[2020] Vanilla ambient sounds are so immersive, they become scary.

Ran around on an alt. A norn woman, warrior at that. I enjoy her quite a bit.

I've been on my feet for some while actually, an hour or two without noticing how the time went by. Doing nothing but dynamic events, explorations, mini dungeons I discovered, jumping puzzles, caves and little nooks and crannies, doing battle with whatever dared to attack me.

My favourite kind of playing the game, and the one GW2 was specifically made for. Aimlessly roaming around.

After what felt like forever I finally managed to leave Sparkfly Fen behind me and enter Mount Maelstrom. Thinking nothing of it I battled undead that charged against a skritt skratch, joined other adventurous players in their battle against a champion spider, excelling at breaking its breakbar with my choice of weapons and utility skills.

Moving on, something snarled into my ear. It actually startled me, confirming the manufacturer's claim regarding the quality of their headphones, and I swivelled the camera a bit more frantically than I care to admit, only to discover...nothing.

It was an ambient sound.

The next minute I spent focusing on it, while running around, avoiding battle and everyhing.

Twittering, singing birds. Grunting ... animals. Deliberately close snarling, rustling that sounds farther away. The pace of my steps, the flutter of wings. Chirping.

GW2 is a great work of art, with immense creativity and outstanding craftsmanship in all regards. Music and graphics and animations alike.

But its ambient sounds might truly be the most underrated part of it. There is a detail hidden inside, so easily unnoticed, yet so integral to the overall experience, it's magical.