Comic-Con 08: Hands-on with DC Universe Online part 2
I first played the light-based character. The special abilities were a powerful melee attack, the ability to encase an enemy in a ball of light disabling them for a short time, an AE knockback ability and a cone-based, channelled push back. It took me no time to figure out I could encase an enemy in the light ball, then use my AE knockback to send them flying down the city block like a pinball.
Get tired of playing soccer with your target? Instead, pick up your light-encased target and smash them down on other enemies. In fact, many objects in the DCUO world can be used to flatten enemies: traffic lights, fire hydrants, cars, city busses and, of course, other enemies.
Next, I played the electrical melee character. His electrical charged fists could pummel bad guys into submission. He could also shoot electricity from his hands for a ranged attack and knock back enemies with an AE electrical explosion. Another interesting trick with this toon is the ability to charge items he picks up with electricity so they explode for extra damage when he smashes other with them.
I moved on to a fire-based archer character. Along with his light and medium damage fire arrow attacks, he also had a single target fire stun with damage, an AE fire ring knockback and a long-casting heavy damage arrow attack. I had more problems with this character as I didn't have enough abilities to keep opponents at a distance to unleash my fiery missles. But this character did have one unique ability that I had not seen yet: super run speed.
SOE wants you to get where you want to go and to get there quickly. For a speedster this means not only running fast down the city street, but run up and over any building, car, traffic light or other obstacle in your way. See that 50 -tory skyscraper in your way? No problem. Zoom up, over and back down. And then there's super-super speed. Every character can initiate a burst of speed not unlike having a rocket strapped to one's back. Steering is a bit shaky, so we had to hit a straightaway to make the most of it, but with this ability, players will never have an excuse to be late to the raid again.
