Champions Online Preview

GameDaily's Big Download Blog is featuring a three-page preview of Champions Online with commentary from Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert.
Manual blocking is part of a system Emmert refers to as console action gameplay: gameplay most commonly found in console games but tweaked for use in Champions Online. No longer on the defensive, The One charged in, stringing together a quick three-hit combo that leveled the bear-man and caused another piece of loot, this one a colored garment, to fall to the ground. Retrieving and subsequently activating it caused The One to burst into flames that did not harm him, but would inflict considerable punishment to adversaries.

"Something that we felt was lacking in our previous titles was tangible loot," said Emmert. "This item can be placed onto your character to alter its appearance. Now the thing is, you don't need to display it if you don't want to; it's completely a player choice. If you want to show it off, great; if not, great. This particular item added a special ability, a flame effect: any target hit by your powers has a chance to catch on fire."

Emmert held out a closed fist. "There are three things I really want you guys to walk away understanding. One, we want total customization," he said, ticking each item off on a finger. "You'll see all the different costumes and super powers available to you. Two is the console action gameplay. Three, the vast environments."