ArenaNet always has a lot of surprises, and the final beta weekend event is no different. Instead of making it boring for players, they have added a lot of new content and features that players will just love. The beta event starts on July 20th and will include:

New Zone: Brisban Wildlands

The Brisban Wildlands is a new map that is meant for players between level 17 20. This remote jungle is a visual delight that is quoted by a developed at arena.net as being:

"Brisban Wildlands is a remote jungle adjacent to the lands of the asura, sylvari, and humans. For decades the only inhabitants have been a few asura labs too secretive or volatile to occupy space near Rata Sum, and an ever-multiplying population of skritt. Protected by the secluded jungle, the skritt built the city of Skrittsburgh, and have attained an order of civility little seen in other areas of Tyria."

Vistas

Vistas are a unique way to view the world around your character. Instead of roaming around to see the visual sights, vistas provide a beautiful panoramic view of the world. This will allow avid explorers to see the Guild Wars 2 world like never before, but there is a catch they are hidden throughout the world!

PvP: Legacy of the Foefire

The Guild Wars 2 team decided that it was time to add a new map that is more reminiscent of the original Guild Wars. While the goal is to capture three points, this map includes NPCS. These NPCS or "guild lords" are immensely difficult and will be a challenge for even the most skilled players. If you succeed in slaying the foe, you will be rewarded with a lot of extra points.

WvW: Sentries

Many players like to fly solo and enjoy world vs. world game play. Well, during the final beta weekend sentries will be added into the game. Sentries will guard capture points and are rather difficult to kill. However, if you manage to beat them, you will be rewarded extra points for your troubles.

Mini Games: Keg Brawl

Keg Brawl is the first mini-game that has been added to beta. The concept is that players often want to relax and play a mindless game once in awhile. Why not enjoy a team game of Keg Brawl? The rules are simple: hurl a keg of ale across the lake while the opposing team tries to gain control of it by tackling, kicking and pummeling you.

Asura and Sylvari Races

Those who played the first Guild Wars will remember the asura from the last expansion. They are a subterranean race that has very strong features and are quite brilliant. This has allowed them to harness the power of magic which is at the core of their existence. Although they haven't been on the surface of the world for very long, they have still had to overcome many perils. Their knowledge has allowed them to become a dominant force in Tyria and will be a match for any foe.

However, the sylvari will not be very familiar to anyone, but their heritage is very rich. They are a group that looks very similar to a human, but when you get close you will be astonished by the difference. Their features are that of a tree with vines and leaves for flesh. They are spawned from The Pale Tree who wanted them to have the lives of a human and the wisdom of a centaur. This allows them to have a keen sense of knowledge about the world and compels them to explore and learn.

The final beta weekend seems like it will add the extra push some players need before ordering the game. ArenaNet has listened to their player's needs and have over delivered right before there highly anticipated launch. Will you be playing on launch day? I know I will be!

The team at ArenaNet have announced that Guild Wars 2 will be released on August 28, 2012. The long awaited release has been met with both high anticipation and some hesitation from gamers. While the game is pegged as one of the most awaited of the year, fans of the original Guild Wars feel like the story will not answer questions they have been longing to hear. Unfortunately, Guild Wars 2 will not answer questions about what happened after the end of the original, but there is much more to look forward to.

Controls

The point and click movement has been removed to allow for smoother game play and will be reminiscent of what most MMORPGs have. Characters will be more active in combat which now includes blocking skills, hit detection and ground targeting. Skills will also be able to be used while running or jumping.

Event System

Traditional quests have been revamped in the game to enable an event based system. Instead of doing mundane quests, characters will be guided on events that will meld into one another much more than quests ever did. For instance, an e****t quest might lead a character saving a small city which opens up subsequent events.

Graphics

Major enhancements in the game should be enough to hold over even the most upset fans. The story starts 250 years after Tyra. The original game engine has been highly modified to support 3D environments, crisp textures, fine shadows and lighting. The Havok physics engine will provide more realistic animations to go along with environment interactions.

Swimming

Players can now engage in combat while under water and explore the water by diving. The realism of the game and the psychics are spot on. When diving into water from an elevated location, your toon's body will sink appropriately. If you merely hope into the water, you will just start floating. The attention to detail is amazing.

Guild Wars is rightfully one of the most anticipated games of the year. The immense amount of additions over the first installment of the game will be able to entice almost anyone to try the game. The no subscription model still stands, so once you purchase the game you will be able to enjoy the endless amount of exploration available. Pre-purchase the game today to get a three day early access to the game, beta weekend event invites and a hero's band. Many other bonuses are available to those who want to purchase the deluxe edition and the collector's edition.