Return To Paragon City: Heroes & Villains

 It's been a long time since I last logged into Paragon City and the Rogue Isles, the virtual worlds of City of Heroes and City of Villains, the superhero MMORPGs that captured my imagination and my heart for many years. I'm sure some of you remember the thrill of creating your own unique character, choosing from a variety of archetypes and powersets, and joining forces with other players to fight crime or cause chaos. I know I do.

But as you may also know, these games were shut down in 2012 by NCSoft, the publisher, leaving behind a loyal fanbase that mourned the loss of their beloved online community. For a while, it seemed like we would never see our characters again or experience the epic stories and events that made these games so special.

But then, something amazing happened. In 2019, a secret private server called SCORE (Secret Cabal of Reverse Engineers) was revealed to the public, and it turned out that they had been running a copy of City of Heroes and City of Villains for years, with all the content and updates that were available before the shutdown. They also had access to the DLC Going Rogue, which added a new alignment system that allowed players to switch sides between heroes and villains, and a new world called Praetoria, an alternate dimension ruled by an evil version of Statesman, the iconic leader of the Freedom Phalanx.

SCORE decided to share their server with the rest of the world, and soon other servers popped up, using the same code and data. These servers are collectively known as Homecoming, and they are free to play for anyone who wants to relive the glory days of City of Heroes and City of Villains or discover them for the first time.

I was one of those who jumped at the chance to return to Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. I downloaded the game client, created an account, and logged in. And I was instantly hit by a wave of nostalgia. There they were, my old characters, waiting for me on the character selection screen. I had a Blaster named Firestorm, who could shoot fireballs and fly; a Tanker named Steelheart, who could absorb damage and taunt enemies; a Controller named Dreamcatcher, who could manipulate minds and illusions; a Mastermind named Dr. Doom, who could summon robots and force fields; and many more. I also had some characters who were aligned with Praetoria, such as a Dominator named Frostbite, who could freeze foes and blast them with ice.

I decided to start with Firestorm, my first and favorite character. I entered Paragon City, and I was greeted by familiar sights and sounds. The music was catchy and heroic; the graphics were colorful and comic-book-like; the NPCs were friendly and helpful; the enemies were varied and challenging; the missions were engaging and rewarding; and the other players were cooperative and supportive. I felt like I was home.

I spent hours playing Firestorm, doing missions, leveling up, earning badges, joining teams, exploring zones, fighting giant monsters, participating in events, customizing my costume and powers, chatting with friends old and new. It was so much fun. And it was not just me. The game was alive with thousands of other players who shared my passion and enthusiasm. The community was vibrant and welcoming. The developers were active and responsive. The game was updated regularly with new features and fixes. It was like a dream come true.

But Firestorm was not enough for me. I wanted to try out all my other characters as well. And so I did. I switched between heroes and villains, between Paragon City and the Rogue Isles, between Primal Earth and Praetoria. I experienced all the different aspects of the game: soloing, teaming up, PvPing (player versus player), roleplaying (acting out your character's personality), farming (grinding for experience or loot), crafting (making enhancements or items), auctioning (buying or selling stuff), base building (creating your own headquarters), etc. I also read some of the comic books that were released along with the game: City of Heroes (featuring Statesman and his allies), City of Villains (featuring Lord Recluse and his enemies), Top Cow (featuring guest appearances by Witchblade and Darkness), etc. They added more depth and lore to the game world.

I had a blast playing all these characters. They each had their own strengths and weaknesses, their own stories and personalities, their own goals and motivations. They made me feel like a superhero or a supervillain in every sense of the word.

And that's why I love these games so much. They are not just games; they are experiences. They are not just entertainment; they are inspiration. They are not just hobbies; they are passions. If you have never played City of Heroes or City of Villains before, or if you have played them in the past but have not tried them again since they came back online thanks to Homecoming servers, I urge you to give them a shot. You won't regret it.

And if you have played them recently or are still playing them now, I salute you. You are part of a wonderful community that keeps these games alive. You are part of a legacy that will never die. You are part of a city of heroes. And villains.