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City of Heroes

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.4 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 58 critic reviews
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Based on 69 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: NCsoft

Developer: Cryptic Studios

Genre(s): Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

Players: Thousands

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: April 27, 2004

Summary

City of Heroes is a super-powered hero based massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The game is set in Paragon City, a modern day metropolis full of super powered villains, alien invaders, and underground monsters. Players take on the roles of Paragon City's super-powered defenders. Create your own hero by choosing your powers and designing your own costume. [NCsoft]

Also On Metacritic

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What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Stuff

Odds are this game will complete you. Spending hour after hour earning points to gain new abilities becomes a kind of subhuman mania.

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100

Adrenaline Vault

When all is said and done, every session leaves you feeling like you’ve just read the latest issue of your favorite comic book. I can think of no higher praise than that.

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100

GamerFeed

The greatest game ever made. And remember, this confession comes from people who have railed against the very creature that is MMOs. Furthermore, this is the most addicting game we've ever played. Period.

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Gamers Europe

It’s such a welcome breath of fresh air from all those orc and goblin LOPOs that plague the genre, and the release time is perfect. With World of Warcraft on the way, CoH will have had enough time to snare a good player base and I seriously doubt that anyone will be switching over.

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Game Chronicles

The epitome of effective game design, especially with regards to the MMO arena. If you have even the slightest interest in comic books, role-playing, MMOs, or beating on mooks, you owe it to your self to pick up City of Heroes.

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Xequted

There is something truly magical that first time that a player finds themself soaring above one of the most breath-taking digital worlds to ever appear on a computer screen. Finally, we all know what it’s like to be Superman and look down on that strange and beautiful place we call home.

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Gamezilla!

One of the best massively multiplayer online games I've played to date. Maybe it's the new topic, maybe it's the oodles of women in tights, but I love this city even at $15 a month.

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Gaming Age

Ok, when I said solid gameplay, I meant, "Oh my god, the combat is fun!"...I don't know if I can ever go back to single pulling, auto attack type battles. You don't even have to be into MMOs to enjoy this game.

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ActionTrip

For a long time comic book fan and MMORPG player like myself, City of Heroes is a dream come true.

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GameShark

The reason I like the Sidekick feature is that you can never be ‘left behind’ by your friends and teammates.

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Loaded Inc

It's quicker, less fussy and has that all important fun-factor that I think is essential for any subscription based game.

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Eurogamer

Focused excellence.

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netjak

I have never been able to make a character that fit so closely to my exacting specifications as I have in City of Heroes.

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GameSpy

It's easy to get into, the combat rocks, and it's a blast to play with friends.

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Computer Gaming World

We're all still playing this game night and day, long after the review is over. We love it, and sadly, we don't have much of a life outside of it. Thank God there aren't more MMO's like this one. [Aug 2004, p.72]

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Boomtown

But as a longtime player of MMORPGs myself, I love being able to log on for fifteen minutes and actually get a feeling of progress at any level. It is about time MMORPGs started to look at themselves as games, not time sinks.

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eToychest

Causal gamers can log in for an hour or two occasionally, complete a few missions, and have a feeling of accomplishment, while hardcore gamers can mow through levels through ‘street cleaning’, missions and task forces.

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Computer Games Magazine

A bit like last year's "PlanetSide" in the sense that it isn't afraid to offer fewer things to do while making sure that you have more fun doing them. [Aug 2004, p.66]

Game Informer

From the moment you create a character, you'll drop into that pleasant buzz that is a quality hit of gaming. [July 2004, p.120]

GamePro

With so many EQ-me-toos out there, it’s refreshing to play something new, and to have it be this good is like finding a cooler of lemonade in the middle of the desert.

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Games Radar (in-house)

That’s a comic-book fan’s idea of heaven -- and that’s what City of Heroes delivers.

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Armchair Empire

I’m far from finished with City of Heroes -- I'm still having fun even after so many hours.

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Gaming Illustrated

Considering one NCSoft account lets you play all their titles, this is definitely worth your gaming dollar.

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Gaming Nexus

The game is very accessible.

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Gamers' Temple

If you can handle being a second-tier hero fighting street gangs for a little while with the promise of future superhero glory to motivate you, then by all means pull on some tights and hit the streets of Paragon City.

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Warcry

I really like the lack of “Sandwich Gameplay"...where you hit auto-attack and have time to get up and make a sandwich while your character kills stuff. In City of Heroes, you don’t have an auto-attack like you do in, say, "Everquest."

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PC Gameworld

Not only does it have fun powers and cool costumes, it makes you feel like a hero! And, better yet, part of a team.

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AtomicGamer

City of Heroes is a great MMORPG with solid, fun gameplay and a style all its own. It doesn't seem like high level players have much to look forward to, but time will tell if new and exciting stuff will open up for them.

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Computer Games Online RO

The overall quality of the game cannot be denied, and if you're a comic book fan, or like MMORPG's, or both, you owe it to yourself to see what City of Heroes is all about.

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Pelit (Finland)

An original superhero MMORPG that has excellent character creation and a well-designed world. Gameplay is quite combat-intensive and the game lacks sufficient content to stay interesting for longer periods of time. [Feb. 05]

Worth Playing

Overall, from a scale of Pat Sajak to Bob Barker, this game is Alex Trebek without the mustache: sharp-looking, packed with features, witty, and fun, but with just a little something missing.

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FiringSquad

The base gameplay and fun factor are through the roof. This has to be the first MMO that immediately grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. Wearing tights is extremely addictive, if you can fight off the eventual tedium set-in.

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GameSpot

It's a refreshingly focused online role-playing experience, and is an entertaining, polished game that, unlike so many others, manages to deliver on the underlying promise of an excellent concept.

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GameZone

A nice title for anyone who wants to break into the MMORPG genre. It's easy to get right into the game and will build invaluable play experience you can use when you kick it up a notch with another MMORPG.

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Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

It's: Huge, heavy on hitting and quite gorgeous. It's not: A standard MMOG, a life-hoover or run of the mill. [PC Gamer UK]

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IGN

This is really one of the first MMOs that really allow casual players the chance to play and have a good time without feeling like they're being left behind. The wonderful sidekick system helps as does the extraordinary ease of finding a team to play with.

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IC-Games

Anyone new to the genre can certainly make this a choice without expecting to get in too deep and losing their way, while seasoned MMORPGers can have a blast playing out their superhero dreams.

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Play.tm

By concentrating solely on the bits people who want to play superhero games are most interested in, namely superpowers and character abilities, rather than any of the more involved economics of other MMOs, COH/V manages to deliver a pair of finely focused games that understand what their audience wants and aren't ashamed to provide it by the bucket load.

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Play Magazine

Even if you only play CoH for the duration of the first free month, it's well worth the purchase. Chances are you'll be sticking around, though. [July 2004, p.75]

My Gamer

The Power Slide ability could just be the perfect ‘defining touch’ for your new character, and you might love the Spirit Cape. [Spec. Ed DVD]

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PC Format

A real romp to play, and there’s very little grind involved – an achievement for any MMORPG. In addition, it doesn’t require you to put your life on hold to get a lot out of the game, unlike the "Everquests" and "Star Wars Galaxies" of the world.

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PC Gamer

Simple, yes - maybe even simplistic at times - but in the end, it's the first MMOG I've picked up in a long time that I'll keep playing and playing. [July 2004, p.52]

games(TM)

City of Heroes is the shot in the arm that the genre so desperately needed. Thanks to some extremely accessible gameplay it's a title that appeals to old hands and newcomers alike. [Aug 2004, p.116]

Yahoo! Games

Although it doesn't have the breadth of its competitors, it makes up for it with exciting combat and easy-going gameplay... not to mention the sheer exuberance of its setting.

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1UP

Once you've managed to team up with a group of heroes you can get along with, CoH turns into a great game.

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GMR Magazine

It doesn't quite have the depth or legs to carry it into longevity like an "EverQuest" or a "Final Fantasy," bit that's for later patches and expansions. [Aug 2004, p.87]

Frictionless Insight

Think of it as an intricate, first person plural quest game; it might be more of a really excellent team-based massively multiplayer Superhero "Quake" than the Superhero version of "EverQuest" or "Dark Age of Camelot."

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Edge Magazine

One of the few games of its type you can actually play for an hour, take on one of its missions, and have a meaningful unit of experience. Staight in. Straight out. Gamer satisfied. [Sept 2004, p.105]

Cheat Code Central

A solid effort in every direction. It's possibly the most accessible, and perhaps most fun, MMORPG ever devised.

Electric Playground

City Of Heroes is a breath of fresh air, and a hell of a lot of fun to play. By building on this initial framework, COH has the potential to grow by leaps and bounds.

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Maxim Online

The straightforward online action in Paragon City gives you instant access to hordes of computer-controlled villains to vaporize, but the real payoff comes in teaming up with other misfit crime fighters for orgies of virtuous ass kicking.

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Times Online

The online action is about more than endless fighting, since players also get the chance to formulate strategies in a sort of chat-room environment.

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VideoGamesLife

City of Heroes sporadically delights and contains many great ideas that require more diverse in-game options before ascending from its current level of interesting diversion to essential purchase.

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Game Revolution

Underneath its shiny surface, Paragon City turns out to be as paper thin as the comic books that inspired it. It’s a really nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.

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TotalGames.net

Don't expect the in-depth tour de force of other MMORPGs out there, but rather a relaxed experience which is good, wholesome fun that won't see you lose weeks of your life in the process of play.

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Gamer's Hell

There really is minimal complexity to the game, no crafting for example, but yet it still has that addicting effect.

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Gamer's Pulse

Massive character creation tools, diverse city landscapes, powerful abilities and enemies, huge groups of powerful heroes fighting alongside each other and the list goes on and on showing this massively multiplayer game is not like so many out there.

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G4 TV

The versatile character-creation system will, at the very least, allow you to end up with something reasonably close to what you had in mind. The problem is that your looks pretty much have no bearing on how your character will play.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 69 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mountain Man gave it an8:
The most customisable online game ther eis on the market. Costumes, powers, missions, maps, all can be altered as you see fit. There is truely no other game on the market that will let your imagination run riot. Combat is hilarious fun. There is no other game I can think of with so much ease of use, yet difficult to master gameplay like this. Combat is laugh out loud funny at best and mildy grinding at worst. Your graphics card and monitor will love you for the rioutous colours on display at all times as powers and punches zing about. On the downside, the game was never as deep or polished as other MMOS on the market so it must suffer in score for it. To sum up the review, its a flawed masterpiece. The most fun MMO out there tempered with the fact that it cannot expand much more as a game on its limited engine.

Charles T gave it a10:
I have been playing this game for quite awhile now and I noticed one major thing. All of these reviews are ancient. From what I read these people never even got to super movements. That is like playing the tutorial and giving a review. You haven't even started playing the game yet. There have been 14 major content updates since the game started. My only gripe is that the level cap is the same as it was 3 years ago when I started playing. Good thing I have dozens of amazing characters to keep me coming back.

Mike S gave it a10:
Excellent game from the start and it never stops improving. Now with user-generated content (like Little Big Planet or YouTube), it will have never-ending content also. The development studio has tripled in staffing in the past year and a half and NCSoft is investing heavily to make this one of the best "triple A" mmorpgs in existence.

Brett D. gave it a10:
Thrilling, lifelike, intriguing. Hour of non stop action and adventure. The variations of individual hero creation keep you in the game for a long. long, long time. Is there an end? The in game variety leaves you wondering if there is an end to the game. The game itself has regular updates with new action waiting. The official forum is awesome and the people (characters) playing the game are first rate, a great mass of great gamers!

Steve S. gave it a10:
I've been into super heroes for 4 decades now. For me, this game is a godsend. I'll never forget the first time my character flew. I got giddy. The entire game is that way. If you're a fan of super-heroes, and/or comics, this game will be addictive forever.

Peter gave it a10:
Adding variety to a fantasy dominated genre, with a nice atmosphere and relaxed gameplay, this game continues to entertain me even though the gameplay may feature little less than combat and the engine may be old and wonky. Relatively frequent updates of content over the years add new stuff to explore over time.

Daniel Y. gave it a10:
This is king of MMOs, despised all online games, but CoH showed me the error of my ways.

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City of Heroes

Game Info

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What The Critics Said

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