We had hoped that the incessant supply of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) would slow down at the end of 2004, but with City of Heroes, the influx continues well into the new year.

The game is set in the fictional city of Paragon, whose inhabitants are mostly of a criminal persuasion. Players are required to create their own superhero character and do battle with evildoers, in order to make the world a nicer place.

The character creation process will be familiar to anyone who has played an MMORPG, but the game's developers have succeeded in making it very entertaining. We were able to create convincing replicas of almost any superhero from the DC or Marvel Comics stable and were also given the freedom to come up with some very original creations.

There are scores of different body types, outfits, masks and colour schemes to choose from, but be warned: once you've selected a look for your superhero, you're stuck with it.

In City of Heroes, the relative experience of players can be gauged by their abilities in the field. These vary from player to player, but they all stem from a choice of five basic archetypes. Each has various skill sets, so your character's superpowers can be as varied as their appearance.

The gameplay is unlike traditional MMORPGs. Battles tend to be enjoyable thanks to the variety of skill combinations. Computer-generated foes present a decent challenge and will use appropriate tactics to try to gain an advantage.

Unlike games such as Everquest, players can battle against player-controlled characters individually or in teams. The team aspect is implemented well, and it is easy to find like-minded players who are willing to form alliances to defeat a resilient group of foes.

City of Heroes has no real inventory system, so those who like collecting items may be disappointed. Instead, it relies on quests as the only diversion from fighting.

On the whole, we'd recommend this as an ideal starting point for anyone who wishes to get into the genre, since it is a far more dynamic and rewarding experience than many of its rivals. For established gamers though, it may prove too shallow to warrant the $15 monthly subscription.

Price:
£29.99 inc VAT plus £8 per month

Contact:
NCsoft
www.ncsoft.com

System Requirements: