Loot Ninja got some hands on time with the upcoming MMORPG, Champions Online, at the recent NY Comic Con. This game allows you to create your own hero from scratch and do whatever you can think of. The game play is similar to many MMO’s where you map all of your powers to certain keys and attack accordingly. Some the powers that you are privy to are fire, water, mind, weapons, you name it. The beauty in Champions Online is the total control you have in creating your own hero. You choose from the clothes you wear to the powers you will eventually harness to make you a force to be reckoned with.
The demo level we got to play allowed us to roam around a park and fight several low level baddies. The demo was pre-alpha so the background textures were not finished but the game play was far enough along to beat some ass. You charge up your “mana” level and you can then allocate it to the powers you choose. Also, attacks can be linked together depending on how much charge you have left and the strength of the attack. The demo was short, so there is not much of actual game to discuss, but there are plenty of pertinent details remaining.
The game, like all MMOs, want you to play in a group. There are no villains here, just heroes, so you are a good guy whether you want to be or not. Furthermore, the game does not have crazy high CPU requirements: 3 gb of RAM, 9200 video card, 3 ghz processor, etc. Again, nothing insane but not WoW levels of hardware. The game right now is slated to just be on the PC, but they claim that they are shopping for a console version. This may be tough with MS’s Marvel Online and Sony’s DC Universe. The game will also have a subscription, probably around $15, although that is not set in stone. With at least 3 hero based MMORPG’s coming out in the upcoming year, Champions Online will have to do something drastic to differentiate itself from the other console iterations to make some noise.
Sadly, after playing DC Universe Online, I don’t think this game stands a chance.
MS Marvel On-Line as been cancelled. The new ms flagship is for the xbox 360 is Champions Online. I still dont know if an MMO will work on a console. Time will tell though.
“The game right now is slated to just be on the PC, but they claim that they are shopping for a console version.”
It’s been stated since day one that this game will also be on the Xbox 360.
“This may be tough with MS’s Marvel Online…”
Like Fardo said, Champions IS Marvel Online, or least built from the ashes of it. Steve Kohlbecker needs to do a bit more research before writing articles like this with such blatant errors.
@ Snazzy Gent
“The game right now is slated to just be on the PC, but they claim that they are shopping for a console version.”
This is a DIRECT quote from the developer. He would NOT tell me what console they are going for. The Xbox 360 guarantee is a rumor at best.
The Marvel MMO has been off and on again, so I wouldn’t be surprised either way. It appears dead now, but Champions Online has nothing to do with Marvel Online. It is a completely different game, also stated directly from the developers.
Thanks for reading and the tip, but I am going to take a primary source as the best possible reference whether the “internets” agrees or not.
Steve,
Your information has to be from quite some time ago. You should have gleaned from the website or the numerous dev logs that Champions is confirmed for Xbox 360. In fact, on the official website it says “Champions Online is being developed for both the Xbox 360 and PC.” Also, the dev logs and other previews speak of how Cryptic made a very clear decision early on to include the 360. Game Informer reported that CO will feature online cross-platform gameplay between the Xbox 360 and the PC from day one.
Is this all lies or has all of this information changed recently?
@ Snazzy:
You very well could be right. I don’t follow the game very closely but my preview came DIRECT from Comic Con in NYC on Feb 7, 2009.
The developers told me that they are “actively shopping the game”. When I said, “It has to be on the Xbox 360, because Sony is developing DC Universe, which is direct competition.
His reply, ” All I can say is that we are shopping it. Nothing is guaranteed.”
Like I said, you could be right and the dev could be playing possum, but I’m just reporting a primary source.
Thanks for following up.
Just doing my part to ensure quality journalism. Either way, don’t let my demeanor fool you, I’m a big fan of Loot Ninja. My apologies for being overly critical – Champions Online just happens to be a game that I’m very excited for and have been following closely for months now.
I am more interested in how this game, and DC Universe, compare to City of Heroes/Villains.
@ gent:
I completely encourage criticism, as do we all. I just found out that the devs couldn’t say much about the 360 stuff because it wasn’t 100% at the time of the Comic Con, but have recently made it public after I talked to them.
Im summation, we were both right and you were more recent, which means you win.
Thanks for the grown-up discussion. It is hard to get a good back and forth nowadays with these kids and their rock music.
“Thanks for the grown-up discussion. It is hard to get a good back and forth nowadays with these kids and their rock music.”
I know what you mean. For a little bit, I felt like one of those kids with their rock music. After I actually used my head for a second, I realized I probably sounded like a douche. Thanks for not ripping me to shreds in a flurry of reviewer logic.
DC Universe in Pre-Alpha looks to demolish all others right now. I have to admit that I am not a big DC fan but the game looks great. I have already called it a possible WoW killer and that says a lot coming from me.
Champions is one of my favorite role playing multi-player game. Graphic’s are great! The comic design is so smooth it looks great.