The good and bad news is that as a next-gen MMO, the issues can be worked out. This was already the case during our time reviewing the game as we had some major issues disappear after some fixes on the server side.
Now for the bad news. When we installed DC Universe Online, we were first treated to a monstrous 11GB installation that was then followed up by a further 2-3GB patch that required downloading. With the servers deciding that they weren’t fans of speed, the time from putting the disc into the PS3 to actually hitting the start button in the main menu was six… yes… six hours later (downloading on a 4Mbps line). This may not be an issue for certain regions so keep in mind what kind of line speed and data bundle restrictions you are dealing with in your area when it comes to making your decision.
This also brings me into the very last issue with DC Universe Online… the subscription system. DC Universe Online comes bundled with a free one month subscription to play the game. After your month is up, you will need to pay to keep playing by purchasing subscription codes.
These codes will run you R125 ($14.99) a month and this already after the fact that unlike a lot of other MMOs, you still have to pay to buy the actual game itself and don’t have the option of downloading a free digital copy instead. The flip side is that the developers promise to constantly release new content, but it’s still unfortunate that its not optional DLC like in most other games.
What I can pull from DCUO, is that for the price you are paying for the full game as well as a free one month subscription, you can easily get tons and tons of hours out of the game before your month is up. If at that point, you decide that it’s not worth it to keep going, you can simply choose to not carry on paying.
Conclusion:
It’s really fun to be a superhero in the DC Universe, I mean… why wouldn’t it be? You get to cruise around, fight things using abilities, meet up with buddies and explore Gotham and Metropolis. Unfortunately, DC Universe Online is still an MMO that lacks many aspects that would make it a great game – not to mention one that would appeal to those who are not familiar with the MMO format.
If you own a console and are really dying to get your hands on an MMO, or just really love the DC Universe then DCUO will be worth your time. If not then I am not so sure that it will be worth the money to everyone. It’s very, very unfortunate that people can’t download the game for free and give it a free trial run as seen with other MMOs as you really need to try it out to know if it’s for you.
As a last note, I would also like to add that it is very highly recommended that you try and get a group of buddies to buy the game together rather than play alone or try and use the in-game systems to find some online friends. So keep that in mind if you decide to give the game a go.
Scoring:
Gameplay: 7.5
Controls work well on consoles and it’s fun to be a superhuman but combat can become repetitive and missions are often grind-fest. There are some really good moments though.
Design & Presentation: 7.5
Not the best looking game overall and the voice acting can be beyond atrocious at times save for a Mark Hamill here and an Adam Baldwin there. Menus are laggy and the whole interface feels counter-intuitive, especially for console.
Value: 8.5
Almost unlimited hours of gaming if you are willing to pay the monthly fee. The content may not be good enough to keep you interested though and having to pay for the game itself is also disappointing.
Overall: 7.8 [Not an average]
DC Universe Online is a lot of fun during its best moments. Those moments may however fade for many and the overall product may not be worth it for everyone. Massive DC and MMO fans will really get a kick out of it though.
[Reviewed on Playstation 3]
Last Updated: February 8, 2011
| DC Universe Online | |
|
|
|
|---|---|
