PVP:Yes | Distribution:Retail | Retail Price:n/a | Pay Type:Free | Monthly Fee:n/a
Desktop Client | System Req:
| ESRB:T
Champions Online System Focus: Have it your Way - Customization
MMORPG.com Champions Online Correspondent C.A. Thomas writes this look at customization in Cryptic Studios' new superhero MMO.
By C.A. Thomas on October 07, 2009
For anyone who is a fan of superheroes, be it through comic books, video games, movies or television, we all have that certain type of hero or power that we're drawn to. It's hard not to put ourselves in their positions, imagining what we'd be like if we had super powers.
While Champions Online isn't the first MMORPG to give us the chance to be our own heroes, it definitely offers an unprecedented level of customization in the genre. Never has the question, "What kind of hero are you?" meant so much. From your costume, to your powers, to the way those powers look and function; if you can imagine it, Champions Online allows you to create it or at least something close.
The first step in creating your ideal Champion is framing the foundation of your powers. There are 18 frameworks you can choose from, ranging from elemental powers like ice and electricity to more weapon-based powers such as gadgets and munitions. Don't want to be tied down to one specific power type? No problem! You're given free range to choose starting powers from whichever sets you feel like, and can continue that open selection any time you're granted a new power. No longer are you committed to a single class type just to gain a certain power; you pick what you want.
)
The next stage in crafting your superhero is creating your costume. When Cryptic Studios released City of Heroes five years ago, they set the bar for character creation, with the deepest and most varied system to date. Now, they've done it again with Champions Online, with what could be the best character creation system ever seen in a video game. Do you prefer more traditional hero designs from the Golden Age of comics? Maybe you're drawn to something more flashy and modern? Is your superhero a giant monster that runs on all fours, or a powerhouse who uses a suit of armor? If you can think it, you can make it.
)
Once you enter the game world, you then have the option of customizing the look of your powers at any time. Want blue fire? How about green electricity? Taking it a step further, you're even allowed to choose emanation points for many of your powers, giving you control of not only what they look like, but how they animate. Shoot laser beams from your eyes, hands, or your chest; it's up to you. Each of your powers can have a unique and distinct look to them, so you're free to design your concept hero as you see fit.
Sounds like fun, right? Well, you're just getting started, because the customization goes even deeper. Another thing Champions Online pushes is character advancement. You're not leveling just to gain new abilities; your powers actually change and grow with you over time. With the Ranks and Advantages system, you have the chance to customize how your powers function and the effects they have. Maybe you want a side effect of your power to either stun enemies or slowly drain their health, or have a defensive power reflect some of the damage you take back onto your opponents, or even convert that damage into energy you can then use for other powers. A power you choose at level one can evolve and be completely different by the time you reach the game's level cap of 40. How it changes is up to you.
That level of customization also carries over to weapons as well, with what's known as Power Replacers. These are items you can craft or unlock as you progress through the game that change the way your weapons look and the effects they have. Do you want to coat your swords or bullets in ice and have the ability to slow enemies down? How about electricity, to drain their health and their energy as you attack them? With Power Replacers, you have the opportunity to change the very foundation of your attacks and their effects through your weapons.
)
Another signature aspect of well known superheroes is their travel power. Spider-Man is known for web-slinging his way through the city, while Superman soars above the skyscrapers among the clouds. The Flash speeds down city streets and Iceman surfs on ramps of ice. This is yet another area where Champions Online shines, offering a widely diverse selection of travel powers, and you'll have no problem choosing something to fit your hero's needs. Literally phase into another dimension with the teleportation power, or burrow underground to get around with tunneling. Rip a chunk out of the ground with earth flight, and swing through the air with a grappling hook. With 13 different travel options to choose from, and the chance to pick two (one at level five and another at level 35), there's no shortage of ways to traverse the large game world.
Champions Online offers us the chance to be the heroes we've always imagined. From every detail in the costumes to fully customizable powers, we're given an unprecedented amount of control over our characters and how they play in the game. So take the plunge and realize your fantasies of taking down bad guys and saving the world - however you want to do it.
And run out of stuff to do halfway through.
Run out of stuff half way through? The only gap in content was from level 30-32 and that has been fixed already. Learn to read patch notes that have been out for a while before commenting on issues that no longer apply.
A Noble Attempt
While I applaud Cryptic for showcasing the avatar customization system, I believe the real attraction of the game is its combat system. This is the first game where, I, have had the impression I am playing a massively multiplayer action game and not another fantasy, turn-based, RPG.
Age of Conan attempted to iron down the action aspect of combat and failed to do so with its combo system. I think, where Champions Online (CO) succeeded was in creating the opportunity for the player base to create its own combo system via free choice of powers. I cannot begin to iterate how fun I find it meta-gaming my character to suit my play style rather than having to, yet again, conform to another person's "Idea" of one [i.e: class based systems with fixed power trees].
Here is hoping Cryptic realizes they have a real advantage here with the combat system and showcase it properly. Because, if people feel they have the power to play the game the way want rather than having to be told how they should play it, this game can hit a running stride that will carry it far into the future.
woot yup champions i agree i love being able to choose my powers but i would a little more costume customization but other than that i love it
This game has a huge potential to evolve far beyond the CoX series.
I adore the customization, but since it is a recently established game, there seems to lack some variety in costume selection. Namely, it is the patterns you can put on your costume. They are fairly limited.
Another thing is that out of the 4 postures you use, you will revert to the same basic "fight stance" whenever you use a power, until a certain time afterwards. So, a bestial character who runs on all fours, attacks something, now you walk on 2 legs for a while. Very odd, or maybe its just with certain powersets. I have yet to test it.
I also believe it could use more powersets, or more varied powers. It seems that while you can choose any power you want, there is very slim pickings, especially if you want to make a thematically sound character.
These are just my little quirks with the game. I enjoy this game, but I think there are still some gameplay issues.
No doubt is the character customization in Champions Online top notch, probably best in any MMORPG. However the game itself is somewhat lackluster for an MMORPG. As a single player game it is great but as for an MMORPG it does not cut it.
Lack of incentives to group and engage in PvP are probably what kills this game as an MMORPG.
Altough I agree that the combat in CO is action paced, I really wonder what that got to do with the massively multiplayer part. The game is a single player game with basically zero multiplayer elements beside a handful of missions and the arena type PvP matches.
I can see CO being more successful on the Xbox 360 (If it actually releases on it next year) than it will end up being on the PC.
Run out of stuff half way through? The only gap in content was from level 30-32 and that has been fixed already. Learn to read patch notes that have been out for a while before commenting on issues that no longer apply.
my lvl 37 who has been doing +3 arcs for two weeks now would beg to differ. I have no (working) arcs left.
my lvl 37 who has been doing +3 arcs for two weeks now would beg to differ. I have no (working) arcs left.
At level 38 with still a good amount of Lumeria still to do, I would have to say you failed to find a bit of content there if you're out of missions to do by 37.
While I also have broken arcs in my journal, I am not about to use it as a crutch for not taking the initiative to go out in the zones and find missions instead of taking the theme park tour from NPC to NPC. Which is the problem with a large majority of the players complaining about a lack of missions to do.
Altough I agree that the combat in CO is action paced, I really wonder what that got to do with the massively multiplayer part. The game is a single player game with basically zero multiplayer elements beside a handful of missions and the arena type PvP matches.
Really, Exaggerate much? Zero multiplayer elements? You must not be a social person if you have to be forced into social roles in order to consider the game to be multiplayer.
Must you be rewarded with in game items (which CO does if you actually try) in order to qualify that as incentives?
Do you really need to be stonewalled with grouped instance progression in order to consider the game multiplayer?
Cite some examples, bring some evidence, rather than shooting your mouth off about how this game is not what it advertises.
So, again, tell me how this game fails in your eyes to be a MMO?
Really, Exaggerate much? Zero multiplayer elements? You must not be a social person if you have to be forced into social roles in order to consider the game to be multiplayer.
Must you be rewarded with in game items (which CO does if you actually try) in order to qualify that as incentives?
Do you really need to be stonewalled with grouped instance progression in order to consider the game multiplayer?
Cite some examples, bring some evidence, rather than shooting your mouth off about how this game is not what it advertises.
So, again, tell me how this game fails in your eyes to be a MMO?
I will say that the concerns he has are common among the community. The social aspect of the game that serves as the "multiplayer" component of the MMORPG, while present, seems to be underutilized by not only the community, but by the developers. Yeah, it's there, and if you take full advantage of it it's great, but there isn't a strong focus on it in the core mechanics of the game.
That said, it's only a small gripe of course, but along with the other "small gripes", it's easy to be frustrated, and that's understandably where a lot of the community is right now.
In any case, I'm actually glad this came up the way it did. I think I have my next article.
my lvl 37 who has been doing +3 arcs for two weeks now would beg to differ. I have no (working) arcs left.
At level 38 with still a good amount of Lumeria still to do, I would have to say you failed to find a bit of content there if you're out of missions to do by 37.
While I also have broken arcs in my journal, I am not about to use it as a crutch for not taking the initiative to go out in the zones and find missions instead of taking the theme park tour from NPC to NPC. Which is the problem with a large majority of the players complaining about a lack of missions to do.
i have combs every square inch of Lagmuria, Monster Island and Millinium City (yeah for TP)
So no i am not missing a contact, their is nothing left to do.
You just answered it, Teleport.
If you are not running on the ground level then you have missed out on a lot of missions. Several missions and arcs are found by running through certain areas of the zones, and not flying overhead. If you were just passing through the areas looking for the [!] on the map then you missed these location flagged missions.
An example is the NW part of monster island. I think there were 3 missions I found just by running around on the ground level killing things and getting that little notification to open up dialog for a mission.
you mean the ghost guy, the argent "traitor" and the guy by the atv.
Yeah i did all their arcs. you just need to be low enough not ground pounding
you mean the ghost guy, the argent "traitor" and the guy by the atv.
Yeah i did all their arcs. you just need to be low enough not ground pounding
No, not NPCs, I would have said such and such NPCs if I were referring to NPCs. I'm talking about hot spots in the zones that activate uncompleted missions if you're are within range of the geographical location of which it is located. Although, the missions found do eventually lead to NPCs for completion.
which still triger under TP, and i probably already did unless you have names
Check out www.crimecomputer20.com if you think you have run out of missions.
Also checkout www.slashcry.com for a Champions Podcast.
EDIT: I see someone else beat me to it, heh.
EDIT: I see someone else beat me to it, heh.
that site is bunk, jsut tried it, it listed a lot, including several from Gidion H Jones. I'm standing at gidion right now. The only missions he has is broken (save stan)