It’s pretty plain for most readers, Cryptic Studios let me down severely with Champions Online. Little content, a horrible microtransaction shop and incredibly repetitive (and unbalanced at launch) combat dragged the quirky writing and insane character customization to the recycle bin.  I pre-purchased six-months of Champions Online expecting the beta to be beta.  It ended up being the launch product.   The debacle left a horribly sour taste in my mouth, ultimately causing me, a junior Trekkie, to skip Star Trek Online and view Neverwinter with much trepidation.

I’ve had my fill of CO.  I gave it weeks before launch and months after.  I am done playing the game. That doesn’t mean I can ignore the title though.  I have a responsibility to you, the community of readers, to entertain and report on the MMOG industry.  So although a free week of Champions Online doesn’t get me spamming clicks looking for the client, it might get you in a tither.  The character creator alone can entertain most people for a few hours.  I mean, look what my non-gaming girlfriend spent almost an hour “creating.”

To celebrate the 1-year anniversary of Champions Online, Cryptic Studios is giving everyone who registers a week to try out the game.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a previous subscriber, or someone who has never touched a retail (or digital) box.  If you register, or have registered previously, you can login, download the client and play from September 1-7.  During this time there will be numerous other festivities and the woefully expensive C-Store has a 20% discount on nearly everything.

I’ll live vicariously through you.  Let me know how it goes.