Zero Punctuation: DC Universe Online

[Wulfclaw]

And what does she stand for, anyway? I don't think DC's ever really been able to decide on that. Certainly not like Batman and Superman. She's pretty much just been "female superhero".

The way i see it, WW stands between Batman and Supes. She is not afraid to do unpopular drastic things, for (easiest) example killing maxwell lord, because she had to do it and NOT paddle back or make lame excuses, but stood for what she did, even as the world entered a new age of super-powered-heroe-phobia in the wake.

Broken down to easiest terms, I think she stands for the ability to kick ass while looking hot and knowing it. Self-Assurance. The new look is really good and more "realistic" but in addition she looks younger, less ... "wise". A whole lot of the optical Self-Assurance idea is cut from the new WW. In my opinion.

The background of the creation of this char is better explained by movie-bob. He has a whole segment regarding this and "comics are weird" and it's really good.

And yes, i'm a comics fanboy. Heh.

 

[rsvp42]

Not even as good as City of Heroes? *sigh*
WoW's next victim: The Old Republic

Except that TOR is at least going to have higher-quality questing. Luckily, BioWare actually cares about crafting a narrative, something that most MMOs relegate to a paragraph above the checklist.

 

[AssassinJoe]

But Yahtzee! There are only 2 cities in the whole DC comics universe!

Indeed. How could he not have known no other cities exist besides Jump City and Central City?

Wait...

Are those real? Or did you just make those up? I honestly don't know.

 

[GiantRaven]

Yeah, the reason I never got into serialized comics is because you first have to read 500 issues of boring shit that doesn't make any sense before you can catch up. I once picked up "Encyclopedia of the Marvel Universe" out of curiosity and had to put it back down when I realized that Spider-man (by himself) had like 30 pages dedicated to each continuity (of which there was at least 6).

A huge misconception if you ask me. If I managed to easily get into comics just by picking up and reading whatever took my fancy then I'm pretty sure anyone can. Hell, most comic series (from the DC side at least, I have no idea with Marvel) don't tend to break 100 issues and there's no reason any reader would have to read all of those to understand a single story. I'm not saying there aren't aspects of comics that aren't needlessly convoluted (I would erase continuity in a second, given the chance) but it's nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be.

 

[daxterx2005]

At least this isnt Marvel Universe online >.>

 

[DarkhoIlow]

Good review

Love the way he says MMORPUGER.I enjoy both DC and Marvel comics the same,but I won't give this game a chance until they give a trial.

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

So then basically most of your issues are stuff that Champions online had done well?

Amazing hero creator, great power selection, and it focuses on you, not the really famous guys.

I wish Cyrptic had just focused on it more instead of making this one.

 

[LordXel]

I don't have a PS3, so I'll just stick with the animated movies, Arkham Asylum and I might get the Mortal Kombat crossover seen as it is cheap as hell now.

 

[Sonicron]

But Yahtzee! There are only 2 cities in the whole DC comics universe!

Indeed. How could he not have known no other cities exist besides Jump City and Central City?

Wait...

Are those real? Or did you just make those up? I honestly don't know.

I may be getting them confused in my head, but if memory serves, Central City is the Flash's playground, and Jump City is home to the Teen Titans. Yes, those strangely-named cities actually do exist in the DC 'verse.

 

[roostuf]

Wow this is weird, 2 mmorpgs within 2 months....you have changed yahzee.

 

[hecticpicnic]

Great review one of the best i liked the joke at the start(the one about shit that didn't really make any sens but never the less good anyway.

 

[Natdaprat]

This week wasn't as amusing as it usually is. First of all, I'm not familiar with the DC Universe Online game - I know of it and the general principle - but have not and do not plan to play it. Plus the rant:jokes ratio was way too ranty this week.

However, it's good that he's doing more MMOs and Indie games. That makes these reviews less predictable!

 

[Jules57]

Well sir you answer your question, Bums

 

[Canadamus Prime]

So basically you're just picking custom models for DC's already established characters eh? Not much of a big seller there.

 

[WhatHityou]

I didn't believe the review was going to be good. I had heard a lot of claims of the game just bing a city of heroes copy.

 

[ResonanceSD]

a friend of mine just bought DCU and wont stop crapping on about it. I'm going to love the look on his face when I link this to him

 

[Monshroud]

This is the problem with most MMORPG's, they are all virtually the same. Create character, grind levels, reach the end game content, pwn it, wait for expansion, create alts, rinse, repeat.

That's true, but that's also more the 'design' flaw, not really the 'game' flaw. MMORPG's are more like social interaction mediums--it's not entirely about grinding to level 50 or what not, it's about grinding to the highest level along side some of your friends.

FPS games are interaction in a very impersonal "I'mma blow you up with this rocket launcher" sort of way, but more and more FPS games are incorporating similar RPG style elements, with customizable features, perks, etcetera. But the gameplay is focused on the shooting bits more than the community bits, which holds it together, and makes players rely on their own skill rather than the numbers they can present to their opponent.

MMORPGS are interaction on a more interpersonal level, in that you adventure side by side with someone, playing a game that's admittedly all about the numbers, but it's still fun because you're doing it together, challenging the adversity offered by that super villain or ogre or whatnot. The game is just numbers, but the people are the heart and soul of MMORPGS.

After all, everyone knows MMORPGS don't have a soul of their own, that's why they creep in to your house, fangs bared as they raise their black cape and slowly approach...your wallet to take another $15 out of it until the next month rolls by.

You bring up some really good points. I think one of my biggest frustrations with MMO's is that whole forced to play with others thing. I work a really weird schedule than my friends. So usually when they raid, I can't. Now I could get involved with another guild and play with them, but to be honest... I don't like people.. Tried playing in PUG's and dealt with too many people who don't understand "Stay out of Fire / Void Zone". I think in Guild Wars you can 'hire' NPC's to crawl with you, which is nice. None of my friends play that though.

Heck in WoW, just before Cata came out, I finally got all my 40-man instance raids done. Still haven't been to the Black Temple, never downed Magtheridon, never finished Ulduar, never downed the Lich King.... sigh..


On an unrelated note: WOOT! 1000 Posts!

 

[Prof. Monkeypox]

Yeah, the reason I never got into serialized comics is because you first have to read 500 issues of boring shit that doesn't make any sense before you can catch up. I once picked up "Encyclopedia of the Marvel Universe" out of curiosity and had to put it back down when I realized that Spider-man (by himself) had like 30 pages dedicated to each continuity (of which there was at least 6).

A huge misconception if you ask me. If I managed to easily get into comics just by picking up and reading whatever took my fancy then I'm pretty sure anyone can. Hell, most comic series (from the DC side at least, I have no idea with Marvel) don't tend to break 100 issues and there's no reason any reader would have to read all of those to understand a single story. I'm not saying there aren't aspects of comics that aren't needlessly convoluted (I would erase continuity in a second, given the chance) but it's nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be.

Well fair enough, I recently picked up "All-star Superman" and had a lot of fun with that, despite the fact that it had tons of continuity nods that went completely over my head. But comics can be hard enough to swallow by themselves (requiring a pretty big willing suspension of disbelief) without the whole issue being complicated by a history lesson requirement. I love the medium, but that's why I prefer one-off comics like Watchmen better (the self-contained nature making it much more accessible).

You know, besides Watchmen being the greatest, etc.