Superman Needs your Help (*Snicker*) to Defeat Doomsday in DC Universe Online
Posted at 11:42 AM Jan 12, 2009
Sony Online put out three developer videos of their DC Universe Online MMORPG (which does mean this things in never coming to the Xbox 360, natch), and the game looks just fine, I guess. there's some neat bits in there, like Metropolis looking rough with buses strewn everywhere, because Superman and Doomsday just had a fight; plenty of appropriate foes and locations, like Luthorcorp henchmen and S.T.A.R. Labs; and gameplay that looks a bit more like a beat 'em up than most MMORPGs.
But I'm still left cold and emotionally distant. Remember that you can't play any of the actual DC heroes or villains, although the developer stresses that you can play heroes just like them. I genuinely wonder how this will work, because either the character creator will have to be severely limited, or there'll be several thousand Batmen running around calling themselves Batman1, Battman, Bamtan, Batmon, Matban, Batmanuel, etc. Also, as the title of this post indicates, the way you interact with the real DC heroes is that they call you to help them beat up bad guys. This will be weird enough when perpetual loner and misanthrope Batman calls you to hang out for a while, but in the video, the developer literally says Superman has called his character to help defeat Doomsday.
Now, his character is a half-naked chick with samurai swords who shoots light. Doomsday fucking killed Superman with his bare hands. There is no way she should be useful in that fight other than possibly scratching Doomsday's knuckles when he punches her goddamn face off. So either Superman has called her because he's trying to make sure all the new heroes feel included, or he just wants a momentary distraction while he shoots Doomsday with his heat vision from the other side of the room. Either way, it's kind of a dick move--and more importantly, breaks the feeling that you're in the DC Universe, because you shouldn't be asked to help with some shit unless maybe you're level 70 or something. Right?
Of course, the other problem is that I'm just not into MMORPGs, so maybe this thing is blowing your nerdy mind--I prefer my videogaming experiences to be lonely and depressing, like when I drink. Anyways, check out the other two videos, detailing the character creation and using powers, here.
Comments
It's Sony online. I will not play. It seems like a first person shooter that your buddies can log into. How much do you really matter in those scenario's. If you hang back, will superman get his ass kicked. Do you need to work with others or does it even matter.
Like I said. Even if the game looked like a blast, sony would screw it up. Remember Star Wars.
Posted 01/12/2009 at 09:21:23 AM"Bamtan" FTW, I think, though I have to say that I hope someone creates a midget version of Batman called Bantam.
Posted 01/12/2009 at 09:50:35 AMDid...superman just smash a commando with a big computer mainframe?
For that matter, did Aeon Flux there hit a commando with a *bus*?
Come to think of it, tactical and ethical issues concerning the use of lethal force aside, why the hell are any of those guys even trying to FIGHT these obviously highly superhuman heroes? And with guns, at close range?
More importantly, if I play as a villain, can I get the chance to Smilex churches and hospitals? Or run people over with an Edsel?
Posted 01/12/2009 at 10:17:00 AMLooks fun but not fun enough to make me buy a PS3 or a PC...gimme a call when its available for the 360 or the Mac!
Posted 01/12/2009 at 10:28:59 AMTwo thoughts: Maybe the low-level characters get crowd control duty? They could be herding hapless civilians out of the way before either of them get turned into a fine red paste by Doomsday. Or, maybe the low-level characters can chain their powers into a supermove or something? Yeah, I don't play MMORPGs either, and it's doubtful anyone's given this game that much thought, but maybe.
Posted 01/12/2009 at 11:36:08 AMThe game looks good and the features seem to be cool, I prefer PS but will be great if we can get it in other consoles as well.
Posted 01/12/2009 at 12:17:44 PMReminds me of a cross between City of Heroes and Freedom Force.
City of Heroes has so much potential, but it gets SO boring after a while. Superheroes shouldn't have the grind to deal with. It's not fun to fight thugs all day.
Posted 01/12/2009 at 02:54:45 PMMeh.
Doomsday didn't get beat; he just got pooped out and laid down for a nap. He does carry a lot of weight, don't 'cha know.
Posted 01/12/2009 at 08:18:51 PMI'm oddly offended by the thought of random players beating up Doomsday. So have some low level guy beats up Calendar Man, that's fine. It just seems wrong that the villain that literally beat Superman to death is put down by some random chick while Superman plays clean up.
Didn't have any problem with the game from hearing about it but now that I've seen it in action I think I'll be sticking with City of Heroes.
Posted 01/12/2009 at 11:20:48 PMNice video nice games nice read thanks for it!
Posted 03/06/2009 at 03:42:35 PM