Champions Online
After a very rock start, Chet finally managed to get our Champions Online open beta working Wens. this week. I've been very eager to try this out, and thanks to the open beta, I can.
It's fun. Really fun. At least in the first ten hours. The art style is very cell shaded, which looks rich and vibrant. The character generator is very full, and takes more from Oblivion than City of Heros. It's very full featured and you can easy to use. The movement powers are diverse and fun; rocket boots (my choice power) looks and acts noticeably different than standard flight, or any of the elemental flights. Hell, they even have ice sleds! And the regular powers are diverse and work on a skill tree akin to old school Star Wars Galaxies...you get points, and can spend them how you wish in whatever power set you want. Buying from similar power sets net you a reduced cost for some skills. If you're unhappy with your powers/stats/anything you can retrain at any point and start with another build from the beginning.
Best of all, the combat is the best I've played in a MMO..mostly in that it hardly feels like an MMO. If you've played any Marvel Ultimate Alliance or the PS2 era X-Men RPGs you'll have a better feel of combat. You have basic attacks that build energy, then other attacks that use the energy. Some enemies drop health, energy, bonus xp while others drop items. It's quick, easy to engage with, and good for pick up and play.
Best of all? So far at least it's got plenty of single player content. A lot of their quests take from the Warhammer model of being situational; if you're in the area of a zombie horde attack you and everyone else their work together and get credit together for it. No commitment, no loot arguments, no stupidity. It's great.
Anyway, it was enough for me to pluck down the $200 for a lifetime subscription. In the meantime, I'm eagerly awaiting the launch day.
It's fun. Really fun. At least in the first ten hours. The art style is very cell shaded, which looks rich and vibrant. The character generator is very full, and takes more from Oblivion than City of Heros. It's very full featured and you can easy to use. The movement powers are diverse and fun; rocket boots (my choice power) looks and acts noticeably different than standard flight, or any of the elemental flights. Hell, they even have ice sleds! And the regular powers are diverse and work on a skill tree akin to old school Star Wars Galaxies...you get points, and can spend them how you wish in whatever power set you want. Buying from similar power sets net you a reduced cost for some skills. If you're unhappy with your powers/stats/anything you can retrain at any point and start with another build from the beginning.
Best of all, the combat is the best I've played in a MMO..mostly in that it hardly feels like an MMO. If you've played any Marvel Ultimate Alliance or the PS2 era X-Men RPGs you'll have a better feel of combat. You have basic attacks that build energy, then other attacks that use the energy. Some enemies drop health, energy, bonus xp while others drop items. It's quick, easy to engage with, and good for pick up and play.
Best of all? So far at least it's got plenty of single player content. A lot of their quests take from the Warhammer model of being situational; if you're in the area of a zombie horde attack you and everyone else their work together and get credit together for it. No commitment, no loot arguments, no stupidity. It's great.
Anyway, it was enough for me to pluck down the $200 for a lifetime subscription. In the meantime, I'm eagerly awaiting the launch day.