Champions Online (CO) is an MMORPG based on the 1981 table top game, Champions. Cryptic Studios, after canceling their Marvel Universe Online in February of 2008, undertook the making of the CO game, and they've come quite far in a short amount of time!

At both the Gen Con and Leipzig gaming convention shows this year, Champions Online had a presence. I was lucky enough to see it both places, and what I saw of the game is both exciting and interesting!

The most important detail about the game is that it will be available on both the PC and Xbox 360 at launch. Though having both formats of the game on the same servers at launch is a goal, they'll not confirm anything until they are sure it can be done. Also, subscription models for either service have not yet been announced or talked about. While it may be early in the process to talk about, dual patching both game servers was also not discussed, though I asked about it. I guess at this point, saying anything when they're not sure how things will work out, is a bit premature.

I have to admit, when game companies aren't ready to talk about things like cross-platform support and the details therein, only five months away from the scheduled launch, I get nervous. But Cryptic is famous for keeping things well...cryptic. The studio is well known for bringing vibrant and interesting games to the market, so it's hard not to have faith they'll make it work.

While a PlayStation 3 version is "not off the table", there are no current development plans for it. In the same vein, Localization is planned, but the areas where it will be available haven't yet been announced.

The first things that strike me when looking at characters within the Champions Online world are the costumes and character differences. Cryptic, famous for their character creation in City of Heroes and Villains, has not let us down here! There are so many options, you've no need to fear you'll see a copy of yourself running around the world. Even selecting your powers and their sources is a part of the creation process.

The cell/comic shaded graphics are definitely different from anything I've ever played! The first time around the display computers I was quick to shy away from the graphics, but as I started looking deeper into the detail and integrity they added to the world, I became a fan.

These graphics are meant to tie the world closely together. Much like worlds that utilize stylized graphics, it's much harder for the eye to pick out irregularities, and since together the feel produces a coherent and deep world, it's hard to disagree with the direction the art department has taken.

The game play is twitch and action based and is as comfortable, I'm told, on the PC as it is on the 360. The team has focused on making the player experience visceral. If you're being hit, you should automatically know who is hitting you, what you're being hit with and what direction to face so you can go bash some heads in! Paying attention to the playable area is not only easy and fun, it's automatic. You don't have to focus quite so hard on the details when they're presented to you in a fashion that's intuitive and complete.

In Germany I was shown the Telios Tower area, where a super villain geneticist was busy mixing DNA into his clone army, in preparation for the madcap shenanigans of taking over the world! No half hearted evil nemesis here! Our team of Champions rushed into the tower, defeating enemies along their way to the top (of course). Reactions to enemy actions such as lunges and attacks could be blocked or mitigated with timing and tactics. Working as a team was a definite requirement!

The world includes breakable space and interactive objects that can be lifted and hurled, or used as protection against enemies. It definitely goes a long way to making the game world much more open and interactive. In Snake Gulch, shown at Gen Con, we saw barrels, stagecoaches, and trash bins being hurled around constantly!

In true super hero epic style, from flying to fighting, this game brings home the comic book bacon. I must admit to not being familiar with comic books except for maybe the ultra main stream popular arts (who doesn't know Batman and Spiderman?), and while the twitch based action of this game is not my style, it's good to see the genre opening up.

Many folks have been waiting for a game like this, and Cryptic is set up to do it well and succeed with flying colors (and super people)! This is definitely a game to keep an eye on as it nears completion, and we're getting close! Launch is scheduled for Spring 2009.

Becky "Tovin" Simpson
Senior Editor, ZAM Network