City of Heroes
| City of Heroes | |
|---|---|
| Studio | Cryptic Studios |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
USA: April 28, 2004 Europe: February 2005 Asia: January 2006 Retirement: December 1, 2012 |
| platform | Windows , Mac OS |
| genre | MMORPG |
| Game mode | Multiplayer |
| control | Keyboard & mouse |
| language | various, u. a. English German |
City of Heroes was a computer game for Windows and Mac OS (since issue 13). It was published on April 28, 2004 to November 2012 by the company Cryptic Studios and belonged to the MMORPGs , but was set in a completely different environment than most representatives of this genre . While these are mostly in the field of science fiction (see e.g. Star Wars Galaxies , Neocron ) or fantasy (see e.g. Guild Wars , Ultima Online , EverQuest II , World of Warcraft ), CoH leaned on the big ones Superhero comics.
The player slipped into the role of a superhero. He was able to determine his origin (mutation, technology, science, nature or magic) and his role (melee, destroyer, breaker, ruler or protector), choose suitable powers and put together a costume from an extensive selection of components. The combination of origin, role, powers, the individual costume and its own background story created a diverse spectrum of different heroes.
background
City of Heroes and City of Villains are set in the fictional city of Paragon City and the equally fictional Rogue Isles. The background story begins in the 19th century and is told not only on the website but also in the game through memorial plaques and some story arcs. The central turning point in that world was the attack by a superior alien race - the Rikti - on May 23, 2002. After the invaders were repulsed, reconstruction began. The city's superheroes face different opponents, such as various gangs, mutants, secret societies or the city's central arch villains. Since the release of City of Villains, the battle between heroes and villains of the Rogue Isles has become more apparent.
Game flow
After creating the hero, you can do the optional tutorial or go straight to Paragon City. The experience points typical for an MMORPG are collected by defeating opponents on the streets and backyards of the city or by completing missions, the latter often including defeating various opponents. Defeated enemies are not killed, but automatically teleported to the city detention center. If you have collected enough experience points, you climb to a higher level, as is typical for role-playing games. In City of Heroes, leveling up enables, for example, the selection of new powers, the individual improvement of existing powers or an increase in inventory space. Furthermore, the character values increase, i. H. the hero becomes stronger and more resilient.
The missions are available from contact persons. At the beginning of the game you are assigned a contact person based on your own origin. Fulfilling this person's assignments will give you their trust and suggest further contacts. The contact persons usually have a central concern, which initiates a larger storyline (several related missions with background stories). After completing these storylines, the player usually gains a deeper insight into the backgrounds, motivations and connections of the acting groups.
Missions are mostly completed in instances , i. H. even if several players or groups fulfill the same mission, each team has its own area available. There are no waiting times until the notified opponent appears again ( respawn ). The missions can be completed in a few minutes, depending on the chosen level of difficulty.
In addition to the missions, there are also task force deployments. These missions can only be contested by teams with a specified minimum number of members and are deliberately designed to last several hours.
Teams can be formed ad hoc by two players. Inviting other players and leaving groups is possible with just a few interactions. When players of different levels form a team together, high-ranking players can promote lower-ranking players as mentors. The player acting as a sidekick receives the mentor's level minus one as long as he is near the mentor. If you want to play together more often, the individual heroes can form their own supergroups or join them. Membership in such a supergroup is noted in the game below the hero's name.
Updates
City of Heroes has received sixteen major free updates since its launch . As usual for comics, these major updates are referred to as issues (in the American version as "issues"). The publication of these editions is accompanied by extensive changes in the game world. Over time, new zones and power sets were added. The ninth edition expanded the gameplay with the crafting known from other MMORPGs , the production of objects from found raw materials.
Minor updates optimize the balance of the individual roles and power sets or correct errors in the game.
City of Villains
The first paid and stand-alone "expansion" with the name City of Villains was published on October 31, 2005 and represents the opposite game concept to City of Heroes. Here, players slip into the skin of super villains. City of Villains can also be played as an independent MMORPG without City of Heroes. Both games, City of Heroes and City of Villains, operate on the same servers; H. Representatives of both sides can compete for bases and special areas ( player against player ). Since issue 10, heroes and villains can take action together against the invaders in a special area.
As of July 16, 2008 it is no longer possible to buy just one of the games; these are only available in a bundle .
Going rogue
The second paid expansion with the name Going Rogue was published on August 16, 2010 and represents the prelude to City of Heroes and City of Villains. Players start in the mirror universe Praetoria and can decide which side over the course of the first 20 levels they ultimately want to belong. The moral alignment system introduced with Going Rogue also allows existing heroes and villains to switch sides. In addition to three new zones and four new power sets, Ultra Mode was also introduced, which means a complete overhaul of the game engine. As a result, the game was adapted to current graphics standards.
City of Heroes Freedom
On June 21, 2011, the manufacturer announced a major change. A new concept should be prepared with issue 21 “Convergence”. Not only did the game get a new name ( City of Heroes Freedom ), the software became free in the course of 2011. You were free to decide whether you wanted to play the free version or activate further options as a VIP player. The VIP variant was chargeable.
Setting the game
On August 31, 2012, the developer announced that the Paragon Studios responsible for maintaining the game (a subdivision within NCSoft) will be closed and the servers will be shut down towards the end of the year. The game was discontinued on December 1, 2012.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ City of Heroes Freedom and Issue 21: Convergence. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011 ; accessed on May 11, 2019 .
- ^ Farewell, from all of us at Paragon Studios. Notice of the closure of Paragon Studios. Archived from the original on November 24, 2012 ; accessed on May 11, 2019 .
- ↑ Tobias Ritter: Definitely discontinued: Superhero MMO says (not quite so) quietly Servus. In: onlinewelten.com. December 2, 2012, archived from the original on March 15, 2017 ; accessed on May 11, 2019 .