Gaming News - January 2005
Austin, TX (January 5, 2005) - NCsoft and Cryptic Studios today
announced the release of the third expansion for City of Heroes, titled Issue 3:
A Council of War.
From NCsoft:
The expansion includes the villain group, the 5th Column, taken over by the
mysterious Council in a war that will sweep through most of Paragon City’s
zones. Issue 3 also brings new “ancillary” powers and “epic” archetypes to
high-level players, a new mid-level zone called Striga Isle and several
automated zone events.
As Issue 3 launches, skirmishes erupt as the Council troops attempt to complete
its takeover of the 5th Column. Though both the Council and 5th Column soldiers
are in pitched battle with each other, with little provocation they will turn
their fury against Paragon City’s citizens and protectors. To keep the
population of Paragon City safe, heroes of the city need to subdue the
combatants.
“The takeover of an entire villain group is a major advancement of the City of
Heroes story line,” said Jack Emmert, City of Heroes lead designer and creative
director for Cryptic Studios. “We wanted to demonstrate that, like any good
story, City of Heroes will have plot twists and unique events that will continue
to challenge and involve our players. This storyline shift will lead to future
changes that will be part of the game’s ever changing environment and lore.”
The “ancillary” power set introduced in Issue 3 is for characters at level 40
and higher and allows them to access powers outside of their primary archetype
power set. These new powers, for example, allow strictly melee characters to
access an array of ranged attacks.
“This is something of a reward for upper level players who seek a character that
is complete and fully-realized,” said Emmert.
Also, characters who reach level 50 can now evolve into new “epic” archetype
characters with origins based on outer space visitors, the Kheldians. These
characters emerge at level 1, with Peacebringer or Warshade archetype options.
Striga Isle, a hazard zone accessible by players at level 20 and above, is the
location of the infamous Port Noble, a haven for assorted cutthroats and black
market traders. The island is marked by Mount Richardson, which contains an
underground lair for the evil Council villain group.
Additional features of Issue 3 include the ability for players to adjust the
difficulty of missions and several automated, zone-specific events such as an
attack by a giant octopus in Independence Port and the appearance of a ghost
ship that travels through the waterways of several Paragon City zones.
City of Heroes, which was recently named “2004 PC or Console Game of the Year”
by Billboard Magazine, is available at most North American computer game retail
outlets at a suggested retail price of US$39.99 that includes the first month of
online game play. After the first month, players will be charged a monthly
subscription fee of US$14.95. The City of Heroes Collectors DVD Edition, which
includes enhancements to the game, a limited edition Statesman HeroClix figure
and other exclusive collectibles, is available at a suggested retail price of
US$49.99. Sixty-day game time cards are also available at many North American
retailers for a suggested retail price of US$29.99. Current City of Heroes
subscribers can purchase the City of Heroes Collectors DVD Edition and receive
30-days of free play credited to their account. The game is rated Teen by the
Entertainment Software Rating Board.
For more information about City of Heroes, Issue 3: A Council of War, go to:
www.cityofheroes.com.
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