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from what i understand, the NDA is still in place for those that were in beta. as such, i don't think you'll be able to get much info that isn't some sort of press release...
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It will have campaign logs and random thoughts...
I was in on the beta. It was OK, but it didn't live up to expectations. The aspiration to have a highly interactive environment wasn't really lived up to. You can pick up certain objects and either hit foes with them or throw them. You can also attack them. The problem is, it's all very clumsy and fake-looking. There's only one animation for attacking with a given object, for instance, so it looks kind of silly and tedious to flail at a bad guy with a lamp post. Objects don't show wear and tear as they break, they just spontaneously detonate when they (eventually) run out of hit points. And forget about knocking foes back through walls, that just isn't going to happen here, because most of the environment isn't actually destructible or interactive, just certain props (so you can still be herded through maze-like missions).
Many other effects equally poorly-executed. Think how cool it looks to throw a lightning bolt in the comics. In CO though, it's not a wicked arc of zig-zagging energy your electrical superhero throws, but rather some unimpressive, limp streamer of energy that kind of reminds me of a plasma lamp.
OK, those are my gripes. Now, the flipside is that it is actually pretty fun despite the lack of polish, which will hopefully be improved upon with time. I don't think there's any element of City of Heroes that you'll miss in CO, and CO does improve upon it in many areas. For instance, there are open quest areas.
Unfortunately, the Xbox version seems to be in limbo at the moment, and it's likely Champions is going to welsh on us the same way Conan did.
Designing your character was great fun. It brought out the rolelayer in me. Of course I had to try to recreate all my heroes and villans from my 80s games of Champions. It was great to see "Nucleous Man" in his bright orange and black trim glory. Even had an atomic symbol for his chest.
I really enjoyed the tutorial/beginer section. I felt like a super hero. I was wearing power armor and had wrist blasters and eye beams. (you can customize where your powers originate to some extent). I even saved a cat from alien invasion.
The desert area and the ice area (hubs after leaving newbie area) were great. I got my first travel power (rocket boots of course) and was soon zipping around blasting stuff.
The desert area missions seemed easier until I entered the "Vault" what I assumed to be a lair. That was very creepy and got harder the further I went in.
The ice area missions were harder at the begining, and the end boss area was really cool, even though beta closed before I good kill him. (Died several times trying to solo him. Might have been able to do it if I had killed off his henchman first to keep them from blasting my backside) Died once with a group.
I think it is a very engaging game and am headed out to buy the box as we speak. Got me so excited to play in beta, I put aside my reading list, my movie list, and my schoolwork) (45 years old and taking college courses, what a drag)
"If you die first, we're splitting up your gear" - SkidAce
"Just because you don't like it, don't understand it, and can't explain it, doesn't mean that it doesn't work. "- Celebrim
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