Champions Online: Action-Oriented Combat

An interesting approach can be discovered in Cryptic's Champions Online, an upcoming MMO based on the similarly titled superhero tabletop game. While the closed beta has been progressing in a very secretive manner, the game's selling features are displayed prominently on the website's FAQ and interview pages. Some of these systems are very appealing to me as a player.

One of the primary appeals to this gamer is the idea of action-oriented combat in an MMO. The term might be confusing to some, and it's certainly not the formal phrase for it (after all, all MMORPGs have 'action' of some sort), but what I mean is that the combat in Champions is apparently closer to an action-adventure game than a traditional RPG. Instead of relying solely on level and character skills to overcome an opponent, players may be expected to actively aim attacks, dodge those of opponents, use cover as a means to protect themselves, and otherwise rely on hand-eye coordination over statistics and timing strategy.

I have been waiting for this for a very long time! Age of Conan attempted it with some success, and Darkfall Online promises the same, but Cryptic has a potential advantage in releasing their game. It is widely expected that Champions will be cross-platform on the Xbox 360, and may utilize the Xbox 360 controller for Windows, as well as a more traditional mouse-and-keyboard setup on PC.


A different style of play brings opportunity to attract a new demographic. Much of the appeal I find in Turbine's Lord of The Rings Online is in its untraditional community. While the action-oriented gamers of the Xbox Live community are not the same people of my virtual Middle-Earth, the prospect of a more competitive control style makes me think that PvE, PvP and simply getting around the world (who hasn't wanted to fly around as a superhero?) will be more interesting for a longer period of time. I have hope, at least!


And now, to direct that hope toward my email inbox, where I am attempting to will a beta key into existence...