Comparison to City of Heroes is inevitable within this genre, but there are a few key areas where Champions Online hopes to differentiate itself from its successful predecessor. City of Heroes after all, has been significantly prosperous as an MMO. Fans of the game however, have begun to leave in greater numbers as time goes by, prompting questions as to its longevity.
So how will Champions Online keep the comic book gaming genre fresh and alive? One aspect of the game involves the sheer scope. In CoH, the game is played within Paragon City, a fictional city filled with superheroes and supervillains. Champions Online will encompass the entire Earth, and superheroes will even have the opportunity to run through missions in outer space.
Gamers who are unfamiliar with the original Champions game should find the storylines in Champions Online to be well-written and containing great depth. CoH already exhibits detailed storylines, so there is an expectation that this will continue in Champions Online. There will be multiple villainous groups - such as VIPER, ARGENT, and PSI - and the villain out to destroy humanity is known as Doctor Destroyer. Yes, its slightly cheesy, but what comic book isn't?
Combat in Champions Online is going to be about action, pure and simple. The usual auto attack followed by a recharge timer is a thing of the past. Combat is expected to be much more interactive and significantly less boring. Because of the flexibility mentioned earlier, powers will be much more difficult to defend against and counteract. After all, the villains will have just as many different power types as you do. Combat is therefore expected to require a bit more thought and skill than in previous online games.
