City of Heroes

Guide Note

City of Heroes is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Cryptic Studios.

Fast Facts

1. Based on superhero comic book series
2. Platform: Microsoft Windows
3. Multiplayer Mode
4. Requires Subscription
5. ESRB Rating: Teen (T)

City of Heros allows players to create superhero characters that team up with others to complete missions and fight villains in Paragon City, which is a fictional city in the state of Rhode Island. When creating the Superhero characters, players must first select archetype and Power Sets, then design a costume, and then optionally write a back story or description and battle cry for their hero as they choose a name. Game play may start with a tutorial or the tutorial may be by-passed and the game can start in one of two areas, Atlas Park and Galaxy City. In order to earn more health, powers and power-ups, players must earning experience points through missions, defeating enemies, then returning to a contact marked on the in-game map.

Updates have been released as free expansions. Many of these were used to correct issues or release patches. Some of the updates include the ability to change clothing, earn capes, replace zones and add support for dual-core CPUs and 3D sound.

1. Freedom
2. Justice
3. Pinnacle
4. Virtue
5. Liberty
6. Guardian
7. Infinity
8. Protector
9. Victory
10. Champion
11. Triumph
12. Training Room (Public test server)
13. Shibboleth (Private server for in-house developer testing)

1. Defiant (English-language server)
2. Union (English-language server)
3. Vigilance (French-language server)
4. Zukunft (German-language server)
5. EU Training Room (Public test server)

1. Computer Gaming World: MMORPG Game of the Year 2004
2. Spike TV 2004 Video Game Awards: MMORPG Game of the Year
3. GameSpy: PC Game of the Year 2004
4. Billboard 2004 Digital Entertainment Conference & Awards: PC or Console Game of the Year, Multiplayer Game of the Year
5. Wargamer: Award for Excellence
6. Games Magazine: Game of the Year 2004
7. Computer Games Magazine: Editor’s Choice - August 2004 Issue
8. Computer Gaming World: Editor's Choice - August 2004
9. Game Informer: PC Game of the Month - July 2004 Issue
10. Loadedinc, Hot Property Award
11. Actiontrip: Editor’s Choice
12. Warcry: Best Expansion - City of Villains - E3 2004
13. IGN: Editor’s Choice
14. GameSpot: Game of the Month - May 2004
15. GameSpy: Game of the Month - May 2004
16. GameSpy: Editor’s Choice
17. E3 2003 Game Critics Awards: Best Online Multiplayer
18. Game Revolution Best of E3 2003: Best Online Game