Shadow of the Mad King will launch Oct. 22 and end on Oct. 31 (Photo : NCSoft)
From October 22 to October 31, Guild Wars 2 will host an ongoing Halloween event "marked by the spirit of Mad King Thorn's cavorting among the people unleashing his own brand of insanity," according to the GW2 official site.
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As the first substantial addition to the game since launch, the update will provide themed accessories, environments, and characters, while further filling out the experience with "new (dynamic) events, jumping puzzles, bosses, mini-dungeons, and achievements appearing across a variety of maps."
In the land of Tyria, the Mad King has been absent for 250 years, but omens and rumors signify his return.
The Oct. 22 update is packed with a shipment of Halloween themed items, sent to the Black Lion Trading Company. In exchange for hard-looted money, trader Evon Gnashblade will provide players with costumes and "new transforms that will allow you to play Costume Brawl with fellow costumed players."
The site also notes that paid tournaments will be opened up, allowing humans, charr, asura, norn, or sylvari to buy tickets for a place in a five-person team.
"Participating teams will earn qualifier points that will allow them to compete in future, larger tournaments. Tournament tickets can be earned from winning normal tournaments or purchased in the Gem Store," writes the developers.
Guild Wars 2 was praised by critics, receiving a coveted 90% on Metacritic.
IGN states, "ArenaNet has built one of the most exhaustively detailed and rewarding MMOs in existence, one that never unfairly penalizes and fosters an incredible urge to explore through a generous reward system and achingly pretty environment design."
In Gametrailers' review, the editor touts that "the level of imagination, inspiration, and variety on display sets a high standard for other games to come. and with a payment model a good deal more generous than the majority of its competition, it puts to question just what other developers can get away with."
