I now have a full week of DC Universe Online under my belt and my character is at level 18. I’m still enjoying the game, but most of the same doubts remain from my first weekend in DCUO. A few other aspects of the game have been bugging me as well. Let’s go through the list in my rolling (not a) review of DCUO.
Voice Acting — DCUO’s voice acting is irritatingly inconsistent. There are some marvelous performance from Kevin Conroy (Batman), Mark Hamill (The Joker), and Arleen Sorkin (Harley Quinn) — voice actors with fantastic track records. Then there are disappointing performances from Dwight Schultz (The Flash) and Tracy Bush (Booster Gold). Frankly…they suck. The Flash sounds like a nob and Booster sounds like an even bigger nob.
Sure, I understand that Booster Gold hasn’t always been the best hero in the DC Universe. He’s attempted (and failed at) numerous get-rich-quick schemes and sold out his image for things like toothpaste commercials. Still, he has saved lives and the world on numerous occasions. His voice work in DCUO just makes him sound like a complete tool. I really, truly hate it.
Rescue Me! — The game’s scripted missions have been the same after 18 levels. It’s a lot of find X, beat up Y, and defeat boss Z. I’m still enjoying it, but there’s a recurring theme in these missions that’s really starting to bug me — a hero always needs rescuing. I’ve had to bail out Raven, Batwoman, Robin, Nightwing, Supergirl, Wonder Girl, and several other heroes that I can’t remember. In the comics they’re extremely capable beings. In DCUO, they can’t walk for more than 50 feet without getting kidnapped.
As a comic book fan, it’s off-putting. I’m supposed to be a new hero that’s still learning the ropes. The people I’ve saved are established characters that have pulled of marvelous feats time and time again. A scrub like me is supposed to be bailing them out?!? This would have made sense later in the game (maybe level 20?). Perhaps the writers could have used several of DC’s damsels in distress for the early portions. For example, it would have made more sense to me if The Flash needed my help saving his wife Linda Park while he was being assaulted by Gorilla Grodd.
Diversity — I spent some time doing “Wanted” missions, tackling really powerful villains that are impossible to take down alone. Teaming up with others to down Solomon Grundy and Bizarro was a real kick. The first time I did it was a complete accident. I was randomly running around Metropolis (at super speed) and saw four heroes beating on Bizarro. Naturally, I stopped to help. He was almost defeated by the time I got there, so I got a ton of experience for a minute of fighting. In my experience, you can always count on randomly passing heroes to stop and chip in.
The group missions I’ve tackled were fun too. Teaming up as a group of four, our party received various orders from Martian Manhunter. It was basically defeat X and gather item Y over and over again, but it was fun completing the task with strangers at various levels.
This week I plan on doing more PvP missions. Hopefully my character is ready for the challenge.
Still Fun? — Yeah, I’m still enjoying the game, especially when I get to team up with my friends. I’m still marking out when different heroes and villains make appearances in my adventures. I love earning and finding new gear that makes my hero even more powerful. But, I’m still not sure I want to play for more than the 30-day trial. I have an aching suspicion that the repetitive mission structure will bore me and the novelty of the cameos will wear off. Let’s see how it goes after another week!
As always, if you have any questions about my experience with DCUO, please leave a comment. If you’d like to play with me — and it would be way more fun if you did — I’m “RPad TV” on the Crisis server.
There are no professions or game economy? I need to look that up. If not I think that is kinda lame….for me anyway lol.
I have all this cash, but haven't found much that's worth buying. That's kind of puzzling.
There'a mentor-protege system, but it hasn't really developed for me yet, aside from revealing certain missions and showing me cool end-game armor.
The most worthless things you can buy are the teleporter things. They only work once and are a tad expensive early on.
As for endgame stuff, Google it. I did an saw a bunch of things to do with promises of more to come.
Have you found anything worth buying? I haven't yet. All the armor and weapons I earn are better than things I'm allowed to buy, factoring in level restrictions.
Weapons mainly, and extra Soder Cola.
I think the absolute best stuf is stuff you'll have to buy. I came across a Green Lantern Vendor randomly in Metropolis who had some pretty awesome stuff. Damned if I've been able to find her again though.
Damn… how could I forget about the main thing I use money for.
Repairing my broken stuff.
Repairing equipment is the only thing I use money for. I haven't found weapons/armor that's worth buying. Perhaps I should look for a vendor FAQ.
First off, your profession is a superhero and you earn money to upgrade your gear and stuff by taking out bad guys. There is also a bank and a trading room.
Secondly… you aren't going to get the game because it's not WoW. Nor are you going to convince anyone here who doesn't play WoW to join you in WoW. I'm not fooled, nor will I be fooled.
Thirdly, it's odd how when the game was in pre-release state, I was the one with doubts and you were the one talking me up about it. Now, we switched shoes.
I took a $60 chance on the game because I'm a comic nerd amongst other types of nerd that I am. You don't have to, and we understand that you may not care to afford it. No explanation necessary, it's cool.
@N8R
1. You still need to learn what an MMO is.
2. For a monthly fee there are expectations
3. Prior to release I was quite excited about this game but hearing more and more it's not going to replace anything I currently use.
4. In game economy is important long term. See number 1
@ Smartguy
Before I begin, I want to reassure that I don't mean to come across as too harsh. I like you, I do and I just prefer to be blunt with my friends.
1. I know what an MMO is and don't care for the typical model because my life is too complex as it is. I just don't have the time to invest for one and two, I have a wife and kids that I enjoy having around and don't want them to leave me because I put too much time into WoW (a scenario that has really literally happened to at least 20 people I know). People lose jobs over that game too… it's dangerous.
2. The monthly fee may be a killer for me in the long run. I may take time off here and there and jump back in later when I feel like it.
3. Why did you ever think it had the potential to replace anything? I personally don't get into the D&D style of role playing games (loose term, I mean magic, dragons, ogres, elves… that stuff. it reminds me of kids I used to beat up). Superheros and villains however… right up my alley.
4. It depends on the kind of fun you have. For me, I'm a cross between the Human Torch, Iron Man, and Superman. I can just fly around taking shit out and be happy. I know for a fact that there are people who play WoW that don't care about the economy as much as they do the action. However… you are an accountant, so I can understand.
@N8
No economy = no incentive beyond endgame raiding. It will also make decisions become important.
Potential to replace – why not? WoW, EQ, FF are quite old and DC seems like a good setting. Swords and boards aren't the only MMOs that are fun for me. Tabula Rasa was fun when the community was large.
Your life being complex is fine. As is mine. I don't game (on anything) about 3 days per week minimum.
The economy in WoW is very important to server health. Ppl who don't care are more than likely not interested at anything max level. I know someone like that. They always ask for gold though hehe.
The next time you deem to be blunt try and not come across as portraying me as a recruiter of some sort. Second paragraph to be exact. I don't get a check or any free play time for ppl.
I've tried many MMOs, WoW does a lot right. Sandrock prefers FF. It's relative in the end but for me to just go around doing missions I might as well play RDR.
My profession in WoW is a paladin (alluding to your first paragraph) and he has professions on top of that so that he's active in the economy. Has nothing to do with my offline background.
Yeah dude, I wasn't trying to portray as a recruiter as much as I've tried to seem like a recruiter for Fallout 3. It gets confusing when we have different opinions about a particular title and I apologize for the misconception. However, you should look into getting a check or free play time as I'm about to call Bethesda right now.
Again though, there is money in the game, and I agree that having a secret identity would be awesome for those who want one. But it should be optional. Kind of like how Swamp Thing or Joker just can't have a secret identity.
There are many styles of MMO's and some can't compare to others and that has nothing to do with quality. For example, WoW is set up nothing like Second Life and vice-versa. Hell, NHL 11 in some ways could be considered an MMO since you make your own pro and can enter the online Hockey League for a championship that indeed covers the whole league. And of course, none of the games we've already mentioned is anything like NHL 11.
But let's face it. If you decide to be a super villain… why would a super villain need any other job? You rob banks, mug people, and have no time for blacksmithing on your quest for world domination.
@N8
CoH and CoV had currency. The setting was different but the currency was functional. It's just one of those things that makes the game world immersive and unique.
Again… There is currency and you gain it from either every time you defeat anything or complete a quest. You can trade armor, weapons, and other things with other players as well. There are vendors too.
CoV and CoH had terrible gameplay. DCU truly is more of a beat 'em up MMO than a "total immersion" MMO (if that makes sense). However, I do find DCU immersive.
@Tokz
Agreed. There will be other Valentine's days. Besides don't you get her things year round? Her bday? One day less won't hurt.
@N8 and SG
i'm going to have her log on and blame you guys for her lack of quality on vday gifts. now i have to figure out where i'm going to scrounge up the $$$.
Well, you'll have help leveling up…as long as you're a hero on the Crisis server.
@N8 and SG
i’m going to have her log on and blame you guys for her lack of quality on vday gifts. now i have to figure out where i’m going to scrounge up the $$$.
@N8
Y'all should just use Skype. We do that when vent doesn't work
Crafting gadgets as well as augments to existing gear is great customization. Aesthetics are worth it.
We're playing on PS3, so Skype would still require two devices.
@Ray
Don't you both have iDevices and apple headsets/mics?
Yeah, that would work too…until the battery ran out. Ultimately I'm annoyed that voice was broken at launch and hasn't been fixed yet.
@ray
You have a few hours at least haha.
Then again I have no clue how good the battery is on my BT from Sony
I’m at level 24 now with one character (also on the Crisis server).
Still haven’t touched the PvP, but will once I cap.
I think it’s fun as hell. Just doing the superhero stuff is awesome to me. I’m at a point now where I’m regularly getting my ass handed to me (either by Deathstroke or Sinestro) if I fly in solo.
The small things that bug me:
No voice chat yet
A little bit of clipping depending on your style. I have one guy with long hair and sideburns and occasionally if I stand too close to a wall, he’ll appear bald for a spell.
Mild server lag. If I approach where I’m supposed to be too fast, I won’t see any of the baddies, but I’ll take damage from their invisible asses firing away at me.
I agree that Booster Gold would seem much cooler if they got Bruce Campbell to do the voice over.
And last but not least (this is more on a personal level)… the races. Flying through rings gives me terrible flashbacks of Superman 64.
Other than that, I’m probably down for another 1 to 3 months at least. I read there will be more content coming down the pipe as well. I look forward to it.
I'm really wanting to wait on this even though Kmart is tempting me with DCUO at $44.99. I read that that add on content is going to be free but i can't find details on what they are adding. i think i'll hold off on it until i finish some games.
Dude… just do it and look back later.
I guarantee you that it will not be the worst game you ever bought.
bah! i hate you n8 for making me think of impulse buying this game instead of getting my gf a vday gift!
There will be other Valentine's Days.
The broken voice chat is pretty major. I hate having to coordinate in AIM.
I was thinking the next time we play, we should use the Xbox party chat function while plasying the PS3.
Get our total geek on.
I'd feel guilty about the wasted electricity.
Craftable items would be great in a patch. Lots of possibilities there.
@ SG
I hear you and all, but given what there already is… I think the odds of expanding craftable items is limited.
For example, my main character at the moment uses hand-blasters similar to those of Iron Man. I can't really think of how you can craft more onto those. He has fire as his super-power already so if I switch to dual swords (which you can do after level 10 I think) I could use my power to light the swords on fire for bonus damage. All the powers available have similar things like that.
My other character (N8R) has dual pistols. Aside from freezing bullets or exploding ammo (which I think both are possible depending on your variables) I don't know how much more you can expand those aside from the look of them.
My third character… Gyne Lotriman… wields the cleansing mallet. It would be cool to have more of a water effect to the mallet of fungal removal. As is, water is not a super power option (but ice is) so I gave him mental powers. I think you can heal other people with those so it fit the character.