The thing about City of Heroes was that no, it was never perfect... but at the same time, it was never mean spirited either, in the way most modern MMOs are; either through lack of respect for the player's wider health (the grind mechanic is as pure an example of skinner-boxing someone as you'll ever see, an evil that exists just to keep subs flowing in) or contemptuous of the concept that gaming is supposed to be fun above all else. The things CoH did right, supporting heavy alt-aholics, sidekicking so people can just group up and play, Ouroboros so you can't out-level content, were all supportive of you the player... like an old friend you can always hook up with no matter how much time has passed, and welcomed you back at any time and any engagement level. The things City of Heroes did wrong, especially towards the end, were based around violating that sense of tolerant inclusiveness ; content gating and dividing the cowmunity with the Incarnate system, switching to the Free To Play model whose basic cash grabbing unfairness just wasn't suited to the soul of CoH... Now that wonderful character, whose story you wanted to tell, which was the core attraction of CoH, became something to be ashamed of because unless you forked out for access to the Invention system, he was completely underpowered even if sidekicked; Kick Ass had lost the ability to kick and was now just ass.
But still, even towards the end, the game was rightly loved, because for 7-odd years it had just been a lovable, toussel-haired rapscallion, engaged in hijinks on the streets during an age of merciless cut throat Robber-Barons. Unfortunately now, in art as well as real life, the Barons have won... at least, on the level of realpolitik. We can still hang onto the soul that made it worth experiencing however, and deny them the ultimate victory. Long live Paragon City, in our hearts and minds then!
