Overview

What do you get when you combine comic books and video games? You get an instant audience. It’s no big secret that comic book fans also tend to be video game fans and vice versa, but the secret here is how well Cryptic has combined the two.

Being a long-time comic fan, I must admit that I was a bit skeptical at first. I was never into the whole capes and tights heroes, well, other than Batman, and I wasn’t sure how this would turn out. Much to my surprise, it turned out addictively well. So much in fact that when you make the first hero that you really like, you find yourself thinking about playing him and putting criminals behind bars, where they belong! Even though you may be putting mayonnaise on the shelf of your local Krogers, you can be Captain Smashface in the privacy of your own home.

City of Heroes came out of nowhere and, in my opinion, has broadsided the MMO market. For the first time in a massively multiplayer game, the combat is really exciting. Fighting multiple opponents is not only challenging and fun, but a necessity, and this, my friends, is a good thing.

So, can a game like City of Heroes make it in the massively overcrowded online world? Absolutely. This game, after all is said and done, has the most potential of any MMO outside of World of Warcraft. The second game from Cryptic, City of Villains, is supposed to offer PvP with magnificent heroes fighting against diabolical villains. You get to choose which you are, naturally, and either start off as a low level scrub cleaning the streets or dirtying them. How can that go wrong?


As for what’s available now, there’s tons of gameplay and fast paced fun to be had while flying through the city and striking fear into the hearts of evildoers. Striking magnificent poses on rooftops right before you sail down upon your unsuspecting prey. Who knew that wearing tights could be so fun!