What’s your superpower? A first look at the upcoming DC Universe Online

After two years in their secret laboratories the Heroes and Villains behind the DC Universe are almost ready for their game to hit the shelves. The MMORPG is set for release in early 2011, but DC has already set themselves a standard with Arkham Asylum, the best superhero game to date. The only competition to DC Universe Online is Marvel vs Capcom 2, and if Marvel has taught us anything it is don’t buy any game of theirs that features Spiderman.

So DC has the power right now and they promise to deliver.
In fact they suggest it is not them with the power, but the gamer. The DC Universe Online allows you to create your own custom Superhero or Villain and take to the streets to save or destroy the world.

The Games story focuses on a famous Superman villain Lex Luthor who time travels to present day from the future, to warn of a great battle between heroes and villains alike which leads to many death, leaving the earth to be taken over by the mastermind criminal Brainiac. Whilst in the present day Luthor gathers a mass army of Villains and leads them toward the Justice league, in an attempt to destroy the justice league and rule the world before Braniac.

This is where you come in. With your custom hero or villain dressed in as much colourful Lycra as you  please, you choose your side, and take your fight to the most iconic places in comic book history, Fighting alongside iconic Heroes and Villains, and some not so iconic and some you will never have heard of!

DC claim “The Next Legend is YOU!”                                                             
A claim they are certainly attempting to back up, they have added an all new combat system, designed to keep you in control of every devastating punch you land. The DC Universe also takes full advantage of the physics engine, to allow you to destroy the environment, use it as a weapon and pretty much do anything you want. Gone are the days of block building in the background and swinging miraculously from the sky. The customisation of your character will allow you to attribute a limited number of powers to them, meaning you get to mix and match your abilities, but does not allow you to be all powerful. Where’s the fun in fighting if you can’t be beaten up? The biggest mystery behind the game is whether or not you can actually control the DC heroes and villains, and or customize them.

My opinion is that DC would not create a game featuring all their characters if you could not control them; I think we will be able to control a select list of characters. As far as customization goes, I doubt it but I hope so.

DC Universe Online “The Next Legend is You”…unless you don’t own a ps3 or Pc…This one’s an exclusive.