Polish
With three-quarters of a decade under its belt, it comes as no surprise that City of Heroes is a polished and refined experience. Powers are balanced, combat is streamlined, and the levelling experience is enjoyable. The game certainly benefits from the time it has spent being updated and patched, and as such players are given a very polished product. Add this with the Villains expansion and you have the perfect excuse not to leave the house for several weeks.
An unlikely contender on first impressions, but Champions Online has turned into one of the most enjoyable and refined experiences on the market. The powers on offer are numerous and balanced, the areas in which to roam are well thought out and executed, and in essence the game really delivers that super-powered punch. It has taken a little longer than expected, but Champions Online is a stellar title with enough polished gleam to make it stand out to anyone. A difficult one to decide but for the simple amount of time spent with it has to be...
City of Heroes Win
Social
While City of Heroes is a little top heavy, the social side of things manages to keep the game alive at any level. The broadcasting and help tab are always buzzing with communication, and during any lengthy spell within the game it is not out of the ordinary to be inundated with team requests and other such things. With this MMORPG it is certainly a case of the community keeping things fresh and active, and with events held every week, it looks like they are doing very well at it. For the first time in a long time, it reminded me what it was like to indulge the multiplayer in MMORPG.
Perhaps it is a sign of the genre as a whole, or just newer games in general, but Champions Online gives no real reason to socialise with anyone in-game. With its F2P nature, every level bracket is populated, but this doesn’t mean that the game has buzzing chat channels or the like – things are quiet and lonely. While there are open groups, and people do attempt quests together, most are engaged without a word, just a simple silent understanding that a certain master villain must fall. It’s a shame that the social aspect lacks, but it can all be attempted solo for the most part.
City of Heroes Wins
Value
As mentioned before, there is a lot of content within City of Heroes, as would be expected of its 7 years of continued development. Players can expect to get a lot of bang for their buck, with depth and endgame content, but with that said, it will still cost you a pretty penny. With a retail price and subscription fee on top, the game is still a great package, but everyone loves a freebie, right?
OK, let’s face it, it may not have the years of development behind it, but its F2P and it has oodles of content. While at some point you will have to pay for some content whether it be actual areas or cosmetics, but anyone wishing to simply try it and not bother wondering whether or not they will make the most out of the subscription fee, Champions Online wins on value hands down. I’m not the world's greatest F2P fan but it works for Cryptic’s title, and while City of Heroes is to implement it soon, it hasn’t yet. The freebie wins for now.
Champions Online Wins
And the winner is...
And so, after a long and arduous fight, it is time to see the judge’s score cards. For City of Heroes we have 3 categories counted, social, polish, and innovation, and for Champions Online we also have 3 for aesthetics, gameplay, and value. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we have a draw!
This isn’t a cop out, I swear. To put it simply, Champions Online and City of Heroes are very similar games, and as they come from the same developer, it is no surprise. Within City of Heroes we find a brilliantly groundbreaking MMO that still continues to entertain, and within Champions Online we see a game that firmly builds on the foundations laid by the aforementioned, whilst progressively making a name for itself in its own right.
To any prospective player who wishes to play a superhero title, it will come down to whether or not you prefer the more complex nature of City of Heroes, or the simple balls-to-the-wall fun of Champions Online. Both are hugely entertaining, and both have tons of entertainment to offer.
Remember to come back next week as we pit City of Heroes against DC Universe Online – who will emerge the victor, the innovator, or the licensed crowd pleaser? Make sure you all come back next time as MMORPG.com delivers the text-based MMO equivalent of Rocky to your brain boxes!
