 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
City of Heroes
- Windows
- Price: $19.99
- Genre: Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG)
Common Sense Media says
Play the hero in this comic book style MMOG.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
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.
What's it about?
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.
Is it any good?
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.
What families can talk about
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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A family friendly MMO
The content of this game is mild and presented in a comic book style. As such, the violence is tame (though certain animations can look graphic - i.e., a dramatic swing of an axe) and is stylized like a comic. Additionally, the game refers to enemies and players as "defeated" rather than killed (and often times after defeating a bad guy, it is implied you merely incapacitated him to be arrested later). The writing and gameplay are definitely geared towards being more family friendly than your average game. There is very little language as well and certainly never any serious profanity. While players can create characters with (very) revealing costumes, that is the extent of any sensuality in the game (and, again, it is like a comic book).
This is, however, an /online/ game in which you interact with many other players. By and large, the community in City of Heroes is fantastic. The people are generally fairly nice and usually very helpful to new players, but as in any online game, there are less than stellar people in the community. There will be times when people will circumvent the profanity filter, or make crude jokes, or just be a jerk. This is pretty much the only reason someone would be cautious about letting their child play this game.
A very important thing to note is the strong RolePlaying community this game supports - mostly in the servers Virtue and Freedom. Mature content from the players themselves is very likely in either of those servers.
The game itself is fantastic, by the way! A great MMO. And the main review is very outdated. The game no longer requires a subscription to play!
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Kid, 10 years old
January 15, 2012
AGE
City of heroes
Its a fun game were you can be a super hero or super villian.
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| Platforms: | Windows |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG) |
| Developer: | NCsoft |
| Release date: | April 28, 2004 |
| Price: | $19.99 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Violence, Suggestive Themes |
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