Champions Online
| Developer: Cryptic Studio | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Atari / Perfect World | Sound: |
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| Year: 2009 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: MMORPG | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: Today, not many | Rating: |
6/10 | |
This page was written in 2012. Naturally, the experience described here can no longer be replicated. The MMO genre is by nature ephemeral, relying on a large player base and ongoing support from developers—two components long gone.
Champions Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the Champions license (a “pen-and-paper” RPG set in the world of superheroes).
Its cel-shaded graphics (with outlined contours) and the addition of speech bubbles and comic-style panels give it the look of an American comic book. Still, you won’t encounter any characters from DC Comics or Marvel; it’s an entirely original universe.
The main draw of the game is its near-infinite avatar customization, allowing for extensive control over both your character’s appearance and powers. Later, you can even create your own nemesis—your superhero’s arch-enemy, who will pop up sporadically throughout the game!
RPG fans will find the usual character attribute sheet, packed with customizable stats (in the paid version). It’s one of the best-designed stat systems I’ve ever seen! Honestly, I spent most of my time respeccing my character, testing new powers, or combing through the official forums for the best synergy combinations.
Unusual for this type of game, most missions can be completed solo. Even some so-called “group” missions (Adventure Packs) adjust in difficulty based on the number of players (from one to five). These instances are divided into multiple episodes, allowing you to pause and pick up where you left off later.
The player community is fairly active and organises numerous events like costume contests and “role-playing” scenarios, though unfortunately most are English-only (there are no language-specific servers, so everyone speaks English). The developer’s financial struggles prevented them from fully localizing the game in French; all translated content has since been removed, making the English version mandatory for everyone.
In 2011, to counter declining player numbers, a free version was introduced. That same year, Cryptic Studios was sold by Atari to Perfect World.
Unfortunately, while the style is well-executed, the same can’t be said for the content. Quests are highly repetitive, the dungeons are too easy and too few, player vs. player is wildly unbalanced, and the crafting system is a complete flop (they’ve since removed it altogether and replaced it with a mod system to enhance existing gear). That said, most of these criticisms apply to the vast majority of MMORPGs.
What bothers me the most are the dull, unskippable cinematic scenes that drag down the pacing of missions. This feature greatly amplifies the feeling of weariness that comes from doing the same thing repeatedly.
Despite its major flaws, it remains original. On the ultra-conformist MMORPG scene, that’s saying something.
Finally, here are some screenshots to show the creative freedom you have when designing your character!
(Brenda Montgommery, international model, is hidden among these images—can you spot her?)
Champions Online still seems accessible in 2024, but I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s no one left. Even if you bring friends, the free version is too limited, and the “monetization”, excessive. However, the previous game by the same studio, City of Heroes (2004-2012), has reportedly been taken over by volunteers, with the publisher’s approval. Their server is called Homecoming.
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