On the first day of E3, I had the chance to check out the upcoming Nintendo Switch version of the hugely successful DC Comics-based MMORPG, DC Universe Online. I played the game a fair bit back in high school but fell off of it after the PS3 I used to play it on died. I’ve looked back now and again with the intent of playing again, but I’ve just never really been good at committing to MMOs. After trying out the Switch version of DC Universe Online, however, I’m actually planning on trying it all again when it launches.
Originally released in 2011, DC Universe Online has made quite a name for itself as a fun and accessible MMORPG that is full of DC goodness for comic fans and MMO fans alike. You make a hero (or villain), choose your mentor (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Joker, Lex Luthor, or Circe), and set off into the world of DC Comics to do as many good or bad deeds as you want. The world is huge and explorable, combat is easy to grasp but still engaging, and the story is full of nods and references to many of DC’s greatest runs and tales. If that sounds like a lot to take on the go, you’re right. Yet somehow, it seems like Daybreak has figured out a way to make it work.
“These changes are quite welcome, as the original beginning of DC Universe Online certainly dragged a bit.“
For such a big game, DC Universe Online ran shockingly well on the Nintendo Switch in both portable and docked mode. The environments we visited looked exceptional and the character models were great. Atlantis was full of color and life, while Gotham was as dark and moody as one would hope it to be. The version we played was even running on hotel wifi, yet I noticed no major network issues. I’m not sure how Daybreak managed to pull all of this off, but I’ve got to give them credit for accomplishing such a feat.
The beginning of the game’s story has been changed as well, in order to make it more exciting and more welcoming to new players. Originally, players woke up on the ship of Brainiac, one of Superman’s most famous foes. They’d battle their way through Brainiac’s robots, guided by Oracle of Batman lore. Now, players get to meet Superman earlier and fight against the actual Brainiac, rather than a robotic copy of him. These changes are quite welcome, as the original beginning of DC Universe Online certainly dragged a bit.
All the expansions released thus far will be available to Switch players rather quickly, but new players won’t be left behind. The game is being ported with accessibility in mind, meaning experienced players and people who downloaded the game that morning can play together after the opening tutorial without any major discrepancies. I was quite happy to hear this, as I’ve found many MMOs take too long to connect me with friends, which is likely the entire reason I’m playing an MMO in the first place.
We all traveled to Titans Tower, home of the Teen Titans, to partake in a training mission. The developers mentioned that one of the big stories they’ve tackled in-game is “The Judas Contract”, which is one of the best and most well-known Teen Titans stories. It’s not a 1:1 translation though, as the devs want to keep things interesting for experience comic readers. Damian Wayne, the fourth Robin, is now present on the team, and it’s safe to say he brings his own unique flavour to the story. This sort of creative touch-up is rather common, and it sounds like the staff behind DC Universe Online really loves and understands the comics they take inspiration from. I was particularly interested when they mentioned that Dick Grayson, the first Robin, is already Nightwing in the MMO’s universe, meaning one Titans story follows Tim Drake, the third Robin, as he leaves Batman’s shadow to become Red Robin. It sounds like there’s a lot to experience for comic fans and new readers alike, which gets me excited for future updates.
I’ll definitely be jumping back into DC Universe Online when it launches for the Switch this year. It’s free-to-play, with only expansions costing any actual money. Whether you’ll need Nintendo Online to play DC Universe Online is currently unknown, but either way, I’m looking forward to becoming a new type of hero on my Switch this summer.
