The game introduces the world better now

Another thread made me think back to when I started and how confusing the game was.

I started in a tutorial which had cops telling me to deal with some drug users. Then, assuming I picked Atlas Park, I graduated to be given missions by a contact at a special superhero bureau relating to my origin, such as SERAPH, which looked like it'd be a major part of the game (since I didn't know anything else about the game), but turned out to be something limited to the low levels.

Then I was told to deal with all kinds of villain groups I was told nothing about. I remember the first time I had a Council mission, and I re-read the text again and again trying to understand what it was talking about. I assumed it was the City Council or something -- what else could it be? Yet it was discussed as if they were bad. So was the city council corrupt and I needed to deal with it?

The game had a decent introduction to mechanics, but it completely failed when it came to introducing the world or treating the hero as anything but stupid muscle.

In this respect I21 is much better. Though I dislike the linearity and lack of options at the start, at least some signature heroes (and villain) are introduces in the tutorial, and the early story arcs introduce the villain groups and make an attempt to tell a cohesive story.

Arachnos also gets much more involvement now on the blue side, as well as Praetoria, along with having the Coming Storm feature in the tutorial, which helps tie the starting levels into the Incarnate content.