NCsoft Expands City of Heroes

[Detomah]

NCsoft® Europe, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced the release of City of Heroes® “Issue: 11: A Stitch in Time,” a free expansion for current subscribers.

which provides players new content including the ability for heroes and villains to travel back in time to participate in world-altering missions as well as a weapon customization tool, two new power sets and enhancements to the inventions system.

The City of Heroes title, of which NCsoft recently took sole percent ownership, has included 11 free major content expansions to the game and a retail expansion with the 2005 release of City of Villains™. Issue 11 offers new ways for players to tackle the comic-book styled adventures in Paragon City™ and the Rogue Isles™ while adding new depth and features.

The headline feature of Issue 11 is the ability to “flashback” in time to participate in exciting events from the history of Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. Issue 11 introduces the mysterious Menders of Ouroboros, which gives players the ability to travel through time to embark on historic quests including a hero mission that prevents the Circle of Thorns from unleashing a devastating demon on a defenseless world (a story which was originally presented in the City of Heroes comic book). Additionally, villains will be able to travel through time to assist Lord Recluse™ in his initial campaign to conquer the Rogue Isles.

Heroes and villains can also use the “flashback” abilities to play or replay hundreds of missions from earlier in the game. Players will be able to set mission parameters to earn special badges and participants’ levels will be set appropriately to ensure that the challenge of each story-arc remains constant.

“The ‘flashback’ feature is an innovative feature that gives players an opportunity to participate in huge story-lines and opens up missions they enjoyed previously,” said Matt Miller, NCsoft’s lead designer for City of Heroes and City of Villains. “This gives the game greater depth and many more challenges.”
Issue 11 also adds two new power sets, Dual Blades and Willpower. Willpower, which is available to Tankers, Scrappers, Brutes and Stalkers, offers a strong mix of resistance, defense and regeneration powers, allowing these characters to shake off pain continue battling.

The Dual Blades set allows heroes and villains hold blunt or bladed weapons in each hand to deliver devastating attacks using the new ‘combo’ combat system. The Dual Blades are available to Brutes, Scrappers, Stalkers and Tankers.

The Dual Blades are also featured in the new weapons customization tool added to the game’s lauded costume creator. With Issue 11, players who use an assault rifle, bow, broadswords, claws, villain claws, dual blades, a katana, a ninja blade, a mace, pulse rifle or dual pistols can change their weapons the same way they change their costume pieces. Using the weapons customization interface in the costume creation tool, players can select from a variety of weapons appropriate to their respective power sets.

“The players have been craving features like this and we are happy that we are able to deliver on their desires,” Miller said. “The NCsoft City of Heroes team is 100 percent dedicated to creating new adventures and continuing to build the game. This is the most successful comic-book based game on the market and we will work hard to keep it that way.”

Issue 11 also includes new inventions sets including “very rare” purple sets, and a new invention set for taunt, buff and debuff powers.

To join in the comic-book themed adventures, players can purchase the City of Heroes “Good Versus Evil Edition” game pack at retailers across Europe, which includes complete City of Heroes and City of Villains games, as well as a set of exclusive bonus items. Customers receive the first month of play free and both games can be played for the single monthly subscription price of £8.99 / €12.99.

For more information about City of Heroes, go to City of Heroes .