Hello all,

Been posting here for quite a long time, and have seen/done it all regarding MMO's (no MUD experience though, too young for that).  Here is a quick 30 second soundbyte review:

Graphics - Very nice.  Reminds me of Vanguard + Unreal Tournament.  9/10

Sound - Not much music in game.  Sound effects are okay, and some of them are recycled from CoX.  7/10

Gameplay - Bar-none the strength of this game.  Utilizing travel powers in combat is a true innovation for MMO's, and CO nailed it.  10/10

Stability - The only issue I have experienced is the occasional rubber-banding.  Only booted from server once in my several hours of game play.  This is the smoothest launch I have ever seen.  9/10

Replayability - Given the numerous powersets and combinations available, this game's staying power is very high.  Travel powers figure affect combat like no other MMO, so the variety of characters and strategies you can take are nearly endless. 10/10

I have played a couple of toons up to level 13.  I made a munitions/gadget toon, and love the acrobat travel power.  This run and gun character is probably the most fun I have ever had while playing an MMO.  This game has firmly gripped my interest, and I can't see myself playing anything else for a long, long time.

I dont mean to diss anyone but I dont think anyone needs to rate this game till they have reached lvl 25. thats when the game actually opens up and one of the Main perks of the game happens. I like this review it hits some of the nicer aspects of the game.

But still I would only take these reviews as here say. this game is going to be one of those that either you like it or you dont. there wont be an inbetween.

Originally posted by Cladhopper

 this game is going to be one of those that either you like it or you dont. there wont be an inbetween.

I agree whole-heartedly....

To OP and many others,  I am really happy to hear that the launch is smooth...my start date is tomorrow...can't wait to get in-game!

Originally posted by Cladhopper

I dont mean to diss anyone but I dont think anyone needs to rate this game till they have reached lvl 25. thats when the game actually opens up and one of the Main perks of the game happens. I like this review it hits some of the nicer aspects of the game.

But still I would only take these reviews as here say. this game is going to be one of those that either you like it or you dont. there wont be an inbetween.

You are right about post lvl 25.  Not sure what the content is like.  But it looks like you can spend the better part of the first 20 levels in either the Desert or Canada.  After that it is MC, MI & LM.  I would imagine the content is pretty fluid up until lvl 40.  CoX was.

Regardless, this is the first MMO to truly utilize 3D in every sense.  I am still floored at the combinations of travel powers & powersets, and how they can compliment each other.  This game has captured the sense of limitless possibilities like SWG did, and combines more action oriented combat like CoX, but waaaaaay better.

Once you get up to the mid 20's and upward, you'll find a serious content gap, running out of missions. Wouldn't be so bad, except mob xp is negligible, so grinding open quests is the only thing to do, over and over until you open another contact.

Also with the content, there are only enough missions in game so that you have to do all of them to level, so every character will do all the same missions in roughly the same order. Since all the power combinations play pretty similar, rolling alts also gets old fast.

The sounds, as you said are mostly recycled from CoX, some are even the exact same sounds.

Currently, the biggest flaw of the game is a severe lack of content. Given that even casual players have been hitting 30 (out of 40) before the headstart was over, they better get some content patched ASAP.

Another problem I personally have is that there are next to no instanced "dungeons" in the game, with the first Lairs coming around level 28-32, and only a few of them, very short. Most missions are the standard go to circle indicated on the map and kill X of Y, click on X of Y, or kill X. You can literally be doing the same mission with different mobs over and over and over. Occasionally, you get an instanced mission, but these are easily completed solo, in under five minutes.

Bringing me to my last point. The game is really solo oriented. You can team, but it's not necessary, and even counter productive to do so. With all the open world spawn camping you have to do (EQ anyone?) to complete missions, and everyoine doing the same missions, and everyone running solo since it's faster, you find kill/clicky stealers always swooping in to take it while you fight surrounding mobs, etc. It leads to much bad feelings among players.

The travel powers can also make teaming a hassle, since if you are on a team of fliers for example, and you have Acrobatics, the mission will be completed by the time you reach the team, or you'll get killed on the way, since you can't avoid mobs. Tunnelers with missions on top of a building..etc. Lots of disparity there.

It's an MMO-lite, probably a 100,000 base after things settle, but it introduces nothing new to CoX players except less content and updated graphics.

That said, it's worth a month's play.

Originally posted by Die_Scream

Once you get up to the mid 20's and upward, you'll find a serious content gap, running out of missions. Wouldn't be so bad, except mob xp is negligible, so grinding open quests is the only thing to do, over and over until you open another contact.

Also with the content, there are only enough missions in game so that you have to do all of them to level, so every character will do all the same missions in roughly the same order. Since all the power combinations play pretty similar, rolling alts also gets old fast.

The sounds, as you said are mostly recycled from CoX, some are even the exact same sounds.

Currently, the biggest flaw of the game is a severe lack of content. Given that even casual players have been hitting 30 (out of 40) before the headstart was over, they better get some content patched ASAP.

Another problem I personally have is that there are next to no instanced "dungeons" in the game, with the first Lairs coming around level 28-32, and only a few of them, very short. Most missions are the standard go to circle indicated on the map and kill X of Y, click on X of Y, or kill X. You can literally be doing the same mission with different mobs over and over and over. Occasionally, you get an instanced mission, but these are easily completed solo, in under five minutes.

Bringing me to my last point. The game is really solo oriented. You can team, but it's not necessary, and even counter productive to do so. With all the open world spawn camping you have to do (EQ anyone?) to complete missions, and everyoine doing the same missions, and everyone running solo since it's faster, you find kill/clicky stealers always swooping in to take it while you fight surrounding mobs, etc. It leads to much bad feelings among players.

The travel powers can also make teaming a hassle, since if you are on a team of flyers for example, and you have Acrobatics, the mission will be completed by the time you reach the team, or you'll get killed on the way, since you can't avoid them. Tunnelers with missions on top of a building..etc. Lots of disparity there.

It's an MMO-lite, probably a 100,000 base after things settle, but it intruces nothing new to CoX players except less content and updated graphics.

That said, it's worth a month's play.

 

 

I've only hit 20 so I guess I'm uber casual although i thought I was playing pretty heavy...  None the less I agree with your points and think it is an excellent assessment.  Even at my slow progress rate I'm thinking this game is only gonna be worth a month or two at most.  Which isn't bad mind you just I don't see it having much stickiness.  I kinda doubt I'd try to get in a supergroup of anything as I'm not sure it is necessary and I don't expect the game to really last so I'm not sure I want to start developing friends when I'll probably be gone in a few months....

Co is very similar to CoX in another aspect as well. It's the type of game you play for awhile, grow bored of quickly, take a break and return. I tend to play these type of MMO-lite games in spurts.

It's not the type of game where I could ever feel addicted, but if that's what you are looking for it's ok.

Originally posted by Die_Scream

Once you get up to the mid 20's and upward, you'll find a serious content gap, running out of missions. Wouldn't be so bad, except mob xp is negligible, so grinding open quests is the only thing to do, over and over until you open another contact.

Also with the content, there are only enough missions in game so that you have to do all of them to level, so every character will do all the same missions in roughly the same order. Since all the power combinations play pretty similar, rolling alts also gets old fast.

The sounds, as you said are mostly recycled from CoX, some are even the exact same sounds.

Currently, the biggest flaw of the game is a severe lack of content. Given that even casual players have been hitting 30 (out of 40) before the headstart was over, they better get some content patched ASAP.

Another problem I personally have is that there are next to no instanced "dungeons" in the game, with the first Lairs coming around level 28-32, and only a few of them, very short. Most missions are the standard go to circle indicated on the map and kill X of Y, click on X of Y, or kill X. You can literally be doing the same mission with different mobs over and over and over. Occasionally, you get an instanced mission, but these are easily completed solo, in under five minutes.

Bringing me to my last point. The game is really solo oriented. You can team, but it's not necessary, and even counter productive to do so. With all the open world spawn camping you have to do (EQ anyone?) to complete missions, and everyoine doing the same missions, and everyone running solo since it's faster, you find kill/clicky stealers always swooping in to take it while you fight surrounding mobs, etc. It leads to much bad feelings among players.

The travel powers can also make teaming a hassle, since if you are on a team of fliers for example, and you have Acrobatics, the mission will be completed by the time you reach the team, or you'll get killed on the way, since you can't avoid them. Tunnelers with missions on top of a building..etc. Lots of disparity there.

It's an MMO-lite, probably a 100,000 base after things settle, but it introduces nothing new to CoX players except less content and updated graphics.

That said, it's worth a month's play.

 

 

if anyone wants to know about this game, read the post very carefully.

He pretty much sums what Champions Online is all about.

 less content then CoX you say?  well cox has had 5 years to get their content going, how bout we give co a month or 3 to catch up?  cheers.

I was in millenia city and completely AWED by the size of this friggin city.

The club they put in the center of town has TWO sections, a lounge and a disco and it was perfect for guild meetings or just goofing around. The new "Atlas Park" so to speak.

less content? you mean that when I turn in 1 mission and get 3 new ones that LESS than COH?

 Wow, I just though COH used some random formula to send me (place X) with (generic gangs) and almost no storyline and then shuffle me to a new mission giver for a 5 mission arc culminating in pretty much nothing. Hmm, I had no idea it was less. Also being able to leave the friggin CITY and go to a place like the Canadian Wilderness where you could fit  what, at least 20 or 30 zones the kings row into it?

Originally posted by Malakhon

I was in millenia city and completely AWED by the size of this friggin city.

 

The club they put in the center of town has TWO sections, a lounge and a disco and it was perfect for guild meetings or just goofing around. The new "Atlas Park" so to speak.

 

less content? you mean that when I turn in 1 mission and get 3 new ones that LESS than COH?

Keep playing. Eventually when you turn in a mission, there won't be anymore. There will be no "!" on the maps anymore either.  It's well known that there are content gaps, that's not my opinion, just read the forums.

 Wow, I just though COH used some random formula to send me (place X) with (generic gangs) and almost no storyline and then shuffle me to a new mission giver for a 5 mission arc culminating in pretty much nothing. Hmm, I had no idea it was less.

I could describe the missions in CO the exact same way.

Also being able to leave the friggin CITY and go to a place like the Canadian Wilderness where you could fit  what, at least 20 or 30 zones the kings row into it?

Haha, 20 or 30 of KR in Canadian wilderness? Right.

Leaving the city to go (back) to the zone you just played for hours and left isn't a big plus. Currently the game has 5 zones. Five.

 

 

I liked CoX, but I'm not trying to bash CO, it's a decent start at COX2. Given enough time and patches most of these concerns will be addressed hopefully.

Originally posted by Die_Scream

Originally posted by Malakhon

I was in millenia city and completely AWED by the size of this friggin city.

 

The club they put in the center of town has TWO sections, a lounge and a disco and it was perfect for guild meetings or just goofing around. The new "Atlas Park" so to speak.

 

less content? you mean that when I turn in 1 mission and get 3 new ones that LESS than COH?

Keep playing. Eventually when you turn in a mission, there won't be anymore. There will be no "!" on the maps anymore either.  It's well known that there are content gaps, that's not my opinion, just read the forums.

 Wow, I just though COH used some random formula to send me (place X) with (generic gangs) and almost no storyline and then shuffle me to a new mission giver for a 5 mission arc culminating in pretty much nothing. Hmm, I had no idea it was less.

I could describe the missions in CO the exact same way.

Also being able to leave the friggin CITY and go to a place like the Canadian Wilderness where you could fit  what, at least 20 or 30 zones the kings row into it?

Haha, 20 or 30 of KR in Canadian wilderness? Right.

Leaving the city to go (back) to the zone you just played for hours and left isn't a big plus. Currently the game has 5 zones. Five.

 

 

I liked CoX, but I'm not trying to bash CO, it's a decent start at COX2. Given enough time and patches most of these concerns will be addressed hopefully.

I've passed 30ish and have yet to see any specific content gap quest wise. Actually, I've had a problem with full quest log instead. The crime computer helps you finding quest hubs you might have missed. With the emergencies and open quests in addition, I don't understand how you have a problem finding leveling content.

5 zones aren't much, but I'm sure there will be added more very soon, the existing 5 do fine for me as long as there are quests and missions to keep me occupied while leveling.

CO has been a positive surprise for me so far, was never planning to play this game but I were dragged into beta by an coincident. I'm having a blast, however I've yet to decide this will be my main MMO for the future - need to see end game first.

lol are you guys serious.....really!!!! your trying to give reasons why CO has lack of missions and so on. did you ever realize that it just open today...lol...and your trashin it. if thats the case then everyone can do the same for any MMO that just comes out.

has anyone ever heard of "things get better with age". just wait for updates and patches.

the worst thing about people is they have to bitch about something, i mean everyone bitches about bad rlaunches but CO has had a  good one unlike many many others, but since you can't complain about that you have to complain about lack of missions etc..... Cryptics has their shit together, so let them do their job and enjoy the game. don't down size it when its only been a couple hours after launch lol.....i

its players like you that ruin games by giving negative post...specially when its just came out.

Originally posted by Die_Scream

Once you get up to the mid 20's and upward, you'll find a serious content gap, running out of missions. Wouldn't be so bad, except mob xp is negligible, so grinding open quests is the only thing to do, over and over until you open another contact.

Also with the content, there are only enough missions in game so that you have to do all of them to level, so every character will do all the same missions in roughly the same order. Since all the power combinations play pretty similar, rolling alts also gets old fast.

The sounds, as you said are mostly recycled from CoX, some are even the exact same sounds.

Currently, the biggest flaw of the game is a severe lack of content. Given that even casual players have been hitting 30 (out of 40) before the headstart was over, they better get some content patched ASAP.

Another problem I personally have is that there are next to no instanced "dungeons" in the game, with the first Lairs coming around level 28-32, and only a few of them, very short. Most missions are the standard go to circle indicated on the map and kill X of Y, click on X of Y, or kill X. You can literally be doing the same mission with different mobs over and over and over. Occasionally, you get an instanced mission, but these are easily completed solo, in under five minutes.

Bringing me to my last point. The game is really solo oriented. You can team, but it's not necessary, and even counter productive to do so. With all the open world spawn camping you have to do (EQ anyone?) to complete missions, and everyoine doing the same missions, and everyone running solo since it's faster, you find kill/clicky stealers always swooping in to take it while you fight surrounding mobs, etc. It leads to much bad feelings among players.

The travel powers can also make teaming a hassle, since if you are on a team of fliers for example, and you have Acrobatics, the mission will be completed by the time you reach the team, or you'll get killed on the way, since you can't avoid mobs. Tunnelers with missions on top of a building..etc. Lots of disparity there.

It's an MMO-lite, probably a 100,000 base after things settle, but it introduces nothing new to CoX players except less content and updated graphics.

That said, it's worth a month's play.

 

 

You are disguising a troll post here.  But I will bite.

Powersets do not play similarly to each other.  If you combine various travel powers with powersets, you can create multiple strategies and builds.  This is not even close to being factual.

As mentioned before, I know nothing about post 20 content.  But it sounds like another poster said the Crime Computer constantly gives out missions similarly to the Newspaper in CoH.  Seems like there is plenty to do based on that alone, plus they also have Strike Forces to do as well (not called that though).

I know nothing about the instanced dungeons you speak of.  But what I can say is that all of the instances, maps and etc. are much better designed and much larger than CoX.  This is a HUGE plus as a long time CoX subscriber.

While you can solo all you want to in CO, grouping is far superior.  I have been in several groups through the early levels, and found them to be great fun, and very effective.  Grouping together a tank, blaster type and support character cuts through the mobs like butter.  Not sure about your beef against groups here.  CoX was able to be soloed, but groups added tons of functionality to the game, just like CO will.

Lastly, are you serious about the travel powers being a pain in the ass?  This is a ridiculous statement.  You want to go back to horsies and mammoth mounts?  Even in fantasy settings travel time is always a problem.  Some people have mounts, and others do not.  This is not a valid complaint, and at this point, you are reaching a bit too far to find faults with this game.

Originally posted by Dis_Ordur

 

You are disguising a troll post here.  But I will bite.

Bull. Unless you consider a differing view than your own as trolling.

Powersets do not play similarly to each other.  If you combine various travel powers with powersets, you can create multiple strategies and builds.  This is not even close to being factual.

They do play similar. Auto attack EB then use AoE, then single shot, repeat. Different colors for different powers.

As mentioned before, I know nothing about post 20 content.  But it sounds like another poster said the Crime Computer constantly gives out missions similarly to the Newspaper in CoH.  Seems like there is plenty to do based on that alone, plus they also have Strike Forces to do as well (not called that though).

Wrong. The crime computer tells you contacts that have missions. There is no newspaper/radio equivalent in game at this time. If there are no missions, the CC tells you squat. What strike forces? You mean the 3-4 lairs in game, which take about the time one mission in a SF would take?

Maybe you should experience the post-20 game before trying to sound like you know what your talking about.

I know nothing about the instanced dungeons you speak of.  But what I can say is that all of the instances, maps and etc. are much better designed and much larger than CoX.  This is a HUGE plus as a long time CoX subscriber.

Absolutely wrong again. Since when did CoX have two room instances? Again, you admit having no experience with something, then try to talk like you have the facts.

While you can solo all you want to in CO, grouping is far superior.  I have been in several groups through the early levels, and found them to be great fun, and very effective.  Grouping together a tank, blaster type and support character cuts through the mobs like butter.  Not sure about your beef against groups here.  CoX was able to be soloed, but groups added tons of functionality to the game, just like CO will.

Good for you. You'll no doubt be one of the zealots on the boards cheering on the release-day mega-nerf.

Lastly, are you serious about the travel powers being a pain in the ass?  This is a ridiculous statement.  You want to go back to horsies and mammoth mounts?  Even in fantasy settings travel time is always a problem.  Some people have mounts, and others do not.  This is not a valid complaint, and at this point, you are reaching a bit too far to find faults with this game.

If you had read what I said instead of rushing to make a bunch of false assumptions as though they were fact and whine because your "review" was flawed, you'd know I was saying there is disparity among them. The T powers themselves are fine, some are just far better. I.E. flight is the safest, easiest, and most accessible T power.

You saying that a tunneller will get to the top of a building to fight the demon summoning mish as easy as a Acrobatics? Or flight?

Stop being so defensive about your new shiney toy. Or at least for the love of God, have some facts to back up you statements.