Last month, I reviewed the Nintendo Switch version of DC Universe Online. In the review, I mentioned that my review was entirely from a free-to-play perspective. Afterwards, I thought it would be fun to discuss the premium side of the game. After being provided with $50 worth of Marketplace Cash by developer, Daybreak Games, I set about playing the game like the financial elite that I wish I was.
Paying $5 for anything in DC Universe Online automatically gives you permanent “Premium Status,” which has a slew of handy benefits. Your cash-cap is increased to 2000, you gain the ability to trade and list items of the Marketplace, you gain more inventory and bank slots, and you can visit the item Vault every two days. If you’re a free-to-play player who’s fairly invested in DCUO, I’d say that Premium status is absolutely worth the $5 it costs, as it’s a permanent upgrade that makes the whole game more convenient.
In order to get the most well-rounded experience possible, I spent my Marketplace Cash on three things: story expansions (known as “Episodes”), the utility belt slot, and Promethium chest keys.
“Overall, Episodes come with a good amount of content, though you should look into each one beforehand to know which you want to buy.“
Episodes are a lot of fun, though some of them require multiple players to partake in. This means you may be stuck waiting on other players. They often come with single-player Instance missions, which somewhat makes up for this. Otherwise, the content itself can be a blast to play through. Some episodes come with new free-roam cities or locales, filled with their own collectibles and audio logs. These episodes are often based on a hero, villain, or comic that may not have been central (or present at all) in the base game’s story, which provides each installment with some pleasant variety.
Exploring Central City and battling speed demons was some of the most fun I’ve had in DCUO, as the Flash didn’t receive nearly enough attention in the main plot. Overall, Episodes come with a good amount of content, though you should look into each one beforehand to know which you want to buy. Purchasing a monthly membership gives you free access to any Episode at any time, so if you’re already looking at becoming a member, that’s one of the major perks to consider.
The utility belt lets you equip utility belt attachments as trinkets, increasing your stats in various ways. While I feel this is something that could have been provided to players for free pretty easily, the extra boost in stats can be helpful for difficult instances. Members can use the utility belt automatically, but non-members can grab one for $5 in-game. It’s a bit steep, but it’s a handy thing to have if you’re a member or willing to pay.
Promethium keys are pretty straightforward. You obtain plenty of Promethium Lockboxes and event boxes as you play DCUO, which contain random equipment and items. This loot can be pretty powerful, though the fairly randomized nature makes opening boxes a gamble. I found keys to lead to rather hit-or-miss rewards, so I can’t really recommend buying them.
Anyone who thoroughly enjoys playing DC Universe Online as a free-to-play player should look into the game’s Episodes, a utility belt, and Premium status. Though I found lockboxes to be fairly trivial, the other offered expansions I listed had me enjoying my time with DC Universe Online even more.
