Champions Online
- June 14, 2011
- Cryptic Studios
- 426h median play time
Free-to-play limits player choice and hurts the games longevity, but Champions remains a pretty, if passable MMO.
Get on Steam"Champions Online" is a Free-to-Play MMORPG that lets you become a superhero and defend the world from villains. The game offers total customization of your character's appearance, as well as depth and fast-paced action that challenges both new and experienced players. The "Shadow of Destruction" update introduces a new end-game zone for veteran players to explore and battle evil forces.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Champions Online offers one of the most extensive character customization systems in any MMO, allowing players to create unique superheroes with a wide variety of powers and costumes.
- The game has a vibrant community and provides a fun role-playing experience, with many players enjoying the creative aspects of character creation and storytelling.
- Despite its flaws, the game still receives occasional updates and has a nostalgic appeal for long-time players who enjoyed its original gameplay.
- The transition to a free-to-play model has resulted in significant content being locked behind paywalls, making it difficult for new and returning players to access their favorite features and characters.
- Many players report that the game has become a cash grab, with aggressive monetization strategies that detract from the overall experience and enjoyment.
- The lack of new content and updates has led to a stagnant gameplay experience, with repetitive missions and limited endgame content, making it less engaging over time.
- story74 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its initial depth and character customization, while others criticize the repetitive nature of quests and a decline in engaging storytelling following a takeover. Although the game features a comic book-inspired world with humorous missions and a variety of content, many players feel that the overall narrative has been weakened, leading to a lack of immersion and engagement in the long run.
“The character creation system and storyline was awesome.”
“It was amazing storytelling.”
“The comic book and tabletop inspired world of Champions is brought to life in a game full of character customization, developed story, and a steady flow of new content.”
“In terms of gameplay, even as a wallet warrior, you still need a supporting cast to live up to the massive part of MMORPGs. However, there isn't much role-playing in it. Ever since that fateful takeover, much of the story in this once-promising title has been taken out.”
“For the first many weeks, I enjoyed this game, but like with any MMO, it lost my interest when quests became the same thing over and over again, with egregious glitches preventing certain instances from working properly.”
“The quality of the missions is very lackluster and can hardly be called engaging.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its deep character customization and a solid, medium-paced battle system, appealing to both free and paying players. However, many users express frustration with the lack of new content and powers since the game's acquisition, as well as a clunky interface and limited controls. While the free-to-play model is praised for not restricting essential gameplay elements, the overall experience is marred by grindy mechanics and sporadic server issues.
“At its best, it's a game with a solid medium-pace battle system that boasts some of the most in-depth character mechanics in any game I've played to date.”
“Great character customization and a lot of MMO gameplay variety for free.”
“I find it refreshing to find a game where the gameplay contents are free, with regular updates, monthly events, and a thriving community; a free-to-play game where paid content is never necessary, but always welcome.”
“One problem I have with it is that, since it was bought by its current owner, there's been almost no new powers, costume sets, gameplay elements, or new content at all for years.”
“Subscription changes, out of touch developers, and, in general, overly grindy gameplay with no actual depth.”
“After the fun of creating a character, I encountered a kludgy gameplay interface, limited controls, no walkthrough of any kind (to introduce you to how to manage your character, find/accomplish any goals, or even read your UI), and so far the actual content seems written for an 8-year-old comprehension level.”
- monetization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game is widely criticized for being aggressive and outdated, with many players feeling it has turned into a cash grab focused on microtransactions rather than meaningful content updates. New players are particularly warned about the heavy reliance on paid features, which can limit gameplay unless they are willing to spend significantly. Overall, the monetization strategy detracts from the experience, leading to a negative perception among users.
“Although limited by the free service in some aspects, through the use of microtransactions or the subscription, the customization is limited only by your imagination (and your wallet). If you're looking for a new MMO and enjoy playing the role of superhero/heroine, Champions Online is a great start, and you can take comfort in knowing it's only getting better and better.”
“The game was one of the first to have microtransactions in it.”
“It just needs updates and better monetization.”
“First and foremost, if you are a new player, be warned: this game has some of the most aggressive monetization I’ve ever seen in an online game.”
“The game hasn’t had a content injection for a very, very long time, and if the last few years are indicative, do not expect any new content outside of new monetization features.”
“Outdated gameplay and now a cash grab; it's just not worth it to get pulled into, nor any other PWE game.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics are designed to resemble a comic book style, which some players find visually appealing but others describe as straining on the eyes. While the vibrant colors are noted, many feel the overall quality is inferior compared to other games like DC Universe Online and Star Trek Online. Additionally, the smoother graphics on PC enhance the experience, allowing for character customization reminiscent of DC and Marvel heroes.
“The graphics are smoother, and you can still look like your DC or Marvel characters!”
“The art style is pretty goofy, both in terms of graphics and scripting.”
“I know it's supposed to look like a comic book, but the graphic style hurts my eyes after a while.”
“The graphics, while bright and vibrant, feel inferior to DC Universe Online and Star Trek Online.”
“Add to that, the game is pretty goofy, I mean art style and scripting-wise.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players criticize the game for its excessive grinding, which lacks depth and often feels tedious, especially during seasonal events that require significant time investment for specific rewards. While the character customization and community are praised, many feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, particularly for those who may not want to engage in it extensively.
“Subscription changes, out of touch devs, and, in general, overly grindy gameplay with no actual depth.”
“The seasonal events demand a high bar of grinding, so if you want a specific costume part be prepared to spend hours doing the same missions until the end of the event.”
“Everything else is pretty much standard for MMOs - grinding, questing, instancing, group events.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for being plagued with numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly in quest instances. While players initially enjoyed the experience, repetitive content and technical issues have led to a decline in interest over time. Despite some positive aspects like character customization and community engagement, the overall stability remains a significant concern.
“They then treat the game as more or less done, buggy as all hell and no content.”
“For the first many weeks, I enjoyed this game, but like with any MMO, it lost my interest when quests basically became the same thing over and over again with egregious glitches preventing certain instances from working properly.”
“The almost unlimited character customization is nice and so is the game's community, but I didn't like the grinding and the glitches.”
- music4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the option to play their own music from platforms like Winamp and iTunes while engaging in gameplay, enhancing their experience as they battle enemies.
“The ability to play my own music from Winamp/iTunes while I slam evil.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the freeform character design system, highlighting it as a key feature that enhances character development. This flexibility allows for a more personalized and engaging experience in shaping their characters.
“I installed it because I'd heard they'd created freeform character design, so I was really excited to try out the system.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's replayability is high, with players appreciating the variety of choices and outcomes that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many highlight the presence of different character paths and unlockable content as key factors that enhance the overall experience. Overall, players feel that the game offers enough depth and diversity to keep them engaged long after the initial completion.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny missions and clever cross-references, contributing to an engaging and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the great customizability and enjoyable gameplay that enhance the comedic elements throughout the adventure packs.
“Great customizability, nice gameplay, funny missions, thousands of cross-references, awesome adventure packs, the list goes on.”
