Furthermore, the included trailers underscore pivotal plot moments—from Joko’s rise to power in Elona to the tragic sacrifice of beloved allies. Watching these sequences side by side reveals how ArenaNet crafts tension and stakes across multiple campaigns. By the time you pop the disc into your drive, you’ll have a robust mental framework for the trials and tribulations awaiting your heroes.

Overall Experience

For veteran players, the Pre-Release Bonus Pack is a no-brainer: it provides useful items, aesthetic goodies, and story supplements at minimal extra cost. The Fiery Sunspear and Icy Soulbreaker let you experiment with advanced builds right away, while the free slot keeps your roster flexible. Even if you breeze through the trial period, having Prophecies and Factions on hand can spark new adventures or rekindle old ones.

If you’re new to Guild Wars altogether, this pack doubles as a welcome kit. The trial code gives you nearly two weeks to explore the first two campaigns, so you can decide if the series is right for you before fully committing. At the same time, the bonus CD’s wallpapers, screenshots, and lore articles offer a rich primer on the world, ensuring you feel immersed from day one.

In the end, the Nightfall Pre-Release Bonus Pack strikes the perfect balance between practical in-game benefits and collectible extras. It doesn’t just drop powerful weapons into your hands—it also invites you to dive deeper into the series’ story, art, and community. Whether you’re here for the blades, the backstory, or simply the beautiful visuals, this pack enhances your Guild Wars journey in every direction.