Champions Online

Genre: Team based MMORPG

Released: September 1st 2009

Consoles: PC only (Steam)

Developers: Cryptic Studios and Atari

This is a free to play super hero MMORPG and has been a f2p game since January 25th 2011 however this game has been established since about September the 1st 2009. This new f2p style has recently been followed up by DC universe online. The game can be played completely free but also has premium and gold options. The free option allows access to the minimum amount of content with currently 8 of 19 archetypes (power setups) free players also get access to 2 character slots which means on one account you can have 2 created characters. Within the basic offensive power choice there is a second power choice available called the travel power this is made available after completing the tutorial and entering the main game. There is also a second travel power at the current maximum level in the game which is 40. These travel powers range from super speed to teleportation and allow your character to traverse large areas in record times all powers whether they are offensive or movement based have different advantages and disadvantages. The main powers also come in groups of support, damage per second and brawler classes which means they have different roles in the team area of the game.

The premium setup for the game is similar to f2p except you have the choice of buying new powers and items with cash as you see fit. This doesn’t allow you access to all areas of the game however as total power customisation is reserved to gold members. Gold members have full access to everything in game including expansion packs and super hero hideouts, which would normally have to be bought separately on a premium account. Gold member’s special privileges lie in the complete power customisation which ranges from mixing guns and mind control to traveling on a magic carpet.This total access unlocks new areas and hundreds of new costume parts to be put on your character. The game in itself has a cartoony almost comic book appearance and jumps out at you with bright colours and refreshing wildlife. The environments range from a busy city district to a frosty wilderness set in Canada. All the areas contain creatures to fight and missions that need to be completed to progress with the story or gain cash and experience for your character. This game also offers unique areas of game play like their nemesis system that every character has access to at level 25 and is as full customisable as your own character. This story branch offers flowing combat and super powered destruction along with mini events where your nemesis sends his minions to attack you.

Combat

This area of the game is very simple and allows for explosive battles where ever theres enemies. The game makes it hard to chicken out of fights by reducing your travel powers movement speed when in combat this can be a disadvantage as well when higher level enemies start attacking you as you skip through their territory however it is mainly useful when in the PvP arena’s and areas so that enemies can’t just dart off after a long battle to replenish their health and strike back later on. Attacks in combat look fluent and brutal however some of the effects become repetitive and could have multiple animation movements for one attack. The enemies attacks are also similarly programmed however the variations in classes and type hardly gets repetitive.

NPC’s

The NPC’s in game have reasonably good voice acting and the main plot characters tell the story really clearly. The constant flow of jogging NPC’s in the game does seem strange what with all the crime happening in the city however these people do provide something to look at as their clothes are as varied as the super heroes costume customisation.

Sound

The background music and voice acting fits in really well with the games theme and the battle sound effects add a real drama to the games combat however some of the punching effects are very repetitive.

Graphics

The graphics of the game are really well made and provides a dazzling display of environments with clear colours and sharp scenery. Even on the lowest settings the graphics and surrounding seem well made with only a few texture difficulties which are be expected on the lowest settings anyway. However on the highest settings the world provides a stunning and contrasting world with city sceneries and snow tipped mountains which look like they are right out of a comic book. This comic book style also adds to the hero theme with the dark outlines making every detail clear and bold.