RPG In the DCU
As a long-time fan of Injustice: Gods Among Us, I dove right into playing another DC Comics game. But, unlike the frenzied screen tapping and quick timing of playing NetherRealm’s “Mortal Kombat With Capes” game, Legends is as about team building and strategy.
The look is that of classic four-color comics with dozens of your favorite DC heroes and villains to choose from. You can freely mix and match your teams as you see fit, earning Hero Fragments to free up new characters as you go.
Unlike Injustice, you can’t just buy characters (unless offered in special packs) but instead buy packs of random fragments. Once you have enough character fragments, you can then unlock that character. Once unlocked, fragments are also how you upgrade character levels.
Meanwhile at the Hall of Justice!
When you first start, the game will walk you through the basics of putting together a team, fighting enemies, then how to add to your team and customize characters. The Main Menu is set up like the Justice League’s Watchtower.
Your profile and progress appear in the upper-left. Currencies on the upper-right (Gems, Essence, Arena Rewards, Energy and Arena Energy).
- Gems purchase Character Fragments or exchange for other currencies.
- Energy is used every time your team goes into battle. Once it’s used up, you will have to wait to recharge or buy more.
- Essence is used to improve your characters. It is earned in battle but also via the Essence Collector in the lower-left. By merely playing, you’re earning Essence over time.
- The team-vs-team Arena earns rewards and uses Arena Energy. Player-vs-player is not live but the AI will control your opponent’s team as you battle to the top of your league.
And I have to admit, the Coming Soon items have me curious.
In Our Next Episode!
The Story Campaign takes you into battle and moves the single-player story forward. You send your team on missions to take down waves of baddies, using their skills and equipment.
As you complete a battle, you move on to the next, eventually unlocking a new chapter. Or, go back take one the same chapter at Heroic level.
Along the way, your team will fight increasingly tough opposition, and earn better rewards. You can stop any time between battles to go back to the Watchtower to upgrade your team.
The storyline centers around Nekron, the embodiment of Death and ruler of the Dead Zone. He is now using the Manhunters, robot police created by the Guardians of the Universe, as his own army. Elements are drawn from the DC Comics’ Blackest Night storyline as Nekron uses his power to control the dead and create phantom versions of his enemies.
Drawing My Conclusions
Legends is very easy to pick up and play. The original tutorial is simple to understand and follow — you’ll get the gist of it pretty quick. I would suggest not skipping through it at first.
The graphics and animation is simpler than Injustice, but it works well with the pacing, and the game definitely doesn’t feel as dark or so overly serious. Legends can quickly become a time-killer for the more serious player but it’s easy to pick and put down for the casual.
A huge volume of characters from DC’s very full and rich universe means this game can really have some depth and complexity to it. The ability to earn new abilities and equipment is also motivating to keep improving your characters, and see what they’re capable of.
As you collect essence and experience for your team members, you can focus on improving their shortcomings or add new abilities.
So far, I’m really enjoying Legends. It’s a nice change from Injustice without leaving the DC universe and there’s a LOT to see and discover. The game also shows real potential for even more features moving forward.
Anyone who’s played Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes will find this game very familiar territory and possible too similar to feel new. But, I’m recommending it for both the casual and more serious mobile players. Just don’t expect a button-masher.
DC Legends is available FREE from, Google Play and iTunes.
The game is Free-to-Play with some purchase options for currencies and occasional character packs but you do not need to Pay-to-Win.
Are you a DC Comics game fan? Do you play other DC games, like Injustice?
