Review:
Champions Online Hands-On Preview

Cryptic’s latest superhero MMO offers a stylised, action-packed experience that will appeal to true believers and newcomers alike.

We recently had the opportunity to play the opening section from Champions Online, the spiritual successor to Cryptic’s City of Heroes/Villains. Announced shortly after Cryptic’s cancellation of the Marvel Universe MMORPG, the game now uses heroes and villains from the universe established in the comparatively unknown HERO System role-playing ruleset.

 What will initially strike players about Champions Online is its first-rate production values. The menus and game user interface are all designed with a 60s four-colour aesthetic in mind, and the “comic shading” effect that outlines your characters is one of the best examples of Cell Shading we’ve yet to see, implemented to varying degrees on all individuals and landscapes. Though Champions does not have the established mythos that DC’s upcoming online rival will, there are numerous homages and references in the loading screen art and character/environment designs that prove just as much fun to spot. The character select screen, which resembles a stack of issues from metaficitonal publisher Cryptic Comics, is just one of many neat little touches.