DC Universe Online

Genre: MMO / Action-RPG

Players: MMO

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Review:

WARNING: THIS GAME HEAVILY PUSHES MICROTRANSACTIONS AND PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP

DC Universe Online is a Free-To-Play MMO, and while it’s not the first MMO on the Switch (it’s preceded by Onigiri), it’s arguably the first major one, thanks to the inclusion of the world and characters of Batman, Superman, and the like.

So here’s the thing, DC Universe Online is oooooooold. It was originally released 8 years ago, and the game definitely feels this age. The version on the Switch doesn’t seem too much different than what PlayStation 3 players got their hands on all those years ago, although it does at least benefit from having all of the added content the game has received since then.

Graphically, this game looks like a game from a generation or two back. It’s bolstered by some excellent cutscenes with solid voice acting, but the gameplay itself… well, it looks rough.

And as for that gameplay, it too has aged somewhat poorly. While the game has players actively involved in attacks rather than selecting an enemy and letting the battle play out, fights get really repetitive really quickly, making the entire experience a bit tedious.

Also, for new players just now being introduced to the game, the amount of menus thrown at them seems sure to be overwhelming, and the opening introduction area is not nearly as helpful getting players up to speed as I’d like. I’m embarrassed to say that even though I played this game a bit way back on the PS3, this time around I found myself struggling to figure out how things worked. I suspect a brand new player would have things even worse.

Then of course there’s the issue of much of the game’s content being locked behind a paywall of a premium subscription. I give some leeway to free games that have alternative monetization methods, although having both a premium membership and microtransactions in the game feels like a bit much.

The other issue here is that the Switch isn’t exactly an ideal platform for this game. Even putting aside graphics, the Switch’s lack of online features and even a keyboard aren’t great for an MMO, although to the game’s credit it does at least have native voice chat if you plug a headset into the console. But since the game is only playable online, the Switch’s main selling point, portability, is largely neutered here. And since the game is so old, it seems pretty likely that most players will have a PC that’s better-suited to run the thing at home.

Despite my complaints, DC Universe Online is at its core a solid MMO. The problem is, it’s a solid MMO from 2011, and I just don’t think that cuts it in 2019. On top of that, you probably own a better platform to play this game on. If you really want to fight alongside Batman and Superman, maybe get the game there.

tl;dr – DC Universe Online is a Free-To-Play MMO that was a solid entry into the genre back in the day, but it’s 8 years later and the game really shows its age. Plus, the Switch isn’t really the ideal place to play the game – if you really want to play this old clunker, you’re probably better off just doing so on the PC.

Grade: C

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