Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League hands-on: Fast, ferocious, and totally unhinged in a good way

GamesOpen WorldSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice LeagueSuicide Squad Kill The Justice League hands-on: Fast, ferocious, and totally unhinged in a good wayWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesOpen WorldSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice LeagueSuicide Squad Kill The Justice League hands-on: Fast, ferocious, and totally unhinged in a good wayWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Games) My eyes don’t know where to focus, so I settle for everywhere.Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis not the live service looter-shooter I was preparing for; it’s a turbo-charged supervillain frenzy that feels and looks incredible. Running amok through the city of Metropolis was never going to be anything like the Batman Arkham games. Gone is the gritty, brooding, permanently nighttime world of Gotham, and in its place is a technicolor playground where there’s no such thing as being too flashy. I zip up buildings as Deadshot, whacking enemies with melee attacks to send them flying into the air for me to snipe down with precision. Deadshot barks something at Captain Boomerang, who laughs with glee before teleporting ahead to help King Shark gun down some more monsters. True to developer Rocksteady’s penchant for storytelling, all these threads come together to articulate a rollicking supervillain saga. At the heart of it, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice league is an all-out party. It’s way more fun than I thought it would be – especially in the face of last year’s backlash. Being bad feels good (Image credit: Warner Bros. Games) Big in 2024(Image credit: Future)GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January. Big in 2024 (Image credit: Future)GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January. (Image credit: Future) GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January. The sprawl of Kill the Justice League’s Metropolis is a far cry from Arkham Island. This feeling of untethered expanse is immediately palpable to me as I exit the newly-repurposed Hall of Justice, now home to a ragtag band of miscreants. The future of the city sits cupped in our unpredictable, unclean hands – but not before we have some fun in it. Kill the Justice League operates in the Batman Arkham universe, but the gameplay couldn’t be farther from it. That’s because how you move through this vibrant cityscape is just as important as the scene change itself. “Metropolis was really exciting from a design point of view, because of what we could leverage that we haven’t done previously,” says associate design director Johnny Armstrong. “We knew early on that traversal was going to be a big pillar of our game, so the city and the traversal developed together.” Traversal and combat playstyles go hand-in-hand for the core four characters available at launch, each with a unique set of skills, weapons, and abilities to help navigate Metropolis. Verticality is everything if you want to get to the top of that 40-story office block, and with Deadshot’s jetpack, it’s a doozy. King Shark can simply pummel the ground below and boost himself into the air, while Harley Quinn’s grappling hooks allow for a more acrobatic approach. Naturally, Boomerang’s signature Aussie throwables are central to his traversal system, allowing him to teleport to a pinned location within seconds. Those all sound lovely, but my poor depth perception and timing ineptitude means I quickly bond and decide to stick with Deadshot. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Games) The game does push you to switch up your main – there’s even a system in place to incentivize you to do so for extra XP at times – but Armstrong gets where I’m coming from. “It’s one thing to find a fun character that vibes with you,” he says, sharing my passion for Deadshot’s loadout, “But also there isn’t one character that feels massively faster than the others. One is faster going vertically, one is faster going down, and one is faster going horizontal. And that is also spread out across the new characters we’ll have in post launch.” Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more With new gameplay content being free of charge for one year post-launch, the possibilities for these “brand new characters that will not feature in the game until then” sound endless. All characters will be unlockable in-game, and I’m told the Kill the Justice League battle pass will be for cosmetic items only. Nice one. I’m a bit dejected that I won’t get to play as Poison Ivy, resurrected in Kill the Justice League as a young girl following her demise in Arkham Knight, but it’s fun to see Rocksteady branching out with new playable characters. High rises and higher stakes (Image credit: Warner Bros. Games) It’s a deft balance between action and story that Rocksteady manages to toe with expertise. It’s a deft balance between action and story that Rocksteady manages to toe with expertise. The “strangers” Armstrong refers to are your fellow players, as Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League in its broadest strikesisa live service co-op shooter. Thankfully though, it doesn’t feel like another Marvel’s Avengers. It’s got the elements of a hero shooter – distinct playable characters in a massive online arena, each with advantages and specialities – but Kill the Justice League is a vibrant, narrative-rich experience that demonstrates Rocksteady’s “real love and reverence for the characters” and the broader DC universe. Myriad mission formats mean no two battles feel the same, even during my four-hour hands-on session. From vehicular combat in defense-style missions to all-out onslaughts, a gnarly boss fight against The Flash, and an unfortunate run-in with Lex Luthor, the variety of combat experiences flow with the main storyline while still leaving plenty of scope to explore with my co-op buddies. It’s a deft balance between action and story that Rocksteady manages to toe with expertise, and that variety extends to the weapons themselves. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Games) Your weapons loadout in Kill the Justice League is fully customizable, and each completed mission seems to award players with new weapons, bombs, and other accoutrements to swap in. Penguin and Ivy team up back at base camp to grant the Squad new melee status effects, the first being Freeze, and purchasing new Talents allows for endless clever ways to go about gunslinging. As Deadshot, I tried out a fun little build the Rocksteady devs helped me construct that throws enemies into the air for me to juggle and shoot at a whim. I imagine it will come in handy for helping keep fights off the ground, leaving room for melee fighters like King Shark to get some punches in unobstructed. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League came as a massive surprise to me. Rocksteady’s proven skill, passion, and dedication to authenticity means I was already looking forward to heading back into the Arkhamverse, but I didn’t expect the format of an online action shooter to feel as fitting as it does. With its kinetic traversal systems and joyful, colorful chaos, it’s a total juxtaposition to the games that came before. Don’t let that put you off, though – this is one anti-hero shooter that dares you to have an absurdly good time, and more than follows through on the promise. Big in 2024:Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X on February 2, making it one of theessential games of Winter 2024. Big in 2024:Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X on February 2, making it one of theessential games of Winter 2024. Big in 2024:Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X on February 2, making it one of theessential games of Winter 2024. Big in 2024:Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X on February 2, making it one of theessential games of Winter 2024. Big in 2024:Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X on February 2, making it one of theessential games of Winter 2024. Big in 2024:Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X on February 2, making it one of theessential games of Winter 2024. CATEGORIESPC GamingXbox Series XPS5PlatformsXboxPlayStation CATEGORIES More about open worldYou might be ready for Elden Ring: Nightreign, but not as ready as this streamer who completed the RPG like it was a roguelike – 207 bosses, random items, and permadeathPalworld’s Feybreak update adds a built-in Nuzlocke mode to the open-world survival game - and a taste of next year’s Terraria crossoverLatest"Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history": Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yetSee more latest► More about open worldYou might be ready for Elden Ring: Nightreign, but not as ready as this streamer who completed the RPG like it was a roguelike – 207 bosses, random items, and permadeathPalworld’s Feybreak update adds a built-in Nuzlocke mode to the open-world survival game - and a taste of next year’s Terraria crossoverLatest"Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history": Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yetSee more latest► More about open worldYou might be ready for Elden Ring: Nightreign, but not as ready as this streamer who completed the RPG like it was a roguelike – 207 bosses, random items, and permadeathPalworld’s Feybreak update adds a built-in Nuzlocke mode to the open-world survival game - and a taste of next year’s Terraria crossover More about open world You might be ready for Elden Ring: Nightreign, but not as ready as this streamer who completed the RPG like it was a roguelike – 207 bosses, random items, and permadeathPalworld’s Feybreak update adds a built-in Nuzlocke mode to the open-world survival game - and a taste of next year’s Terraria crossover You might be ready for Elden Ring: Nightreign, but not as ready as this streamer who completed the RPG like it was a roguelike – 207 bosses, random items, and permadeath You might be ready for Elden Ring: Nightreign, but not as ready as this streamer who completed the RPG like it was a roguelike – 207 bosses, random items, and permadeath Palworld’s Feybreak update adds a built-in Nuzlocke mode to the open-world survival game - and a taste of next year’s Terraria crossover Palworld’s Feybreak update adds a built-in Nuzlocke mode to the open-world survival game - and a taste of next year’s Terraria crossover Latest"Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history": Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yetSee more latest► Latest “Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history”: Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yet “Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history”: Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yet “Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history”: Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yet See more latest► Most PopularI’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatSilent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024"This is incredibly rare": How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far Most PopularI’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatSilent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024"This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far Most PopularI’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatSilent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024"This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far Most Popular I’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at that Silent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024 “This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hit I’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games? This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chance Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics” Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s past Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé 17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding” Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over Christmas Spy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”