I have gotten mixed answers from people but I see beta reviews up, is it ok to give my thoughts?

-Jive

yes

that depends ... how flame retardant are you?

Originally posted by MacScarfe

that depends ... how flame retardant are you?

Not very but here goes.

Im giving you the quick and easy version. I started playing CO about a year back, it actually turned out I had been in beta for a year Prior to that, but I used my Girlfriend's email when I signed up for beta and never knew till she asked why she was getting so many messages from some "Online game".

So I get the beta, I get it running, and the first thing I notice is how great the graphics are. Seriously the games graphics rock, the style is a bit wonky but everything else is great about them.

Thats when the fun stopped. I then saw the character creator, which is sub-par when you compare it to a game its suppsosed to be the next gen of like "COH". The part that kills it for me was the faces, theres barely any option to customize the size and look of your face (Im talking without beards and masks, just the plain ol face) and it really ruins immersion when I see so many people running around with my same "Muscular baby" face.

Then I got into the game world, at first I just played in the different mid-game zones, but eventually I got to try out then Mellenium city tutorial.

This is where Im just going to be straight up and tell you whats truely wrong with the game. You dont feel heroic at all! Everything is quests like in WoW. The time I noticed I was the least heroic was when I got a mission to go save 4 people from being crushed underneath fallen debris. After I got the 4 people, I started walking away and there was still tons of people trapped underneath the rocks. And I didnt care at first! I thought "What the hell am I doing? Im not supposed to be questing I should be helping those people!" 

The game continues on like that to every place you go to, you always feel like the WoW Hero, never helping anyone but the people you have a "Quest" to help. And the rewards for the missions are this dupe version of currency, or a helmet that barely adds anything to your character and  I think again "I dont want this helemt, I want exp so I can get stronger and help more people out."

In an off sense its like your playing a comic book where everyone just doesnt care. Its like Bizzaro world City of heroes style. Thats all im going to say unless people would like to know further, but thats honestly the only things that are worth commenting on. I could  go on but im just trying to be straight with everyone. 

-Jive

Honestly now, you've been playing for a YEAR and you have less to say than I could tell you about the game in the 5mins I was able to play this morning before work?

It is an an RPG, you do quests and help people with tasks. That is the genre of role playing games, I suppose I'll be the first to say welcome to the genre, sorry you do not like it.

Originally posted by Cereo

Honestly now, you've been playing for a YEAR and you have less to say than I could tell you about the game in the 5mins I was able to play this morning before work?

It is an an RPG, you do quests and help people with tasks. That is the genre of role playing games, I suppose I'll be the first to say welcome to the genre, sorry you do not like it.

Ok first off I can tell your smug because I didnt enjoy your new flavor of the month MMO. But where do you get off defining what an MMO or for that matter an RPG is supposed to be like? Last I checked Theres many different forms of an RPG, and an RPG does not mean "Levels and quests" its Role playing Game, you take on a role, and im sorry but a Superhero game should have a different set of rules, or at least a better implication than how CO does it.

Even in COH when I saw a bystander getting their purse stolen I helped them, because the mechanics and the game world let me. It didnt constrain me like CO does, the game was free form, which is why again its horrible that CO is more constraining than COH was.

Also I didnt say I played everyday for a year, I would say total time logged into the game was around 20 hours max. Which I dont care what anyone says is a damn long amount for a game I didnt like from day one of playing it. But I was in beta and like many people voiced our opinions and sadly none of them were answered.

-Jive

Also I would just like to add, im not trying to convince anyone not to get the game here. Its just being a huge COH fan, and really anticipating this game, I was very let down. To me the game is a curse onto itself. They want far off the track in alot of ways, but stuck to close to the core at the same time to make this a memorable game. All the stuff done different was great but with the core gameplay it just doesnt mix well.

Another WoW comment.  meh.

Suffice to say I am not sure what you were looking for in the game.  Not going to flame you at all.  No point in it.  The rewards you get do have an affect on your character whether you realized it or not.  It does not display or anything but the stat buffs are a definate plus.

The tutorial is to get you involved with the character and the basic stuff. Once you get out of it you will be able to craft items and work on your stats to make a bigger difference. Stats in this game are just as important as adding intel to your warlock or str to your fighter. It can make or break a character if not done properly.
 

There is nothing keeping you from helping out NPC's in the game.  You can still help them to feel heroic.  It feels like you are upset because you do not get your WoW carrot for helping them.  In that case, you are right, it is not heroic.

Later down the line you will have these people run up to you and tell you they saw someone run into a bank or a museum.  This will spawn a timed quest to go and help them out.  Choose to do it or not.  Up to you and the way you want to play your hero.

This is not a WoW clone.  You can just run through the game and scoop up all of the quests and then read them as needed to determine what you need to do.  If you chose to play that way do not criticize the game for being nothing more than that.  It gives you that option.  That is not the only option you have. 

Under the hood there is more depth to it than that.  It requires some reading, testing, and research to determine how/what works best.  If you try that and it still does not appeal to you, then the game does not appeal to you.  So, I can understand how you get this feeling about the game because it does allow you to play that way.  There is just more to it than that and I do not know if that will make the game better for you, it did for me.

Originally posted by jiveturkey12

The part that kills it for me was the faces, theres barely any option to customize the size and look of your face (Im talking without beards and masks, just the plain ol face) and it really ruins immersion when I see so many people running around with my same "Muscular baby" face.

There is a whole page of sliders for face features. There are also noseless options, alien heads, rat heads, fish heads, insect heads, skull heads, robot heads, frog heads, demon heads, undead zombie heads. Man, did you even play the same game as me?

And yes, its quest driven like WoW. What MMOG isn't quest driven anymore?

Originally posted by jiveturkey12

Originally posted by Cereo

Honestly now, you've been playing for a YEAR and you have less to say than I could tell you about the game in the 5mins I was able to play this morning before work?

It is an an RPG, you do quests and help people with tasks. That is the genre of role playing games, I suppose I'll be the first to say welcome to the genre, sorry you do not like it.

 

Ok first off I can tell your smug because I didnt enjoy your new flavor of the month MMO. But where do you get off defining what an MMO or for that matter an RPG is supposed to be like? Last I checked Theres many different forms of an RPG, and an RPG does not mean "Levels and quests" its Role playing Game, you take on a role, and im sorry but a Superhero game should have a different set of rules, or at least a better implication than how CO does it.

 

Even in COH when I saw a bystander getting their purse stolen I helped them, because the mechanics and the game world let me. It didnt constrain me like CO does, the game was free form, which is why again its horrible that CO is more constraining than COH was.

 

Also I didnt say I played everyday for a year, I would say total time logged into the game was around 20 hours max. Which I dont care what anyone says is a damn long amount for a game I didnt like from day one of playing it. But I was in beta and like many people voiced our opinions and sadly none of them were answered.

 

-Jive

Meh, I'll have to disagree there, SOME of our voices were heard.  They listened to us to an extent, alot of the late breaking changes were made because of the issues people were experiencing, and bugging.  The whole Equilibrium starting at full from the tutorial was just one of the ways the devs thought they were helping (although they gimped the total amount of END to balance it -- however that made sense)  but don't get me wrong, the developers were very active in the community and addressed many of our concerns.  As always their vision is greater then our complaints... thats why they kept the combat the way it was,  but they opened up many avenues to change the combat later down the line.

As for the missions, they are standard MMO missions,  some of them are more interesting then others, but in CoX I didn't feel any different doing those missions then the CO ones.  In fact, the crisis missions later on actually made me feel rather heroic indeed.    I could pass up a mob beating up a person in CoX just as well as I could in CO,  so I really don't see a difference.  

Its all a matter of preference I suppose.

Originally posted by jiveturkey12

Even in COH when I saw a bystander getting their purse stolen I helped them, because the mechanics and the game world let me. It didnt constrain me like CO does, the game was free form, which is why again its horrible that CO is more constraining than COH was.

One of the first things you do in the tutorial is to save NPC's captured by aliens. Once you defeat their captors they thank you can run away EXACTLY like they did in CoH. You can go save them freeform all day long, just like CoH. Are you seriously upset that they added a formal quest to do the same thing?

Originally posted by Aganazer

Originally posted by jiveturkey12

The part that kills it for me was the faces, theres barely any option to customize the size and look of your face (Im talking without beards and masks, just the plain ol face) and it really ruins immersion when I see so many people running around with my same "Muscular baby" face.

There is a whole page of sliders for face features. 

Sliders that do what? Honestly have you ever used them? They do nothing to make your face look different except the nose, you can make your nose bigger or smaller and thats the only Defining feature you can really chage. I can make my jaw like look more defined I can only make my chin long or fatter, it doesnt let me look distinguised. Take a course called "Hidden Features" they have it at alot of community colleges, it teaches you about facial structure and symmetry. None of which is available. Yes there may be Dog heads and lizards and robot heads. But thats not allowing me to customize that optimize. 

-Jive

Originally posted by jiveturkey12

Originally posted by Aganazer

Originally posted by jiveturkey12

The part that kills it for me was the faces, theres barely any option to customize the size and look of your face (Im talking without beards and masks, just the plain ol face) and it really ruins immersion when I see so many people running around with my same "Muscular baby" face.

There is a whole page of sliders for face features. 

 

Sliders that do what? Honestly have you ever used them? They do nothing to make your face look different except the nose, you can make your nose bigger or smaller and thats the only Defining feature you can really chage. I can make my jaw like look more defined I can only make my chin long or fatter, it doesnt let me look distinguised. Take a course called "Hidden Features" they have it at alot of community colleges, it teaches you about facial structure and symmetry. None of which is available. Yes there may be Dog heads and lizards and robot heads. But thats not allowing me to customize that optimize. 

 

-Jive

Personally I think they did the sliders the wrong way, they should have had the sliders AFTER you create the basic costume look of your character.   I always move forward to make my character, then go backwards to the face sliders and change them.. they really do make a difference then, although... it should'nt have to be that way... but if anyone cares about a work around.

Originally posted by Aganazer

Originally posted by jiveturkey12

Even in COH when I saw a bystander getting their purse stolen I helped them, because the mechanics and the game world let me. It didnt constrain me like CO does, the game was free form, which is why again its horrible that CO is more constraining than COH was.

One of the first things you do in the tutorial is to save NPC's captured by aliens. Once you defeat their captors they thank you can run away EXACTLY like they did in CoH. You can go save them freeform all day long, just like CoH. Are you seriously upset that they added a formal quest to do the same thing?

Im not "upset" about formal quests. Im upset that they encumber the entire game. You are constantly doing quests, theres no chance to break off and do what you want. How can you honestly stand by a game thats supposed to be about "Make any class you want", "Make any character you want" and then say "But follow every quest we give you, and dont try to gain exp on your own, quests are the only  way to go!"

Its like a mock sandbox game, its like they dangled the ability to have freedom in your face and then tortured you with mind-numbing quests that carry you through the whole game.

-Jive

This game really does seem like CoX version 2.0... similar character creations, similiar sounds ect... I'm still undecided, because I want to play a few more days but my inital thought is: CoX should just update their game including some of the stuff CO has. :p

Originally posted by NovaKayne

Another WoW comment.  meh.

 

Suffice to say I am not sure what you were looking for in the game.  Not going to flame you at all.  No point in it.  The rewards you get do have an affect on your character whether you realized it or not.  It does not display or anything but the stat buffs are a definate plus.

 

The tutorial is to get you involved with the character and the basic stuff. Once you get out of it you will be able to craft items and work on your stats to make a bigger difference. Stats in this game are just as important as adding intel to your warlock or str to your fighter. It can make or break a character if not done properly.
 

 

There is nothing keeping you from helping out NPC's in the game.  You can still help them to feel heroic.  It feels like you are upset because you do not get your WoW carrot for helping them.  In that case, you are right, it is not heroic.

 

Later down the line you will have these people run up to you and tell you they saw someone run into a bank or a museum.  This will spawn a timed quest to go and help them out.  Choose to do it or not.  Up to you and the way you want to play your hero.

 

This is not a WoW clone.  You can just run through the game and scoop up all of the quests and then read them as needed to determine what you need to do.  If you chose to play that way do not criticize the game for being nothing more than that.  It gives you that option.  That is not the only option you have. 

 

Under the hood there is more depth to it than that.  It requires some reading, testing, and research to determine how/what works best.  If you try that and it still does not appeal to you, then the game does not appeal to you.  So, I can understand how you get this feeling about the game because it does allow you to play that way.  There is just more to it than that and I do not know if that will make the game better for you, it did for me.

I respect the way you appraoched your post, but not the way you used WoW as a letterhead for the whole arguement. No this isnt another "WoW Post', You seem to be doing the typical "WoW response" like you have a collection of them saved up in word that allows you to bypass any argument. 

This has less to do with WoW and more to do with the fact that a game which is based on Choice and on you being the hero, gives you a constrained play session, and gives you no chances to "Think outside the box" and be heroic on your own.

Im not looking for a "Wow carrot" like you were getting at, I dont want any reward, which you would understand had you not handed in a simple copy and paste templete for your arguement. I want to BE the hero, not be told where to go to be the hero. I want to find Danger, not be forced into it where ever I go. Because thats what its like being a Champion, rain or shine, you find the evil and you destroy, YOU destroy it.

-Jive

Personally apart of graphics I found it VERY similar to CoX. Now you can say what you want but a lot of the feautres in CO are in CoX and nothing changed from them.

I expected more from the customization maybe because were still in beta so I won't say it sucks or somethng like that but it has a lot of restrictions imo. Like the cape can only be used if you take chest type 1 else no cape, I was wtf? why I can't use a cape with the other type of shirt (It was not beast or zombie) a lot of the customizations are already in CoX very few are new plus very few tattoos were to choose from.

I couldn't find any customizations for guns which bothered me some and they could at least make a preview on how the weapons would look in my opinion. I tried this beta for customizations mostly since I won't play it but wanted to pass some time and wanted to see if the customization was really that special and better then CoX one which in reality is almost identical but anyways just like i said earlier it 's still in beta.

All weapon types are still the same types of CoX tried suggesting not only myself to make a "hybrid" system were you could have a melee weapon in a hand and ranged in the other but no the only way you can do this is to choose a custom power set. Note if you try this type you will have dual guns when you shoot and dual swords/claws/whatever when you melee.

It may be from my side but i keep on getting constant roll backs when i step on some broken street/rocks/something not linear which is very frustrating.

I also must say that the combat is better then CoX since it has an auto attack specially for ranged were you can keep on shooting while dodging your enemy/ies.

To finalise this I won't judge it for now but atm it didn't impress me much.

JIve if you cant handle OTHER people offering thier opinion on CO, why bother offering yours?? they are erntitled to give thier opinion just as much as you are.

Originally posted by jiveturkey12

Sliders that do what? Honestly have you ever used them? They do nothing to make your face look different except the nose, you can make your nose bigger or smaller and thats the only Defining feature you can really chage. I can make my jaw like look more defined I can only make my chin long or fatter, it doesnt let me look distinguised. Take a course called "Hidden Features" they have it at alot of community colleges, it teaches you about facial structure and symmetry. None of which is available. Yes there may be Dog heads and lizards and robot heads. But thats not allowing me to customize that optimize.

The sliders let you change the size, height, width, cheek bones, chin width and height, forehead, lip size and width and fullness, ear size and pointiness. You can be noseless. You can change your pupil to about 10 different styles and any color. The skin colors range from black to white to nearly anything in between. You can have metalic skin, leather skin, or normal skin. You can even choose a feakin octopus moustache like Davey Jones.

I have no idea what you're expecting in face customization. I think you're way off base here.

Originally posted by bloodaxes

Personally apart of graphics I found it VERY similar to CoX. Now you can say what you want but a lot of the feautres in CO are in CoX and nothing changed from them.

I expected more from the customization maybe because were still in beta so I won't say it sucks or somethng like that but it has a lot of restrictions imo. Like the cape can only be used if you take chest type 1 else no cape, I was wtf? why I can't use a cape with the other type of shirt (It was not beast or zombie) a lot of the customizations are already in CoX very few are new plus very few tattoos were to choose from.

I couldn't find any customizations for guns which bothered me some and they could at least make a preview on how the weapons would look in my opinion. I tried this beta for customizations mostly since I won't play it but wanted to pass some time and wanted to see if the customization was really that special and better then CoX one which in reality is almost identical but anyways just like i said earlier it 's still in beta.

All weapon types are still the same types of CoX tried suggesting not only myself to make a "hybrid" system were you could have a melee weapon in a hand and ranged in the other but no the only way you can do this is to choose a custom power set. Note if you try this type you will have dual guns when you shoot and dual swords/claws/whatever when you melee.

It may be from my side but i keep on getting constant roll backs when i step on some broken street/rocks/something not linear which is very frustrating.

I also must say that the combat is better then CoX since it has an auto attack specially for ranged were you can keep on shooting while dodging your enemy/ies.

 

To finalise this I won't judge it for now but atm it didn't impress me much.

Yeah, it is extremely similar to CoX.  There are a lot of things that are the same on the face of the game.  The mechanics are very different tho.  Way more emphasis on stats and not just dropping icons on limiting slots of your power.

As far as the weapon customization, I too felt there was more of a need for this.  I think the plan was to not put much emphasis on this at the beginning so you have more interest of using the perks.  Once you get to Millinium City there is a perks vendor or two that allow you to purchase items for your hero. 

These items ( weapons, powers, costume pieces ) give a proc to your power or some have an activate ability to give some other advantage.  They can also change your weapon or look of the character if you choose to allow it.  I had a Dual Blade power set that started out with the Katana's and later changeed them to cutlasses and eventually laser swords. 

Very cool but, like you said, very limiting on the customization at first.  IMO, I wish they would have the customization in at the beginning and not have to wait until you get to the perks person.  TBH, I think they need to give you a perks vendor much earlier.  by the time I got to them I had over 300 points to spend and most items were about 10-15 in cost.  Having access to this person earlier would be better.

You can customize your weapons at the first tailor you see after the character creator. They will probably address this eventually, but I think the character creator is not aware of what powers you have yet so it doesn't provide the options to customize them.