Arc System Works are the masters of taking existing franchises and turning them into unbelievable fighting games.
Their excellent catalogue of games includes the likes of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Dragon Ball FighterZ and Granblue Fantasy Versus to name a few.
This time around they have teamed up with Eighting and Neople to develop a fighting game of the online action role-playing title Dungeon Fighter Online.
Created by Korean developers Neople in 2005, Dungeon Fighter Online is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up that plays very similar to classics like Double Dragon.
Players will fight hordes of monsters while traversing through each stage. The game features loads of social aspects such as Guilds, PvP and Party Play.
What’s even more impressive is that Dungeon Fighter Online has some great accolades to its name. It’s one of the most played games of all time and one of the highest-grossing media franchises ever.
DNF Duel will look to capitalise on the series' already illustrious legacy, bringing a new generation of fans.
Arc System Works is known for its amazing visuals that were taken to the next level with Guilty Gear Strive.
DNF Duel look amazing when it launched on the PS4 and PS5 back in 2022, ranking highly in terms of visual aesthetics, that being said the Switch version has obvious downgrades due to the performance power of the console.
Don't get me wrong the fighter still looks as vibrant on the Switch, but it lacks a lot of the sharpness and clarity found on the more powerful consoles.
However, this does not hinder the experience whatsoever, the game still runs very smoothly in docked and handheld mode, allowing fans to still enjoy high octane battles.
DNF Duel’s soundtrack is composed of mostly heavy metal and rock-inspired tunes.
Fans of bands like DragonForce will really enjoy this energetic soundtrack that’s fully charged with tunes that help to hype up the battles.
The soundtrack could do with a bit more diversity, as they all sound way too similar.
DNF Duel also comes with amazing voice acting for its characters and a fantastic announcer.
DNF Duel will grant players access to sixteen different characters who are based on the classes that can be picked in Dungeon Fighter Online.
The characters don’t have specific names but instead have titles like Hitman or Grappler. They each have their own unique skill sets that cater to different play styles and allow for various strategies.
Fans of the genre are going to have a field day getting to grips with this new cast of characters.
There are nine different levels to pick from which all look visually stunning, but I do think each character deserved their own stage, just for some extra variety.
DNF Duel has four main modes that are broken down into extra sections. Players will be spending most of their time in Local mode which is home to Free Battle, Story, Arcade and Survival modes.
Free battle is where players can take on their friends in one on one matches. It comes with all the usual rules settings such as deciding rounds, time limit and even adjusting players' handicaps.
Story mode will allow players to delve into the world of Dungeon Fighter Online and learn about its rich lore from the perspective of each character.
Each story is divided into different chapters where players will fight one of the other characters.
This mode is very dialogue-heavy with a lot of information that can last a bit too long at times, but it's great for those who want to learn about Dungeon Fighter Online and its world.
Story mode is a nice way to learn about each character, but I loved what Arc System Works did with Granblue Fantasy Versus and its RPG mode.
Looking at how Dungeon Fighter Online plays, I feel it would have been a nice touch to implement some of the original beat ‘em up elements in this mode.
Survival Mode works a little differently than what fans would be used to. Players will still fight a constant stream of enemies, being able to pick from three different tiers.
But where DNF Duel differs is that players will receive points at the end of each match base on their performance and will be able to level up their character's stats or refill their health.
By including RPG elements, Arc System Works has created something special here as they have added an extra layer of risk and reward that puts much more accountability into the player's hands.
Survival Mode is one of the best modes in the game as it allows players to create different builds of each character.
Arcade Mode works the same as you would expect it to, with players battling a series of characters until they reach the final boss.
There is also a Collection mode where players can watch their saved replays, read the glossary, purchase extra content in the gallery and more.
The game feels a bit light on extras and unlockables, but hopefully, more will probably come in the form of DLC.
Practice mode is split into Training Mode and Tutorial. They both are very self-explanatory with training having a nice little feature that lets you swap between both characters during combat, essentially allowing you to practise with two players at the same time.
The tutorial mode does a great job at teaching players the ins and outs of the game, and even giving hints as to how to use each character.
DNF Duel is a five button fighter that feels much more accessible for newcomers than other games in the genre.
Players will have access to two standard attack buttons that can be mixed with the Skill and MP Skill buttons to create combos.
The fifth button will allow players to execute their Awakening Mode, enabling them to use their ultimate attack.
The gameplay mechanics are pretty straightforward with the majority of moves having an option for Easy Inputs or Motion Inputs.
However, both input styles are very simple, with the majority of characters having the same commands for their moves.
Having very simple input commands is an interesting choice that can allow players to master the game at a faster rate while also enabling newcomers to dive right in.
This system may feel a bit too simplified but it should help players to focus on what each move actually does and how to implement them into their strategies as opposed to spending their time learning the input commands.
DNF Duel has a few unique systems that will dictate how players approach each fight. The main one is the MP system, which basically controls how and when MP Skills can be used.
Each character has an MP Skill gauge that will be drained as they use MP Skills during the fight.
Each skill comes with a set number that will be deducted from your character's gauge when it's used.
Emptying the gauge will result in the player's characters getting exhausted and unable to perform MP Skills.
This just means that players won’t be able to spam powerful moves constantly forcing them to really strategise when to use certain MP Skills.
DNF Duel has many other great mechanics in place such as the Red and White damage system, or its approach to the guard breaks.
Players will really be surprised with how the developers have included little tweaks that really innovate core features of the genre.
DNF Duel does include an Online Mode with Rollback Netcode, but I was unable to test it out while writing this review.
Verdict 4/5
DNF Duel is another stunning fighter from Arc System Works that offers a unique experience setting it aside from other fighters.
The Switch version may not be as visually powerful as the other versions, but this does not take away from the overall experience and being able to take this fighter on is a blessing in itself.
Its simplified fight mechanics make DNF Duel an accessible fighter whilst still being complex enough to offer a challenging experience for members of the Fight Game Community.
DNF Duel is out not for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC and Nintendo Switch
