Strap on your mask and tights!
Greetings fellow heroes and villains! This time I'll be ranting about the action/mmo from Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) called DC Universe Online (DCUO). If you're unfamiliar with what a mmo game is, it stands for 'massive multiplayer online game.' That means that when you are playing the game it is constantly online. You play with other people from all over the world at the same time always. There are countless mmo games out. Some of the more popular titles would be World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, Everquest, and Lord of the Rings Online. The one thing that makes DCUO different is that it is built around the DC super hero/villain universe. So all your favorites (Batman, Superman, Flash, Joker, Mr. Freeze, etc.) are here!
There are other super hero/villain mmo's out there on the market such as Champions Online, City of Heroes, and City of Villains. So you may be asking yourself, "What makes DCUO so freaking special?" One major area that makes DCUO better (in my opinion) is the combat system. If you played any other mmo you are familiar with the traditional combat system. You place, or map, your attacks or spells in certain slots and when you want to attack you press that specific button. You end up simply pressing the same button combination and it just feels "plastic." You don't really feel like you are in the middle of the combat.
DCUO takes the different approach and makes the combat more fluid. I played the PS3 version and the combat feels perfect for a controller. Basic attacks come from pressing either the square or triangle buttons. You can roll and dodge enemy attacks as well as block. You map out your special attacks or abilities with the controller buttons, but to access them you either pull and hold the left or right trigger (L2 and R2). What makes this combat system so great is that is feels like you are playing a third person action game. You can knock enemies up into the air, fly up to them, and then knock them around before they hit the ground. If you've ever played any of the Devil May Cry games you know what I'm talking about. DCUO is also on the PC and you can use the PS3 controller on it too. I've read where even most PC gamers are using the controller layout instead of the mouse and keyboard.
As far as the graphics go they are pretty good. Most mmo's are not known for their stunning visuals, but this is starting to change as new ones come out. The character models and details in all the weapons and armor you get are pretty nice looking and very colorful. The buildings and surrounding areas in Gotham and Metropolis look good and make the cities come to life. There is a bit of a distance issue though. Some times when you see a building far off in the distance it looks slightly blurred and then will pop into focus the closer you get. This isn't a major issue and most of the time you don't really notice it. Overall the graphics in DCUO aren't anything amazing, but they are still good.
When it comes to creating your hero or villain you have a lot of customization. There are many different options to craft the perfect look for your character. You can make your costume as simple or as complicated as you want. This is one area that comic book fans will love. Then you move onto what powers your character will have. The main power sets range from fire, ice, sorcery, mental, gadgets, and nature. As you level up you will be able to learn new powers from different sets. Your character will then also have a secondary power. There are several to choose from like hand blasts, archery, dual pistols, staffs. and several others. You get to even choose how your character will move around. Your movement powers are limited to super speed, acrobatics, and flight. I personally think flight is the best, but each type of movement is fun to try out.
The real meat and potatoes of any mmo is the quest/mission system. This is one area that DCUO does not disappoint. There are plenty of missions to help level your character up. Also, whether you choose to be a hero or villain will change the game. You can choose who your mentor is. The hero mentors are Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The villain mentors are Lex Luthor, Circe, and the Joker. Your mentor will have special missions for you to do along the way. There are also "instances" called alerts, where you can team up with other people to gain more experience and get special loot. Once you hit the level cap of 30 the fun doesn't stop. You will unlock special missions, harder difficulties of previous instances, raids, and something called duos. Duos are where you and another person team up to defeat a level of enemies followed by a boss battle at the end. These new and harder missions all reward you with more gear. Just like other mmo's there is PvP (player vs player) missions where you fight against other actual players. The developers have already released two updates with added content and have said to expect monthly content to continue.
It takes some time to really get into any mmo before you can give it a fair review. That's why it's taken me almost three months to write this rant. I think by now I've spent enough time with DCUO to get a good feel of what the game is and what it has to offer. So far I've really enjoyed playing the game and haven't gotten that same stagnant, bored feeling I've gotten from other similar massive online games. I think comic book fans have a lot to like about the game, and the action combat style will help gamers feel right at home. There's a monthly fee of $15.00 to play, but you do get the first month free with the purchase of the game (there are subscription prices too). I think the developers have crafted a fine game that has lived up to the hype and has continued to provide hours of entertainment. Now if you excuse me, I see the alert symbol in a searchlight in the sky. Up, up, and away!
Final Verdict: 9/10
Written by: Alter Ego 83
There are other super hero/villain mmo's out there on the market such as Champions Online, City of Heroes, and City of Villains. So you may be asking yourself, "What makes DCUO so freaking special?" One major area that makes DCUO better (in my opinion) is the combat system. If you played any other mmo you are familiar with the traditional combat system. You place, or map, your attacks or spells in certain slots and when you want to attack you press that specific button. You end up simply pressing the same button combination and it just feels "plastic." You don't really feel like you are in the middle of the combat.
DCUO takes the different approach and makes the combat more fluid. I played the PS3 version and the combat feels perfect for a controller. Basic attacks come from pressing either the square or triangle buttons. You can roll and dodge enemy attacks as well as block. You map out your special attacks or abilities with the controller buttons, but to access them you either pull and hold the left or right trigger (L2 and R2). What makes this combat system so great is that is feels like you are playing a third person action game. You can knock enemies up into the air, fly up to them, and then knock them around before they hit the ground. If you've ever played any of the Devil May Cry games you know what I'm talking about. DCUO is also on the PC and you can use the PS3 controller on it too. I've read where even most PC gamers are using the controller layout instead of the mouse and keyboard.
As far as the graphics go they are pretty good. Most mmo's are not known for their stunning visuals, but this is starting to change as new ones come out. The character models and details in all the weapons and armor you get are pretty nice looking and very colorful. The buildings and surrounding areas in Gotham and Metropolis look good and make the cities come to life. There is a bit of a distance issue though. Some times when you see a building far off in the distance it looks slightly blurred and then will pop into focus the closer you get. This isn't a major issue and most of the time you don't really notice it. Overall the graphics in DCUO aren't anything amazing, but they are still good.
When it comes to creating your hero or villain you have a lot of customization. There are many different options to craft the perfect look for your character. You can make your costume as simple or as complicated as you want. This is one area that comic book fans will love. Then you move onto what powers your character will have. The main power sets range from fire, ice, sorcery, mental, gadgets, and nature. As you level up you will be able to learn new powers from different sets. Your character will then also have a secondary power. There are several to choose from like hand blasts, archery, dual pistols, staffs. and several others. You get to even choose how your character will move around. Your movement powers are limited to super speed, acrobatics, and flight. I personally think flight is the best, but each type of movement is fun to try out.
The real meat and potatoes of any mmo is the quest/mission system. This is one area that DCUO does not disappoint. There are plenty of missions to help level your character up. Also, whether you choose to be a hero or villain will change the game. You can choose who your mentor is. The hero mentors are Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The villain mentors are Lex Luthor, Circe, and the Joker. Your mentor will have special missions for you to do along the way. There are also "instances" called alerts, where you can team up with other people to gain more experience and get special loot. Once you hit the level cap of 30 the fun doesn't stop. You will unlock special missions, harder difficulties of previous instances, raids, and something called duos. Duos are where you and another person team up to defeat a level of enemies followed by a boss battle at the end. These new and harder missions all reward you with more gear. Just like other mmo's there is PvP (player vs player) missions where you fight against other actual players. The developers have already released two updates with added content and have said to expect monthly content to continue.
It takes some time to really get into any mmo before you can give it a fair review. That's why it's taken me almost three months to write this rant. I think by now I've spent enough time with DCUO to get a good feel of what the game is and what it has to offer. So far I've really enjoyed playing the game and haven't gotten that same stagnant, bored feeling I've gotten from other similar massive online games. I think comic book fans have a lot to like about the game, and the action combat style will help gamers feel right at home. There's a monthly fee of $15.00 to play, but you do get the first month free with the purchase of the game (there are subscription prices too). I think the developers have crafted a fine game that has lived up to the hype and has continued to provide hours of entertainment. Now if you excuse me, I see the alert symbol in a searchlight in the sky. Up, up, and away!
Final Verdict: 9/10
Written by: Alter Ego 83
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