Until you reach level 10, you’ll receive no penalty when dying. You’ll be knocked out and can either wait for a friend to revive you or you’ll be transported to the local hospital. You reach higher levels through successful completion of missions and defeating bad guys (especially those of equal or higher level to you). Each level gained gives you access to new powers and the ability to augment your current powers with Enhancements. Enhancements can also be purchased and taken off defeated foes, and can do everything from making your fire blasts more damaging to upgrading your defense against disorienting attacks. Short-term upgrades, called Inspirations also help augment your powers. There are also merit awards for accomplishing certain goals, salvage elements to discover and combine, and other loot to find in the world.

Aside from the initial contacts you’re introduced to in the game, you can gain access to different factions and agencies. You’ll also discover supergroups, teams, and the ability to become a sidekick or gain a sidekick with a fellow player. One of the greatest thrills in the game is assembling a team of friends to bust into a villain’s hideout, chock full of cliché-spitting goons. For those players who have the time, there are Task Force and Trial missions that must be completed in one sitting and with the same players.

Granted, the hideouts are all pretty sparse inside and are pretty formulaic in their layout and pacing. The game is a few years old, and you really see the dated graphics and models in the warehouses and sewers you’ll find yourself.

For those who want to play not with their friends but against them, coh influence there are also four player versus player zones. You need to be at least level 15 before you enter any of them, and your character level is either temporarily raised or lowered to fit the level’s guidelines.