A long-time fixture on the Windows MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) front, City of Heroes (CoH) has finally flown to the Mac.
CoH Hardware Requirements
CoH requires an Intel based Mac running Tiger (10.4) or later with 1GB of RAM and a proper graphics card - MacBook and Mac Mini owners with integrated graphics will be unable to play the game. For this review the game was tested on a 2.2GHz MacBook Pro with 2GB of RAM and an NVidia 8600M.
In most cases, the game ran fine on this setup: framerates stayed high except for particularly frenzied combat sequences, particularly during group play. At the same time, the computer's fans were running at full and notebook users may wish to use a cooling device such as a Chillpak.
Installation of City of Heroes
Players beginning with a two-week free trial sign up on the game’s website for an account before receiving a download link. While the initial installer is a mere 80MB, it will proceed to download the full 2.7 GB game plus subsequent patches, making it a killer for gamers on limited bandwidth and best left overnight or to run at home while at the office. Nevertheless, the installation process is simple and straightforward.
Coh and CoV Character Creation
CoH and its sister game City of Villains (CoV) utilise an identical method of character creation: after choosing a gaming server where their information is stored (servers are either US or EU based, with the latter having two in English, one in French, and one in German), players choose a gender (including “Huge” which allows for monsters) and then customise their character's body type, features, and clothes.
Options abound, and new players can easily spend a half hour toying with their character’s appearance. Players are allowed multiple independent characters, and a subscription to CoH includes being able to create and play characters in CoV.
City of Heroes Gameplay
Once a character is created it is mandatory for them to play through a basic tutorial which introduces key aspects such as the navigation system and combat mechanics. The tutorial also introduces the levelling system, whereby characters advance by gaining experience points (XP) and reaching new Security Levels thereby gaining additional powers, enhancement slots (more later), costumes, and access to restricted areas of the game.
Gameplay itself is driven by the keyboard: motion is controlled with both the arrow keys and a set of letter keys. Combat attacks and additional powers (e.g. flight) are activated through the number keys, and Inspirations (temporary powerups) are used from the function keys. The mouse scroll wheel controls the camera distance, left clicking selects targets (be they other players, non-player characters, or enemies) and right clicking opens contextual menus.
Combat is fast and action based, like in Zelda or Quake, versus turn-based like in traditional role playing games like Final Fantasy. Players gain a variety of bonuses, from experience points to influence (used to buy high end enhancements and costume modifications) and salvage for self-created powerups.
The game also enforces a difficulty curve by adjusting experience gain to the user’s level: a level 14 character receives nothing for defeating anything below level 10, little for levels 11-13, and is unlikely to defeat a single foe above level 16, let alone a group at 15 or 16 without teammates. At the same time, being defeated past level 10 means losing XP, and players who die repeatedly will need to clear XP debt before being able to continue advancing.
Team play in CoH is straightforward affair and mandatory for more advanced missions such as bank hold-ups and defeating supervillains. Solo missions are available at all levels. In this regard CoH caters to both the casual gamer looking to blow off steam for an hour blasting baddies on the street, and hardcore fans willing to spend their nights in team play.
Summary
World of Warcraft may be the king of the MMORPG heap, but for the gamer who preferred comic books to fantasy novels, City of Heroes is a viable and highly entertaining choice and a welcome addition to the Mac gaming catalogue.
Jonathon Collis - Author is based in London, England.
