Gaming Nexus has taken a look at Vanguard now that SOE has had a chance to clean up some of the disaster that was presented at launch.

...Vanguard made touchstones out of many elements that MMO critics (by now) relegated to blacklist (read: outdated) status.  Touchstones like "corpse runs" and "experience penalties."  Gameplay that smacked of scheduled "grinding" between unscheduled "spawn camping."  And overland travel required lengthy commutes and a harrowing amount of backtracking from sometimes-redundant mission structure.

I'll still admit in Vanguard's favor, however, that I did not personally scribble down pages of notes regarding the rampant bugs and glitches that were ceaselessly being blasted over world chat by disillusioned Vanguardians.  Or, as is more likely the case, my attentions were simply drawn elsewhere.  It's possible I didn't receive the proper amount of copper pieces for stabbing previously disclosed amounts of rats ... as I was probbably mesmerized by the symmetric grandeur of the city of Qalia, stunned as I stared out from a Cliffs-of-Dover height from above.  Perhaps the graphics were hiccupping all the way down to ten frames per second ... but my attention was drawn to the square-rigged sailing vessel coursing between the Colossus-sized statues flanking the harbor entrance.

It's not all roses, but a good look at how the game is now, rather then a rant of what it was when it launched is certainly worth reading!  Lots of screen shots are included, and now I'm tempted *shudder* to try it again as well!