The free-to-play superhero MMORPG DC Universe Online is known to anyone who watches more than five minutes of TV a day from the constant advertising spots on Pro Sieben.
We pulled our underwear over our pants, shaved our heads luthor-like, practiced the creepiest Joker laugh this side of Gotham, and played DC Universe Online for you.
Brilliant idea to establish the setting
One thing up front: The backstory of how the player becomes a superhuman is fantastic.
This was not at all to be expected. Because DCUO faced a serious problem: Most of us know the DC universe. We know about Superman and Batman, we know the Joker, the Penguin, and General Zod. So, who on earth are we supposed to play? The cool hipster guy who can play Kraftklub out of a ghetto blaster? The mighty hairdresser Scissoria? Captain Arroganto? Or even Aquaman?!
All the superheroes and supervillains that now serve as player characters would certainly have stood out, don’t you think?
Well, DCUO had a stroke of genius. Because they elegantly solve their continuity problem in a typical nerdy way: Parallel universe!
What remains of Earth
The intro begins with an apocalyptic final battle, the great hero deaths. Lex Luthor has done everything in his power to finally get back at his arch-nemesis Superman. For this, he has gathered supervillains, devised brilliant plans, and surely hasn’t slept for two weeks until he has driven the heroes into a corner with an army of cyborgs, supervillains, and a mad Joker, defeating and annihilating them one by one.
At the moment of his greatest triumph, the old egghead looks up at the sky and realizes that the final battle for the fate of Earth has attracted unwanted onlookers: An alien invasion fleet commanded by Braniac! Without superheroes and supervillains who have worn each other down in endless battles, the Earth is defenseless against Braniac’s invasion.
New heroes are needed in the parallel world
Now, two or three plot points are skipped. Luthor switches to a parallel dimension, informs the heroes and villains there that an invasion is imminent, and releases a virus (or … cryogenetic multi-textual monochrome thingamajig) that turns the muggles of the parallel world into superhumans! Because they were endowed with the powers of the superheroes and supervillains of the annihilated Earth. And now Braniac is already making an appearance.
The player begins their career as one of these freshly baked superhumans. The character creation process is highly praised for the numerous possibilities to design the costume and customize the superhuman exactly to the player’s needs.
But here one of the game’s weaknesses is revealed: The selection overwhelms the player. Should they play a fireball-throwing mutant being or become a higher ice monster based on technology?
And should they reach for their wallet the first time or stick with the free-to-play options? And how does everything differ in gameplay?
While the game roughly provides templates of existing superheroes and supervillains, it is unclear how a Bane or a Catwoman would feel in the game. Additional explanations would have been beneficial here.
BAM and ZOINK: Action-packed gameplay
Once in the game, a lot of joy becomes evident during the tutorial mission for the new superhuman. The graphics look smooth, the combat sequences are action-packed and entertaining. Although the combat system is certainly not innovative, it reminds one of a beat’em-up in its best moments.
Highlights of DC Universe Online also include the way one explores the world. Because of course a superhero does not take the street or the bus, but jumps over rivers, flies, or climbs on skyscrapers and chooses the shortest path from A to B.
In these moments, DC Universe Online feels like a superhero game
It’s just as great when one is suddenly caught up in a quest and meets someone familiar from the DC universe. While the Joker’s voice on the phone wears a bit thin, meeting Killer Croc or Catwoman in a warehouse or taking on one of the superheroes from childhood—these moments make DC Universe Online a lot of fun.
The wheel hasn’t been reinvented
Unfortunately, DC Universe Online also has some cons and flaws, especially in gameplay and quest design. The game was only released in 2011, but it feels a little like it’s a generation behind. The feeling of being a true superhero or supervillain and turning the world upside down is hard to reconcile with the sometimes very monotonous quests. I’ve never seen in a comic that the Joker bribed 12 police officers until 3 said “Okay, I’ll do it!” The new car smell of the combat system also fades quickly.
The other problem is the DC license. In recent years, Marvel has outpaced the DC universe with Iron Man, Spiderman, Thor, and other heroes, especially in terms of movies and pop culture. However, Marvel still has no MMORPG.
A game like DC Universe Online thrives on the fact that one comes from a movie or from the visitor of their comic book collection in the home storage and now urgently wants to experience the adventures of Spiderman or Iron Man in an MMORPG. Unfortunately, the brand DC has gone a bit quiet since the excellent Batman films with Christian Bale. Man of Steel, for example, was quite a stinker.
But rather for casuals?
Many fans have unfortunately not been able to be thrilled by the game during its run, especially the long-term motivation is lacking in DC Universe Online. This is undeniable.
All of this sounds negative; however, it is not that bad. It’s just that DC Universe Online is hard to reconcile with the expectations many hardcore MMORPG players have for the genre: There is hardly any addictive factor. Only a few will spend months and years of their lives playing the game and conquering it in every corner.
Not every game has to be the next WoW. DC Universe Online is at least free-to-play, caters to a niche with its superhero setting, and has a lot to offer. Especially the short-term kick is ensured by the game’s action-packed combat system. And who wouldn’t want to feel like a superhero for once?
Who is the game for?
We at mein-mmo.de can recommend DC Universe Online to the following players:
- Anyone who is simply a passionate supporter of the DC universe. Those who grew up with Smallville or, better yet, with a complete comic collection from Batman to Aquaman (okay, just kidding… no one has Aquaman comics) – for them, DCUO is worth a trip.
- Anyone who needs a quick kick from a fresh game – DCUO impresses with a fresh setting, good graphics, many strong ideas, and high-quality voice acting. The game is worth downloading just for its intro and the first levels. Especially if you have a fast internet connection.
- Anyone who has always wanted to hop on the rooftops of the city: The moment when one realizes “Hello, I’m a superhero—Why don’t I just jump onto the roof of the skyscraper?” – priceless.
- Anyone who misses the “beat” in beat’em up. The game sometimes resembles a top-down beat’em up more than an MMORPG. One can lift cars and throw them through the air and polish the faces of a variety of opponents in the best Bud Spencer style.
- Anyone who enjoys coming up with their own superheroes or supervillains. The superpowers of the heroes are diverse, and the characters can be tailored precisely to the player’s needs. Here, the imagination has little limits, and much is possible.
- Casuals, meaning occasional players. For them, the game is definitely worth a visit. There are no fees, and the game is wonderfully suited to log in and get started. In half an hour, you can accomplish quite a bit, and there is no pressure to hurry so you don’t lose playtime.
Conclusion: DC Universe Online is worth a download and a visit for casual players and fans of the genre. Expectations should, however, remain in realistic dimensions. It does not play in the same league as World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2 – but it also doesn’t cost anything and is significantly better than many careless standard free-to-play games lurking on the net.
