PlayNC’s City of Heroes (COH) has been one of my favorite massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) as of late. In combination with its counterpart, City of Villians (COV), this game has been a source of entertainment for me during the last fifteen months. I purchased the City of Heroes Binder shortly after it was released. The binder is very detailed; a helpful resource for any COH player.
Layout
This game guide consists of a large three-ring binder. The paper is very thick and colorful. There are tons of pictures and diagrams. The font size is average in most sections but smaller in some of the charts, making them a bit more difficult to read. This guide is expandable. As is, this binder covers COH from Issues 1-6. The expandability was a key factor in my purchasing this book. Being an online game that requires a monthly subscription fee, the game is constantly being updated and expanded upon. A new Issue (a large content update) is released every few months. Previously, a game guide was released in standard book form containing only information through Issue 1. I consider the binder format to be much more appropriate to the type of game COH is; always evolving.
Since my purchase of this binder, Issues 7-11 have been released. Some of these issues have brought major changes to the game, including the addition of an economy system. I'm very dissappointed that new content for the binder has not been released, especially since that was one of my main reasons for buying it.
The guide is easily understood with a minimal prior knowledge of the game. Everything is written in the simplest terms possible.
Content
The City of Heroes Binder covers a widespread range of topics related to the game. There is information about character archetypes, including detailed information about individual power sets and playing strategies for each type of character. This is a good reference for newer players or even veteran players who have decided to tackle some unfamiliar territory. The strategy advice is sound. The power set information is great; providing detailed information about what powers will be available as you level your character. There is also information on how to “enhance” your powers and use inspirations for a temporary boost to your character’s stats. Beyond the more specific information is a general guide that explains everything from attack strategies as you level you character, to teaming, to the con system. Everything is explained in great deal, with charts and diagrams where applicable.
This guide includes detailed maps of every zone, including plaque and badge locations. Badges are an integral part of the game; some adding up to give you accolades that boost your stats. A full description of badges and accolades are provided toward the end of the binder. The coordinates of these badges are also provided, but I found these useless as you would have to move your character around a zone typing /loc to find out your coordinates and track how they change. It is far easier to compare the map to the in-game map to find out the locations. There are zone descriptions that also detail the villains in each zone, including their difficulty. A few sections after these maps are maps of the PVP zones (player verses player) complete with the rules governing each zone. For example, some zones allow you to only attack opposing characters (such as a villain if you are a hero) while other zones provide bonuses for defeating a specific target from the opposing team.
A detailed reference of all villains in the game is included in the guide, as well. Each villain group is described, followed by the name of individual members of the group (ranging from low-level minions to arch-villains), his level, and his powers. It is a great resource if you have the patience to look up villains before a mission or a big battle. I’m usually too lazy to reach over to the book shelf to get my guide during a mission, but it is a nice feature either way.
The guide also discusses Supergroups which are the one topic in the guide that I feel could have been expanded on. A basic overview of what a Supergroup is, how to earn prestige, and building a base is given, but it left me craving for more. The tool for building a base is very confusing. This is the one part of the game that I could have used some guidance on, but the information about bases in this book is limited to advice on how to decide on a type of base. There is no information on how to use the base building tools. A small amount of information is provided about base raids.
Overall Impession
I purchased this guide for $24.99 at Best Buy, a little over a year ago. The book has been a helpful resource during those frustrating days badge hunting or when creating a character in an unfamiliar archtype. Most of the topics covered are done so thoroughly, and this will be a useful tool for newer players and veteran players alike. I am extremely disappointed that updates have not been released, however, and as time goes on this book will become less useful.
Recommended:
