Superb customization, shiny graphics, and entertaining combat. It is poised to be a great game... in time.
Pros/Cons
State of the Game 10/28/09
Analysis
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Pros: Since release, Cryptic has shown that they are interested in adding new content such as power sets, game balancing, and implementing player feedback to improve game play.
Among these is: The ability to share any quest you have with anyone in your group so that it no longer feels like a single player game (more on "State of the Game" section).
Instituting changes to make it a more team-based game while still not taking away from those who like to solo (quests/mini games for groups that just about anyone is willing to join due to the ease of side-kicking and increased rewards offered).
Insane customization is also a large staple of this game, as it is able to create near limitless amounts of heroes that, while not perfect, is a step in the right direction and surpasses any other game.
The ability to craft your power sets to tailor your character's theme is also a plus.
Having multiple costumes and being able to switch between them on a whim adds for more customization if your hero/ine has two more more forms.
Creating the ultimate nemesis for your tailored creation is a great way to implement the lore you created for him/her.
Future implementations of holiday events and mini games looks to be quite fun; plus, there is a special surprise that no details have been released on that is suppose to occur in Q1 of 2010.
-The next Major Patch is said to be released in December and host a winter event and possible climate changes (Mil. City entirely covered in snow, perhaps?).
Cons:
The myth that graphics make the game has been proven false in the most epic of terms; Champions online offers this and more yet still falls short of many expectations of its initial release.
The comic series of Champions has decades of lore and content for which to implement in the game, yet the gameplay that draws inspiration from it only has a select few of these incorporated into it.
Besides having daily crashes of the server, frequent emergency maintenance, and the lack of content... It shapes up to be a fairly interesting game with a lot of potential.
Balance of skills is non-existent and leads to even themed heroes outsourcing just to survive or do more damage.
The content designers don't seem to mind irritating players by implementing something in such a way that it takes days to complete as opposed to jumping right into it. This was seen on the recent Blood Moon patch with their two hour spawn rates of heroes with the reasoning they didn't want players to beat it in a day (even changing instances led you to having to wait 20-30 minutes at a time with a chance that it might bug; though this is countered by the ability to share any quest, as you get quests by defeated these undead heroes 10/28/09).
PvP is imbalanced due to the wide variety of abilities (in my opinion they should allow you to use your hero, but have preset abilities sets to pick from before you enter hero games... especially in teams).
State of the Game: 10/28/09
Their most recent update is their Blood Moon patch for Halloween in which they have added several new quests, events for the holiday, and various player asked for upgrades and additions.
Among these additions is the ability to share your quest with anyone in your group despite their eligibility to obtain it alone. This has made grouping and partying highly accessible and puts all claims that it is a single player online game to rest.
In addition, they have recently implemented another asked for addition in that costume pieces that one of your characters unlocks now unlock for your whole account; a truly needed upgrade to their systems that no doubt has made many very happy indeed.
Various upgrades to super groups that have occurred or are in the works also help deter the sense of loneliness that the game ones portrayed, and I found myself group with random people quite often to to engage in large battles that the game leads you into -- especially with the ability to share any mission with your partner and the ability to "synch" up to their level using the well known side-kick system.
Their first major patch, which hosted a plethora of new quests, upgrades, events and the new Celestial Power set is, in young MMO terms where content may be lacking, a huge success. The mini games implemented followed by new quests, abilities, and pleasant social contacts that the new quests systems inspired makes this game much more entertaining than it was at launch.
Being able to fight hordes of zombies is quite fun; rising as one when you're dead is as well. In addition, the werewolf hunting and zombie survival stages inspire team work and playing together with your friends and fellow champions.
Given another year of patches such as this? We are looking at a whole MMORPG based on the Champions Universe and catered to the player base with the emphasis on having fun with the new friends you will make; purely based on what they did and want to do in this first major patch and their goals for the future of which they stated on the forums.
Until then, those who play it now will enjoy monthly majors that have new content within them, player suggested changes to help keep the player base happy, new content to explore and create, and a more stable server that will allow people to play whenever they feel like it or have the time to do it.
Analysis:
While not for everyone, it is a fun game that is for casual playing. Those who spend 10+ hours a day play games will most likely blow through it and not party with people to have fun.
I personally play 1-3 hours a day and have a blast.