Guild Wars (1) is still one of the best games ever

[A Black Falcon]

Zelda? Guild Wars isn't much like Zelda... sure, both are third parson games with exploration and a fantasy setting, but that's about where the comparisons end. Zelda is much more of an action series, while Guild Wars is more of a strategy game.

As for 'the sort of game it is', GW has MMO elements, but it's not an MMO, it's a very unique mixture unlike anything else. That's a big part of why people still play it, I'm sure -- if you want to play Guild Wars, as I still often do, you have to play Guild Wars, nothing else is like it. The skill system particularly stands out of course, but there are other things too -- the mixed instanced and open design of the world is something other games have done, but none quite like GW's; the way the PvP and PvE elements work is unique, with such a strong PvP component that actually tries to be balanced and not about grind, but player skill; etc, it's all original and unique stuff unlike other games. The map layouts are reasonably original too, and I definitely very much disagree about level design, I think GW's level designs are great! The deep skill-based combat and great graphics are a part of it, but I love exploring the world itself too. It's easily one of the best games ever made.