Kalarchis.8635

GW2 is running on a modified GW1 engine. The thing is 13 years old and it runs like it. Unless they take some serious time to optimize the ancient code (which they've said they won't do because it'll sacrifice content development, also it'll be a nightmare,) the game performance is going to continue to deteriorate over time. This became painfully obvious with PoF, which killed my performance to the point that I can hardly stand to play anymore. The new maps are gorgeous...and run like a lead bathtub. My comp's performance running the game post-PoF is SO bad that I actually reapplied my thermal paste, bought a new antivirus, and cleaned/defragged a few times over. I was actually worried my computer was dying or infected, that's how severe the difference was post-PoF. It couldn't have been the game, I thought. It ran alright pre-PoF. But lo. Pre-PoF, I would typically run the game with a browser running YouTube in the background with no issue. Post-PoF, if I try that my computer chokes so bad you'd think it was a laptop. We need GW3 if only for a fresh engine. Sadly I don't expect it to happen any time soon.

So I enjoyed the map, enjoyed the story, but - with the exception of Koss - basically despised the instances. Eye of the Brandstorm - The amount of particle effects going on once you enter the city is absurd. It took me 5-10 minutes of frustration just to find the first branded crystal because I couldn't tell wtf was going on. The wyvern fight was very unsatisfying because the progression of the fight is an illusion. The boss heals so rapidly that your efforts are meaningless; you're essentially stalling for time while Aurene does all the real damage. It was not fun. The Hero of Istan - The Warden Amala fight had me barking at my screen. She. Will. Not. Stand. Still. A boss that teleports around is fine but this one leaps and spins and teleports SO often that it was pure frustration. Again, not fun. The First City - This one is the real offender for me, and there are multiple reasons: Too long. The entire instance is too long. I hate to be one to decry more content but seriously it was too long.The mob swarms are too much. Once? Sure. Three or four or five times? No.The condition spam on some of these awakened is ridiculous. I'm playing a S/D Water/Arcane/Weaver with swiftness spec who is basically built to never have conditions, and I couldn't keep up with all of it. I cannot imagine how other classes dealt with that Arbiter.The final fight with Scruffy is about three times longer than it should be, particularly in an instance as long as this one with a couple bosses in it already. Also, again, I'm a S/D weaver; I've got CC coming out of my ears and all of it was entirely useless. These bosses with no break bar mechanics that are ALSO completely immune to CC have got to go. Not fun.Braham is still being a whiny little teenager, and the Commander still doesn't say a word about it. Boy needs daddy's belt something fierce. Or mabye Taimi can tell him to stfu, I don't care. I'm just sick of him and it seems like everyone else is too.I just finished the episode and the frustration I have coming out of it is almost Caudecus all over again. Your game should never have me yelling at my screen, Anet. Never.