ok, here are my thoughts on DCUO so far.

the level cap is set at lvl 20 right now, so thats all my experience has gone to.

1) the cities and environments are freaking GORGEOUS, best of any MMO so far IMO.
2) Character creation feels limited when compared to CoH/CoV, though at least you have the ability to earn new looks that you can switch out of at any time, and if you get new gear, but the look doesn't fit your outfit, you don't have to change the look, unlike in WoW
3) powersets look good visually, but i am disappointed in the lack of options. you don't get to pick and choose different power sets like in CoH, you pick Ice and then you get to diversify between storms and ice.
4) No hard light power set right now = me a mad GL Fan, as i want to make my GL based hero so freaking bad.
5) Learning to use the left and right mouse buttons for main attacking takes a bit of getting used to. no more juts picking a target and hitting keybinds, you need you use the mouse buttons for your reg combos so you can refill your blue bar that allows you to use your specialty attacks
6) I love getting a group together and beating the snot out of Bizarro.
7) If you are a GL fan, you will LOVE the massive GL vs SC fights in Metropolis; they are everywhere, and you see them fairly quickly as you level.
8) So far (they might adjust this, i hope) you level extremely fast. i did 1-20 in maybe 8 hours of total time.

Overall, i think they took a lot of good things form WoW (loot rarity, achievements) and a lot of good things from CoH/CoV (character creator, to some extent, Superhero fights etc) and really have a chance at doing good on this one, so ln as they fix the bugs (and give me my Hard Light power set!)

Wow. Thanks for the information. Is it possible that the Beta version is limited on purpose (with leveling, power sets, etc)?

Will you have to build a new character once the game goes live, or will you be able to carry your character over?

Are you playing on PC or PS3?

Is it possible that the Beta version is limited on purpose (with leveling, power sets, etc)? the level cap is maxxed out at 30 at launch, form what i have heard/read. lvl 20 is the cap for the beta server i am on right now, though i expect them to raise it before the end

Will you have to build a new character once the game goes live, or will you be able to carry your character over? Everyone has to restart form scratch, like every other MMO. the only benefit to Beta is you get to participate in the battle legends event at the end of Beta

Are you playing on PC or PS3? PC

Thank you! This is my first MMO. I was sad that I didn't get a Beta invite.

Any idea as to when the game will be available and go live? I have the PC version reserved at gamestop.

they are talking 1st quarter 2011, so anytime between Jan-March. i suspect feb will be the official month

Right now there is no PS3 beta. (It's coming "soon")

You have to watch it. THIS IS BREAKING the NDA.

no, they lifted the NDA yesterday, read their announcements

While the game doesn't have as many costume options as CO, it is teh only MMO where I can make an authentic Jack Kirby looking toon. I'll take New Genesis, 4th World and Jah Kir costume sets over 10 types of cowboy hats and traffic cones that I can wear on my head.

OH They did.... I will take a look when I get home from work. COOOL!

I'm starting to get the sinking feeling that the PS3 version may be getting axed. I really hope not though.

The good and the bad. This game is different then other MMO's.

The Good

Hand to Hand is king. Everyone has some type of shooting but its not that good. Its decent but not great.

Powers seem to be balanced decently well.

Graphics are even better then Champions Online.

Most of the world is open (like World of Warcraft). At the end of each group of missions though you will have an instance to go in and those are very tough. I have fought power girl, wonder girl, spark of Brainiac, and Felix Frost.

I was able to make (Costume wise) Sonic Soldier, Seige, Lotus Mandrake, Chainz, Photon, Earth Lord, and Marksmen.

There are powers and skills. Skills deterime how you attacks work out. You need a mouse. (This will require some explaining to do. Attacks not including powers. Use your left and right mouse buttons. Left is attacks with hand to hand. After say 2 to 10 attacks you hold your left button to do a special. For example Lotus Mandrake fights and 1 Tap and then 1 hold can do a sweep with her legs which hits everyone around her. 5 Taps and 1 hold will allow you to hit with a Knee Upper cut. Knocking them into the air. When they fall they are helpless. The right mouse botton is for range attacks. You can do basic or charge attacks, this one of the powers I picked. Charge attacks can have special effects. Manchine that I made can knock people back.) This is how you can use combos to hurt your opponet.

You only have a limited number of power slots (6). There is no defense powers but you can use powers to increase your stats instead. Right now you can either have a attacker or a healer role. There is probable more but I haven't gotten that far yet.

Skills are cool. There are a number of skills that can have. This is how you will fight. Here are some Gun, Dual Gun, Martial Arts (Sais), Brawling, Hand Blasters (Blasts from hands), Dual Swords, Single Axe, Two Handed Warhammer, and Staff. At level 11 you can jump to another one. A lot of skills powers require you to have a certain skill power before the good stuff. You can't jump instantly to the good stuff.

There are 3 starting areas for a different start. Batman/Joker (tech), Wonder Woman/Circe (Magic) and Superman/Lex Luthor (Innate Power).

There is enough content. I have gotten to level 13 and I have skipped several groups of missions due to out leveling them.

Shift allows for you to Block attacks. When you see the bad guy about to make a big attack you can hold shift down and block it to take less damage. There are attacks that can knock you out of your block and there are attacks that are effected more by block.


The Bad

Not enough powers and not enough costume options. I am hoping this is temporary. I can not make Manchine right. The list of powers so far is Fire, Gadgets, Ice, Mental, Plants, and Magic. This is far from enough. Costume also need to be worked on. I am happy with Seige, Sonic Soldier, Lotus Mandrake, Photon, Marksmen, Earth Lord, and Chainz. I can't make costumes for Manchine, Power Claw, White Knight, Animal Teen, Tank, and Electric Marshal. Power wise Manchine, Photon, Sonic Soldier, Animal Teen, Earth Lord, and Electric Marshal can't be made. (This is only out of my main groups of the GDF and Terra Corps.)

There is no mouse cursor. If you move your mouse your guy looks in that direction. Tab will allow you to lock on to anyone in your sight radius (whats on your screen). If you are close enough although its still far enough away to not be attacked.

There is no to hit. If your power shoots and the guy is there, it hits. You don't have to be exact. I have sidestepped it but still got hit. You have several feet around you that can be effected. Same with Close Combat Attacks I have hit people before when I thought I would miss because they are to far away.

Conclusion

I remain neutral on whether I like this or not. There is to much missing from the powers and costumes to make this a good game (at least to me). The attack way to do stuff has grown on me. Its enjoyable to pull off combos. You can't go in against 20 guys and win. At my higher level I can wade through lower level guys. I could go through many guys though without stopping. I have taken on 5 groups one after each other without stopping. Then take a small break to regen health or power. On that note you have a health and power tab. Both regenerates. Health Regnerates faster out of combat and Power regenerates faster in combat. My power is enough to hit one guy with one power each fight, I have enough power to hit him multiple times but that would drain me. In big fights (taking on 4 - 5 guys) I use my powers multiple times.

Wow I think thats the longest I have ever gave a review. =)

Here are some differences you can see in the characters.

http://www.globaldefenseforce.com/Heroes/Siege.html
http://www.globaldefenseforce.com/He...c_Soldier.html
http://www.globaldefenseforce.com/He...te_Knight.html
http://www.globaldefenseforce.com/Vi..._Mandrake.html

if anyone is interested, i have an extra PC beta key now. please PM me if you want it. first come, first serve

I also apparently have received a PS3 beta key, if anyone wants it