Hopefully not, that most movies are now about this infantile superhero dreck is depressing enough.
Personally I would rather have an rpg anyway where you play some sort of normal commoner accidentally stumbling into adventure/trying to achieve greatness. "Chosen one" storylines are tiresome enough and imo make it harder to relate to your character, and something about superheroes would massively increase that problem.

Also if you had an mmo where everyone plays a superhero, that would destroy the very concept of superhero, because superheroes would be nothing special.

My goodness you're a first rate jerk and no mistake.

Batman Arkham games are pretty close to action RPGs with open worlds and a good strong narrative.

Well, this coming from a master of the trade, I must feel honored.

I haven't been in the forums for awhile and I seem to remember why I haven't participated that much in awhile.
In the end aren't we all assholes in our own ways?

I sure as hell hope not.

Then you acknowledge that I know what I'm talking about :) I may be a jerk, but at least I don't act the insulted innocent when people dare make a perfectly civil response.

No.

That said, my first comment might have been indeed too salty. It wasn't the intention, I just wanted to say I really didn't like the idea, but re-reading it now I get why someone would get hostile vibes. So, my point staying, I honestly didn't mean to sound rude. I just like neither open world-cinematic games nor superhero movies, maybe if I added my take on a hypotetical superhero game that would have been better, so... beter late than never? Let me do it now.

Personally, I don't see already existing superheroes as a very good choice for a RPG; they are quite stronglu characterized already, and it would be very hard to get one "right". Most superheroes games probably have only maringal RPG elements for this reason, as you cannot deviate too much from canon.
Iron Man might probably be the best choice as a character, mostly because he is completely based on technology (and wealth) but unlike Batman (another rich & smart kid) he doesn't have ethical limitations.

Edit: Typos.

Also: I'd prefer a "open approach" map à la Looking Glass. Open worlds tend to bee too unfocused and overall bland, while a solid mission in a single place with some optional side objectives added (possibly tied in some way to the main one, minor or major the effect might be) would be imo much more interesting. Especially if you can re-try it with a different loadout.
Like in Hitman: Blood money you can then make a common thread for all your actions. While each mission might seem a "superhero everyday routine", in the end they might be tied to something deeper.

I remembered a two more titles on the topic: Prototype and InFamous. Though I've never played them, I've heard that they have both "open world" and RPG-elements.

It doesn't have to be DC and Marvel based games. And especially they don't have to be based directly on the current movies that are popular at the moment. I am not asking for a Marvel RPG with Chris Pratt as Star Lord or a DC RPG with Ben Affleck as Batman.

City of Heroes proves you can make your own original Superhero universe so you can make your own original rules and world building.

Ah yeah. Freedom Force. Been some time.

Hm, makes sense. I somehow intended it had to be inside the canon in some way.
Well, the above mentioned Freedom Force does a lot of things right, but the gameplay is the opposite of what you are looking for. :P

Action-RPGs with flashy graphics must come from big budget companies, and I bet they'd more likely have an already existing hero than (gasp!) take a risk and give you the choice to create a new one. Sicne the possibilities for superpowers are basically infinite, it wouldn't even be good material for sequels, and you know how they are... huge franchises or nothing. Which is quite sad, given the greatness of some "single shot" titles of the past.

It wouldn't require a canon. Freedom Force (and some MMO I think) allowed you to define your own superhero, costume, powers. And frankly, all RPG player characters are already superheroes, it's just a matter of clothing. Slap a big N on your morrowind character, and being called Nerevarine by all the awed population makes more sense actually.

Also, most RPG quests are fitting for a superhero plot (go there and beat those guys you're the hero). If anything, it makes it too transparent.

I think there's an open world Spider Man game somewhere, that is similar to the second Arkham game, in that you have a big city to roam and can interrupt side-crimes all over the place. Add some stats, some choose-your-side, and you've got the OP's rpg.

I'm also surprised that there aren't more superhero free-roaming computer RPGs around, actually.

(Pleasantly surprised, maybe. Costumed superheroes irk me. But that's another matter.)

And yeah, as pointed out by Loothunter, Prototype and Infamous are also close to that. If I remember, Prototype is pretty grey morally (you play as some monstrosity trying to solve its own existence), and Infamous -which I haven't played- more traditionally black or white (you can play as a good guy or a psycho). But they're both urban freeroaming environments, to interact with through your evolving superpowers.

Sounds good to me.

I do have a disconnect with many of the modern Super Hero movies though. They just kind of miss the mark for me, even though the production values are through the roof. I felt the same way about the LOTR movies when they were first released. After having read the books first the movies felt a bit contrived and lacking in comparison. Over time though, those movies did grow on me and I now enjoy them.

I do think the GTA gameplay is watered down and kind of cheap'ish. Like, it's a fun game, but more of a fun throw-away type of game. While it has good diversity, it just doesn't excel in any capacity. I'd rather have a more focused approach for a Super Hero RPG where they try to make it better at less aspects.

Would also be cool if they made a Super Hero multiplayer FPS with all sorts of abilities. That sounds like untapped potential to me. They already made some amazing fighting games (Injustice series) and could try to translate those ideas as well.

And yeah, Freedom Force, classic!

If only it was so simple!
RPGs -at least, based on my definition, derived in turn from pen and paper ones- should have at least three features to be called such: character customization (not necessarily in looks, but necessarily in skills and traits), several widely different playstyle options and huge reactivity to choices in both the setting and the npcs. The farther you can go in making it with complete freedom of choice (something I believe impossible for an AI, so videogames will always be limited in this regard), the better it is. Alas, nothing can beat a good, human game master: with pen and paper if you want to do something... you simply do it! Everything can adapt, while programs are always closed between walls, no matter how much space you can find inside.