City of Heroes - T

Play the hero in this comic book style MMOG.

Publisher: NCsoft Category/Genre: Online Video Game - Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG) Platform: Windows Price: $19.99 Online Enabled: Yes Graphics: Medium. Looks like a comic book in three dimensions. Playability: Medium. Easy to learn, challenging at higher levels. Reading Level: Light Release Date: 04/28/2004 ESRB Rating: T for Violence, Suggestive Themes

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this is a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) where combat is an integral part of gameplay. Players will attack and kill computer and human-controlled opponents with their superpowers. Hero costumes can be mildly racy, although no more so than a typical comic book. While the game does have a profanity filter, online interactions can vary widely and there are very few restrictions on what people can communicate. In addition to the initial cost, a monthly subscription fee of $14.99 is required to play this game.

Families can talk about online safety and etiquette with their teenage children. Why shouldn't you give out personal details online? Is everyone always who they claim to be? What effect does online anonymity have on people's behavior? Families can also discuss the differences between fantasy superheroes and real-life heroes. What behavior truly makes a hero? Are heroes always virtuous, or can they be flawed?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Dwight Odelius

In CITY OF HEROES, players take on the role of a person gifted -- or perhaps cursed -- with supernatural abilities. Players create their own hero using the game's sophisticated character creation system, which gives them control over everything from their character's origins, i.e. where their superpowers come from, to the color of their shoes.

Players begin their career as a hero by beating up on lowly thugs and riff-raff, but with experience and well-honed skills, they will eventually take on mad scientists, criminal masterminds, and power-mad arch-villains. Players may also battle against players from City of Heroes' sister game City of Villains, although player-versus-player (PvP) engagements are optional.

City of Heroes is unusual among massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) for its character-creation capabilities. The skill system provides ample choices for developing superpowers that fit the character's origin and archetype. There are so many costuming choices that it's rare to see any two characters that are similar in design. However, the game adheres to the traditional character classes used by other MMOGs, such as tankers and healers, so that players who have played in other worlds, should find actual game play here fairly familiar.

Another strength of City of Heroes is that it encourages players to form teams to tackle more challenging quest objectives. While the game is not difficult to play solo, it's much more enjoyable playing alongside other costumed heroes. Large numbers of players can create supergroups, permanent associations of like-minded heroes who enjoy beating up on baddies in good company.

Players who like City of Heroes but have more villainous sensibilities will likely enjoy City of Villains. Players looking for another MMOG that departs from the standard medieval fantasy fare may want to take a look at Tabula Rasa, a science-fiction action MMOG. Younger children should check out Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Online and Toontown.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Characters wear skimpy and revealing costumes, but no more so than the average comic book.
Violence Fantasy violence only. No blood or gore. Use of weapons and superpowers to defeat opponents.
Language Varies due to online interaction. The game provides a profanity filter, but players may circumvent this by using alternate spellings.
Message
	Social Behavior Hundreds of available quests have various themes, but most involve helping someone achieve some desired positive objective, e.g. defeating an evil character or cleaning up an organized crime syndicate. And good always triumphs over evil.
	Commercialism Cost of games vary, plus there is a subscription fee of $14.99 per month required to play this game. Fake advertisements on billboards and sides of buildings enhance game's urban look. NCsoft has recently started offering these spaces for sale to real-world advertisers.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Some missions revolve around organized crime trafficking in Superadine, an addictive drug.
	Educational Value Players engage in teamwork to achieve quest objectives, and there's the opportunity to learn online etiquette.