Champions Online
| Champions Online | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | Cryptic Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Atari |
| Engine | Cryptic Engine |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release |
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| Genre(s) | Superhero MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Champions Online is a free-to-play (with optional subscription) superhero-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game by former City of Heroes/Villains developer Cryptic Studios based on the Champions license. The game's rules and setting are loosely based on the HERO System ruleset. The game has only been released for Microsoft Windows: An Xbox 360 version of the game was in development, but canceled in March 2010.
The game is more action-oriented than most MMOs. Successful attacks and blocks increase a power meter which can then be spent to unleash more powerful actions. Death is handled in a similar manner to City of Heroes, in which a player may choose to be revived by a teammate or respawn at a neutral site, except respawning does not accrue experience debt. Instead, upon death the player loses one of the five possible accrued Hero Stars. These stars are earned for staying alive while defeating NPCs. Heroes and villains from the Champions universe serve as major NPCs. The character gains bonuses to their effectiveness for every star earned (percentage increases to damage, healing, etc.).
Unlike most MMOs, there are no armor pieces or armor sets to collect. Instead character dress is purely unique and cosmetic, as are most weapons - damage is calculated using the character's basic stats, with the addition of extra devices. Reflecting the game's original design as a console game, characters also possess much fewer skills than standard MMOs; however each skill can be highly customized with a variety of player-chosen "Advantages". This tends to make the game much faster-paced and less of a "grind" than traditional MMOs. The level cap is 40, with special endgame content and gameplay at the cap.
The game features an "orb system" where enemies defeated by the player may drop orbs that temporarily benefit the hero's powers, life, or energy.
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Wikipedia