New City of Heroes Pack Hits Europe

[Ventura_DK]

The announcement of the US 'Good versus Evil' package was made a couple of weeks ago, but today the European NCsoft branch confirmed that Europeans will be able to buy the City of Heroes/City of Villains pack that comes with special in-game content. Best thing is that current gamers can buy the new in-game stuff via micropayments. Check out the details over at Boomtown (http://rpg.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=12408).

http://i.boomtown.net/pics/4/3/3/96334/120x90.jpg (http://rpg.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=12408)

[Grimgrock]

Since it's initial release, has this game had a significant facelift in the graphics department? I really want to give this game another chance but am curious about this part.

[Ventura_DK]

CoH has received 2-3 major facelifts since the initial release in 2004. I can't remember the details of the upgrades, but we're talking bloom effects, shaders, improved textures and such. This package of course has all the updates included.

[Steve_Erhardt]

I finally canceled my account last night. I really loved the game, but I'm more of a solo player (even moreso now that none of my friends play it), and it's just too aggravating that way. I've been playing since the beta, with a very small stable of characters, and 80% of my time into a single one, who to this day hasn't managed to break past level 34. I was often at a crossroads where any place I wouldn't be insty-killed by roaming baddies, I was totally bored with and wouldn't get any XP for random fights, but any place I would find new and interesting and, frankly, worth XP, I'd get whomped nearly instantly and work up debt. Not fun. I've seen maybe, MAYBE 50% of the city in all this time playing.

And I got tired of all the new stuff always being for the level 50's... how about some new shit for my level 14 guy? Just because that character is new to the game, doesn't mean *I* am (I see the same thing as far as this goes in WoW, too).

Finally, the cookie-cutter character generation started to bore me. The costume generator is still, to this day, unequalled, but you can only play paper dolls for so long. If they ever do a CoH 2, maybe use their current costume generator, and combine that with an actual character generation system more like what you see in Freedom Force, I'll be all over it again.

[Ventura_DK]

Hmmm playing an MMO mostly solo ;)

CoH/V is heavily targeted at group and rewards you for teaming XP wise. Without trying to hard you can get a toon levelled fast in good groups.

Lots of content has been targeted at low toon levels, in fact so much that one of the major complaints from the player base is the lack of lvl 50 content. Lower toon levels have received for example Striga and Croatoa (spelling) zones. Next up is a remake of the Faultline hazard zone (lvl 15ish).

[Orosco]

I really like CoH/V, though it seems like the Villians side is alot more user friendly. Once they add the police band (hero version of the newspaper mission generator), I think I'll enjoy CoH much more. I'm a 99% soloist,(I have alot of random AFK breaks due to a sick family member) and this game really fits my playstyle fine. I can bust out some quick newspaper mishs if I don't have alot of time, and follow the contact storyline missions when I have the time. I'm really enjoying my elec/elec brute, got em to lvl 35. I want to hit 50 with the dude, I'm hoping they add in the villian side epic archtypes soon, maybe a secret addition to the new Issue update..(crosses fingers)
I'm addicted to collecting Badges, just hit 130, same pull like the Xbox360 achievements.
I like the fast combat style too, seems alot more like an action game sometimes.
I highly recommend giving the trial a shot if you're looking for a new mmo.

[Steve_Erhardt]

Hmmm playing an MMO mostly solo ;)

CoH/V is heavily targeted at group and rewards you for teaming XP wise. Without trying to hard you can get a toon levelled fast in good groups.

Lots of content has been targeted at low toon levels, in fact so much that one of the major complaints from the player base is the lack of lvl 50 content. Lower toon levels have received for example Striga and Croatoa (spelling) zones. Next up is a remake of the Faultline hazard zone (lvl 15ish).
I know, I know... and don't get me wrong, I DID team up from time to time, but 9 times out of ten I'd rather just do the solo thing than hang with people I don't know. Call me snobby, I guess... I just had to be in the right mood, which wasn't often, to group with strangers. As for Striga and Croatoa... too late to do me any good for my main guy I was trying to level the hardest. I'm paid up thru November so I'll probably get on a few times between now and then, but short of the major overhaul I described above, which is not at all likely, I doubt there's going to be anything that happens to change my mind.

[BalekFekete]

Like others here, CoH/CoV have been the longest running MMO on my gaming system(s) .. over 2 years since I started playing them in beta. The ability to make such radically different characters on a whim, the ease of grouping with any friend - regardless of level difference - and a host of other features has kept me glued to the game.

However, I also just deactivated the accounts for myself and my wife due to a competing product that has grabbed my attention. I can't say what...

my...my preeecious....

;)

[Ventura_DK]

Once they add the police band (hero version of the newspaper mission generator), I think I'll enjoy CoH much more.

Totally. This is probably going to be the most important addition to CoH in years. The paper missions make it so much easier to level and do quick stints. They decrease travel time a lot too.

[Demo_Boy]

It doesnt look like a different game, but the bloom and redone explosion effects do look nice.
The environment remains at the same visual fidelity as from shipping.