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Honest review of Champions Online
monoth
Member Posts: 551
I never played city of hereo's or villians so this was my first Superhero MMO.
The Avatar creation process was probably the best I've seen in any MMO, lots of options. My only concern was if you give everyone there costumes up front whats there to work towards? I think most people like to earn there gear as a badge of honor, but if it's just handed to you freely, it kind of takes away motivation to keep playing. Only time will tell.
The starting area is pretty simple and straight forward and only takes about 30 mins to run through it. Which is nice because if it took longer it would be a pain to run through it every time you made a new avatar.
The game is definatly fun, but after you get into your early 20's the combat and feel of the game starts to feel a bit repetative. The game feels very solo friendly although with the new patch they released it has made it tougher to solo, no more flying into the middle of 10-12 mobs and AOE'ing them to death, now you have to becareful not to take on more then 3-4 mobs at a time if you want to survive, requiring you to think a bit before attacking. Although if you have a friend or two to help out the quests are pretty easy.
There is not a lot of group content for guilds to do, the few dungeons I have found for groups are rather buggy and not itemized yet, which pretty much makes them pointless to do, hopefully this will get fixed soon and more group content gets added. although from the tone of the official forums it seems people want a solo friend game and don't want to group. This may lead Crytpic to ignore group content which might turn off people who like to play with others. Right now the game is very solo friendly.
One problem I do see with grouping is the cap limit on the shards, each instance will only hold 100 people, which could make it harder to find groups. Be prepared to jump between instances to try and find people to group with. Would be nice if they allowed a quest channel that went between all the shards for helping people find groups.
Quests are pretty typical for the most part, you get a few lines of text explaining why your doing what your doing. Eventually I just started skipping past them and just going to the green circle on my map, as the mini stories were rather boring and didn't really carry over to any other quests story arc's. I would of like to have seen some big story arc's to follow through the leveling process, something to help immerse me more into the game. One issue that I have noticed after playing for a couple weeks now is that combat becomes a bit repetitive, especially since you really only use a few attacks and all the mobs are fairly similar in the different zones. One annoying thing is most of the hard mobs spam holds on you, which requires you to tap the "Z" key several hundred times to break free.
Some parts of the game have voice overs, maybe around 10% of the game. I would of liked to have seen voice overs for all the npc quest givers, would of made the game more immersive and I would of probably followed the mini stories for each quest if i didn't have to read them. Playing at 1920x1200, the text is pretty small and can give you eye strain after awhile.
Crafting as in most MMO's are just a novelty, not really required as the game is loot centric, meaning you get your gear from doing quests, I also found by the time I could crafting something it was well below the level I was at. not a lot of depth to the crafting system either, everybody can make the same item, so there's really no competiting with other people except over price. I guess I still long for the very dep SWG crafting system where you could create better items based on your materials you used.
PvP is kind of a mess at the moment, completly unbalanced between powers. If you want to play pvp you will have to level up your avatar a certain way to be competative. which ends up with everyone being the same. I'm sure this will get some tweaking in the future by Cryptic.
I have noticed that epic boss fights consist of the boss having a gazllion hit points and no A.I., so you basicaly just stand next to him spamming the few buttons over and over again. Not to epic in my book. Just tedious. be prepared to spam those buttons for at least 30-50 mins to kill a epic boss.
I can see this game being fun for a few months, but I don't see most people playing beyond that.
For me personaly the game feels a bit like its designed for kids 8-16 then for adults. I know my 10 year old nephew loves the game, he thinks it's pretty cool flying around and having beams shoot out of your eyes. So if you have kids that you would like to play a MMO with, this is a pretty good choice. For people like myself who want's a more mature MMO with some depth to it, you might want to look elsewhere.
I'd give this game a 6/10
Comments
This is a pretty good review Monoth. I think you nailed some of the issues with this game perfectly, while still pointing out that it has it's share of fun.
I got the same impression of the game. Very cartoony with a combat system that did not live up to the hype.
Although the review is correct over a number of things, its almost as if I've read it before..... a few times. Not an attack against the OP or anything but for having so much information, it really lacked any actual detail pointing out specific points in the gameplay. For instance.. what KIND of build makes a good PvP build? How is everyone the same? What "dungeons" are buggy? I just see this as a very generic review -- albeit correct -- just ... generic.
Overall a fairly honest review as far as I can tell.
The only problem I have with this game is that the pvp is no so good. I think they should have either not put pvp in the game or just wait until they came up with a better pvp option. I don't believe you need to have every single feature at launch.
Yea I"m kinda curious how everyone is the same...I've seen all sorts of play styles, builds, and costume set ups. I kinda rarely see everyone coming off exactly the same unless you get a couple of people that are using straight up versions of their starting power set. Even then they can end up different under the hood due to the adavntages you can train for your abilities.
I think until one or two more power sets are nerfed just a tiny tad we'll get the PvP min maxer's copying each other but really what game doesnt' have that? Still gotta give a thumbs up to a couple of Munitions users that were named Snap Crackle Pop even if they were unkillable pre Sept 1st patch. THey looked the same and their build was the same ...evil lil gits they were.
The lack of detail kinda kills this review for me even if on a general basis I agree with a couple of things and think his 6 / 10 is a decent rating even if I rate it higher simply because I enjoy it and I plan to stay.
Its a common impression from new players who have spent the vast majority of their time in the tutorial and first crisis zone. During that time you and every other player are most likely relying on an endurance builder and a charge attack for everything. The diversity isn't really that aparent until you reach MC.
All of my characters look and play very differently. I do wish there was more content for when I make new characters, but the themes and play styles are enough of a difference to have fun even when running the same old mission content.
Its a common impression from new players who have spent the vast majority of their time in the tutorial and first crisis zone. During that time you and every other player are most likely relying on an endurance builder and a charge attack for everything. The diversity isn't really that aparent until you reach MC.
All of my characters look and play very differently. I do wish there was more content for when I make new characters, but the themes and play styles are enough of a difference to have fun even when running the same old mission content.
Well if thats the OP's case then his opinion on the game matters even less since the Tutorial zone and the Crisis Zone (Tutorial 2.0) are only slight impressions on the over all game. I've reached 23 with my main toon and she's nothing like any of the people I play with..she's even different then some of the other pure fire users (she has a one or two abilities from other trees that fit her concept and work well with the stats I concentrate on). Even the quest system is diferent in places as you have alot of quests that you can only do so many times a day and thats if you even find them and you start using the crime computer alot.
I hope their first content release is new starter and mid level and a high level zone even if its just one new zone per tier it'd be nice to have something new to do with my alts. I do look forward to Halloween though hehehe Undead Champions rising up to burn the new city..they deserve to be turned to ASHES!!!
I think you guys misunderstood me, when I said everyone ends up with the same build i'm talking about the PvP mini games NOT in PvE, right now melee builds can't compete in PvP, if you try to play melee your going to get owned badly. Only range builds have a chance in pvp and only the ones that are not gimped at the moment.
The reason I didn't go into specific details is because I didn't want the review to be to long, otherwise people won't read it
As for the dungeons you can try them for yourself, they are not itemized and Crytpic has acknowledged that on there forums, so even after you complete the dungeon and kill the end boss you get no rewards. Which kind of makes doing them worthless, although there are a couple quests in there, but sometimes it can get frustrating like the Foxbot one where you have to escort him out, yet he will sometimes bug out and disappear or not move requiring you to restart the dungeon.
Most of this stuff will be fixed in future patches, so its just nit picking atm.
Even tho they have made soloing harder with the latest patch, the game still does not encourage grouping. And anyone who played in open beta can attest the game has changed alot since then, some say for the better, a lot others say for the worse. The biggest gripe being the patch after open beta nerfed abilities to much, makeing you feel less heroic and super and making the quests feel more like a grind.
I have a feeling the real reason behind this was people were leveling to fast and Cryptic wanted to slow them down. The game only released with 5 zones and casual players are hitting the level cap (or close to it) after only a couple weeks of play. Cryptic as with many other MMO's released the game without enough content, although one thing going for Champions Online is the replayability with alts and trying out all the different powers. Only problem is you have to take them through the same content which might of been fun the first time, but becomes tedious the second and thrid times. I think Cryptic should of added more content in the early levels to give people different paths to take, this would allow you to take your alts down a different path of new quests you didnt do before.
Anyways my review was a general review for people to get an idea of what to expect in Champions Online. I wasn't trying to disect the game and give explanations for every nook and crannie of it.
BTW, I have two avatars, one at 37 (might toon) and one at 28 (munitions)
UPDATE: Although I'm sure some of you already knew this, but I just found out myself that Cryptic will be charging Micro-Transactions for additional equipment and costumes on top of the $15 a month fee. I can understand one model or the other, but to do both is rather greedy on Cryptic's part.
Melee can't compete? Tell that to the martial artists that basically rape me anytime I go against them. The only ones that don't are ones that DON"T know how to use their abiilties they ALL have access to abilities to knock people out of the sky or close the distance between themselves and a ranged fighter. They've also with today's patch given Melee / strength users a huge damage boost so now they're really more dangerous.
This sounds like L2P issue.
btw General reviews are the WORST kind of reivews to give they actually confuse people who refuse to do any sort of research beyond 1 or 2 rant posts.
Have you looked at the stuff you can buy at the moment?
Nothing but Action figures that just follow you around and serve no purpose other than to say "Hey look what I just bought, a useless pet that does buggah all"
As for the costumes, well I've already unlocked various new costume pieces that I didn't need to buy via the shop, I got them via the game as I'm sure many others have done.
So can you tell me whats so worrying about being able to purchase useless figures that do squat and paying a monthly fee? unless ofc the rumour mill has gone into full swing and told the niave and stupid that infact the figures give you secret God like powers in PvP, and only becuase ppl have used the C store to purchase them they now have an unbeatable edge over subscription players hahahahahahaha.
Then again ppl will believe anything.
"" Cryptic has admitted that Champions Online will not only have a monthly fee but will also support micro-transactions when the game finally launches on September 1. Most of them will be for non-gameplay affecting items like costume additions, action figures, and the like. You can also spend money on things like renaming one of your characters. You can also purchase items that DO affect gameplay but Cryptic adds, "Any micro-transaction that has a game effect can also be earned in the game through play. ""
Personally I have a problem with me spending hours and hours to obtain a game item then joe blow can spend $10 and buy it online. I'm sure many won't have a issue with this, but I'm sure there will be lots of others who do feel the same way I do about it.
I also think its weak they would hold out costumes for people only willing to buy them instead of putting them in the game to be earned.
As for a general review, any review you read in magazines are general in nature, in order to disect the game down you would need 20+ pages to cover it. Everything I have posted is true. Sure your going to get a few hardcore fan boys who come in and say ""I can do this or that because I"m elite and you suck"" still doesnt change the fact that melee sucks in PvP. Maybe after todays patch things will change, but I haven't had a chance to try it out.
Even putting that aside PvP in this game is tacked on and really doesnt offer much compared to games where you have open zones for pvp. PvP in this game is very limited and won't offer much for those looking for a PvP fix.
Also this was just a review by a regular player, not some wanna be writer for a magazine, so take it for what it is... If you don't like my opinions of the game to bad
Considering the game's focus is not on gear or Gear sets I really dont see what the big boo hoo is. I don't see people running around going OMG look I just got this awsome Aqua lung that gave me 20 Con! That 20 con doesnt' help you if your build sucks hard.
If the game was built like WoW or Everquest 2 I would see the frantic OMG there's MT's involved QQ that several players have but its NOT. Its about character concepts, builds, and costumes.
I wouldnt' be surprised if the items they MIGHT sell end up being bandages or respecs (which are very game changing).
Not true, you may get raped by a melee character but that IS a l2p issue... playing both a ranged and melee character... you'd have to spec your melee character for some heavy crowd control and make sure he can fly.
You have to build your melee character very specifically to even get close to a well created ranged character.. Espcially with the broken END builder mechanic. Hopefully they changed all that, but in the off chance they didn't... Put some rocket boots on and some force powers with knock back and maybe a heal and a crowd control and any melee character short of being able to fly after you will lose hands down every time.
Its so much easier to kite when you can knock opponents back and fly faster then they can run. Don't even get me started on the TPers and SuperJumpers... worst travel powers in PvP ever.
Not true, you may get raped by a melee character but that IS a l2p issue... playing both a ranged and melee character... you'd have to spec your melee character for some heavy crowd control and make sure he can fly.
You have to build your melee character very specifically to even get close to a well created ranged character.. Espcially with the broken END builder mechanic. Hopefully they changed all that, but in the off chance they didn't... Put some rocket boots on and some force powers with knock back and maybe a heal and a crowd control and any melee character short of being able to fly after you will lose hands down every time.
Its so much easier to kite when you can knock opponents back and fly faster then they can run. Don't even get me started on the TPers and SuperJumpers... worst travel powers in PvP ever.
I get raped by GOOD melee players that know how to knock me out of the sky and have their buddy lock me in a hold. Crappy Melee players think only for themselves instead of waiting for that moment of oppertunity thanks to support players. I mean hell MA lvl 12 and I can bull rush / leap at and knock Ranged players out of the sky rather easily with 1 skill.
Admittedly though melee does have a hard time in FFA combat on the BASH map but thats just teh way that map plays out.
Not true, you may get raped by a melee character but that IS a l2p issue... playing both a ranged and melee character... you'd have to spec your melee character for some heavy crowd control and make sure he can fly.
You have to build your melee character very specifically to even get close to a well created ranged character.. Espcially with the broken END builder mechanic. Hopefully they changed all that, but in the off chance they didn't... Put some rocket boots on and some force powers with knock back and maybe a heal and a crowd control and any melee character short of being able to fly after you will lose hands down every time.
Its so much easier to kite when you can knock opponents back and fly faster then they can run. Don't even get me started on the TPers and SuperJumpers... worst travel powers in PvP ever.
I get raped by GOOD melee players that know how to knock me out of the sky and have their buddy lock me in a hold. Crappy Melee players think only for themselves instead of waiting for that moment of oppertunity thanks to support players. I mean hell MA lvl 12 and I can bull rush / leap at and knock Ranged players out of the sky rather easily with 1 skill.
Admittedly though melee does have a hard time in FFA combat on the BASH map but thats just teh way that map plays out.
Its good to hear you can knock opponents out of the sky at least... Knock backs and downs worked, it was the kunai chain and holds that never brought flying opponents down.. if they fixed that you may have a shot.
1 on 1 though, a decent ranged player can normally take down a good melee player with less effort. Especially on some levels where theres much more level to cross to get to a flying enemy... but regardless... I always had fun with my single bladed swordsman in beta.... I could take down power armor characters with invul in no time flat, .... if only I could catch them....