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DC Universe Online Preview

Scheduled release date:
TB A 2009
Publisher:
Sony Online Entertainment
Developer:
Sony Online Austin
Number Of Players:
Unlimited
Genre:
MMORPG
Release Date:
January 11, 2011


DC Comics has made a notable re-emergence in the media, largely thanks to the massive success of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Today, we're seeing more of DC Comics, be it in the movies or on our videogame consoles as the DC heroes battle the warriors of Mortal Kombat. At E3 2008, Sony revealed that they've been working on an all new massively multiplayer online RPG that is focused around the DC Universe. Simply titled DC Universe Online, the concept of the game is similar to that of City of Heroes that was released in 2004 for the PC.

In DC Universe Online, as opposed to taking control of Superman, Batman, and the like, you actually fight along side the DC characters with your own custom superhero. Sony promises an extremely in depth customization aspect for when you're creating your superhero or villain, which can then be upgraded as you play through the game – just like any other MMORPG. Your adventures will cover the entire DC Universe from Gotham City, to Metropolis, among other prominent locales in the DC world. The story is being put together by a collection of well known DC writers, including Geoff Johns, with Jim Lee behind the project as Executive Creative Director.

Interaction is a big focus behind the development of DC Universe Online, as Sony has put together a physics engine they call state-of-the-art that allows the player to utilize the entire environment as a weapon. Whether or not that means we can rip chunks of wall out and use them to beat our opponents with remains to be seen, but we're confident that it isn't too far off from that. Your use of of the game space will require you to share with both the villains and heroes. That, obviously means, that if you've sided with the villains, you'll be fighting against the heroes of the game.

The game will utilize a system that'll randomly generate missions for you and your crew to embark on, and to the victor will go the spoils. Your created character will fight along and gain the respect of either the heroes or villains you've sided with, who will be controlled by the game's A.I. What I'd like to know is whether or not the game will allow for betrayal, for example allowing a villain to side with the allies and vice versa. It'd probably add a pretty cool twist to the game if they can balance the feature to prevent from people exploiting it.

Now, confrontations will not always be against a group of villains or heroes. As a character within your chosen environment (Gotham, Metropolis, etc.), you'll be able to freely explore your location and fight off random crime on the streets, such as robberies. This helps add a more realistic feel to the game, immersing you into an experience that goes beyond than just being an MMORPG. If you require assistance during a battle, you'll use either your Justice League or Legion of Doom communicator to request some backup.

Below is a list of heroes and villains you can expect to fight along side with in the game:
Heroes:

Adam Strange
Ambush Bug
Aquaman
Atom
Azrael
Batgirl
Batman
Bat-Mite
Batwoman
Beast Boy
Black Canary
Blue Beetle
Booster Gold
Brainiac 5
Captain Atom
Captain Marvel
Creeper
Cyborg
Demon
Fire
Firestorm
Flash
Green Arrow
Green Lantern
Hawkgirl
Hawkman
Huntress
Lobo
Martian Manhunter
Metamorpho
Nightwing
Plastic Man
Power Girl
Raven
Red Tornado
Robin
Rose Wilson
Spy Smasher
Supergirl
Superman
Vixen
Wildcat
Wonder Woman
Zatanna

Villains:

Ares
Bane
Batzarro
Bizarro
Black Adam
Black Manta
Black Mask
Blue Snowman
Brainiac
Captain Boomerang
Captain Cold
Catwoman
Cheetah
Cheshire
Circe
Clayface
Clock King
Darkseid
Deathstroke
Doctor Poison
Doomsday
Firefly
General Zod
Giganta
Gorilla Grodd
Hades
Hank Henshaw
Harley Quinn
Heat Wave
Hush
Joker
Key
Killer Croc
Killer Frost
Lex Luthor
Livewire
Mad Hatter
Man-Bat
Maxie Zeus
Merlyn
Metallo
Mongul
Mr. Freeze
Mr. Mxyzptlk
Mr. Zsasz
Ocean Master
Parasite
Penguin
Poison Ivy
Prankster
Prometheus
Ra's al Ghul
Riddler
Scarecrow
Sinestro
Solomon Grundy
Tattooed Man
Toyman
Trickster
Two-Face
Ultra-Humanite (albino ape form)
Ultraman
Ventriloquist
Zoom

DC Universe Online does not have a set time frame yet, but we do know that it's supposed to arrive sometime in 2009. If we were to take a guess, we'd predict a summer 2009 release date.

23 Comments
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HUSO
HUSO
16 years ago

its beginning to sound interesting. once ppl start to populate the servers,the entire city is gona be full of super heroes/villains:)) wonder if they have a limit for any city.

moose88
moose88
16 years ago

… My Inner Comic Book Guy is screaming to be unleashed onto this game.

Now, how can I convince the wife that this would be a constructive use of my time?

MetalHead09
MetalHead09
16 years ago

once you get the game you'll become a new super hero right? so you'll be HER super hero and she can watch as you fight crime or commit it lol, shouldnt that be enough?


Last edited by MetalHead09 on 12/28/2008 4:27:59 PM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
16 years ago

Your new superpower will have to be the ability to silence people.

LightShow
LightShow
16 years ago

take the pants back and refuse to give a reason.

MetalHead09
MetalHead09
16 years ago

lmao lightshow, that was funny.

crapreviews
crapreviews
16 years ago

I've been waiting for this game since they first showed it off. I love MMO's and been looking for a new one ever since i left FFXI 3 years after it came out.

Anyone notice the evil list is a lot bigger than the hero list? I still can't decide which side to be. Maybe i'll just make and evil and a good avatar 😀

dillonthebunny
dillonthebunny
16 years ago

so I take it that this is PS3/ pc exclusive?

this could be big!

Reccaman18
Reccaman18
16 years ago

Yes, it is. Its being published by SOE, so that means that 360 wont be getting this game.

Xanavi23
Xanavi23
16 years ago

SIIIICK. Seriously a great idea, it incorporates DC while not constricting us to use one of the admittedly great hero's they have. I'ld buy this game especially with all the customization.

One thing though, lol, i REALLY don't wanna fight Doomsday…not much fun if he's accurately represented.

Buckeyestar
Buckeyestar
16 years ago

Actually the Doomsday fight could be really cool. It could require several players to team up to fight him. Maybe even culminate with an assist from Superman.

Xanavi23
Xanavi23
16 years ago

Buckeye, im sure it will be cool, but he's just such a Hard motherf******** for lack of a better word lol. It would have to be a team effort or at least help from Superman.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
16 years ago

I'd give Supergirl a run for her money in a Metropolis back alley.

Fabi
Fabi
16 years ago

This game has always made me cringe when I see it.

It just looks so bad to my eyes. A couple of my friends feel the same way, anyone else feel like that?

We're not DC fans, or comics fans at all.


Last edited by Fabi on 12/28/2008 6:47:32 PM

Reccaman18
Reccaman18
16 years ago

Im a comic fan, but I like Marvel better cause of Spider-Man.

Xanavi23
Xanavi23
16 years ago

DC and Marvel were both good in their respective regards. That is before i stopped buying comics, not that i hate on people who still do. They're still cool.

SarahPalinMILF
SarahPalinMILF
16 years ago

Deleted by a moderator .

Fabi
Fabi
16 years ago

@Ben – So can we make comments like this idiot above and get away with it?

SHADOW
SHADOW
16 years ago

no it's deleted. If it gets through the censors we can't delete it before it's visible.

@SarahPalin: This is a warning. Everyday I'm deleting s*** you wrote. Getting tired of it too. I don't got a problem with you challenging someone else's comment as long as you back it up. A baseless insult is not appropriate.

But back on topic. As far as I'm concerned the only redeeming quality DC Comics has is Batman. Everything else is just lame IMO. Superman is dumb. I can't even really think of anything else good they got. Marvel is where it's at. Spiderman, Iron Man, Hulk, Punisher, even Captain America has it's moments. It just seems like the only character in DC (that I know of, which is admittedly not many) that is even a little bit believable is Batman. Marvel at least attempts to give you a reason to suspend your disbelief.


Last edited by SHADOW on 12/29/2008 12:38:23 AM

ZubraZap
ZubraZap
16 years ago

I MET JIM LEE 🙂

whooka
whooka
16 years ago

This sounds pretty good so far though at the moment I don't have enough confidence in the speed of Sony's online servers to completely visualize myself playing it and having a good time, hehe.

FLYING_APE
FLYING_APE
16 years ago

possibly the greatest game ever created.

arnold how did you get to play this? did sony send you it?

SHADOW
SHADOW
16 years ago

possibly but more than likely not.