[Disclaimer: The following opinion is based on a beta-version of Champions Online, one week prior to release. The final version of Champions Online may resolve many of the issues raised in this editorial.]
I’m not sure why Champions Online exists. After playing a considerable amount of the beta, leveling up a wide-variety of characters, I come away with an empty feeling. Overwhelming impression? It’s as if Cryptic Studios simply renamed everything in City of Heroes and was quite content to add a smattering of new features that don’t add up to very much.
It currently stands as a mammoth disappointment.
One riddled with a ridiculous amount of bugs, a clunky interface, uninspiring combat, weak animation and terrible voice-acting.
“But it’s a beta!” I hear you yell. These things are to be expected. True, up to a point. Problem is, the game hits retail shelves in one week (September 1st) and should be much further along in its development than what I am seeing in the beta.
What we have here is yet one more case of an MMO shooting itself in the face by rushing its release date.
You’d think Bill Roper, former producer of Hellgate: London now working for Cryptic Studios as Executive Producer, would know better. Perhaps financial pressures make further delays economically impossible, especially in light of Champions Online having already been delayed from its initial release window of last May.
It needs another delay because Champions Online is a mess from top-to-bottom.
Barring divine intervention, there is no way Cryptic will get this game into proper shape for next week’s release. Early adopters are bound to be frustrated. As long as you know going in that Champions Online isn’t some polished gem (far from it), perhaps you won’t be so disappointed.
Here are just some of my problems with Champions Online as it stands now.
While I’m not 100% in agreement, I do feel the game is a let down. Despite all the costume options, there’s no individuality in the game. Travel powers are rehashed from flight, ice slide, earth flight, hoverdisk…it goes on and on. Same power, different skins.
I see the same thing with the frameworks: they all feel the same. As a stand alone game, it would be fun. But an mmo that has a subscription fee every month it leaves much to be desired. I’m staying with the far superior City of Heroes. CO is going to be a throwaway game…enjoy it for 2 or three months then get tired of it.
This article is a bunch of nonsense! If you hate co so much then dont play it! Go back and play your coh/cov! I personally am bored with coh/cov. CO has created a whole new world for me and yes it may be boring in the next year or two for me but until then I will be playing CO!
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While I’m not 100% in agreement, I do feel the game is a let down. Despite all the costume options, there’s no individuality in the game. Travel powers are rehashed from flight, ice slide, earth flight, hoverdisk…it goes on and on. Same power, different skins.
I see the same thing with the frameworks: they all feel the same. As a stand alone game, it would be fun. But an mmo that has a subscription fee every month it leaves much to be desired. I’m staying with the far superior City of Heroes. CO is going to be a throwaway game…enjoy it for 2 or three months then get tired of it.
This article is a bunch of nonsense! If you hate co so much then dont play it! Go back and play your coh/cov! I personally am bored with coh/cov. CO has created a whole new world for me and yes it may be boring in the next year or two for me but until then I will be playing CO!