What parents need to know
DNF Duel is a 1 vs 1 fighting game in 2D. It is the adaptation of the Dungeon and Fighter RPG franchise, in fighting game.
 | Release date: June 28, 2022 Developed by: Arc System Works, Eighting, Neople Published by: Nexon Available on: PC (Steam) Playstation 4 Playstation 5 Game Type: 2D fighting game Average duration of a game: about 10 minutes Estimate of the total duration of the game: Infinite Themes: Fantasy, cartoon, manga, combat Business model: Need to buy the game. Additional characters will be available for purchase at a later date. Number of players: 1 to 2 players locally 1 to 2 online players (Lobbies can have up to 8 players) Available in digital and physical formats. Texts in English. Voice in Korean, Japanese, or Chinese. The game was provided by the publisher for its review. It does not influence our opinion. |
| Players | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ |
| Neophytes |  | |  | | |
| Intermediate | | | | | |
| Experienced |  | | | | |
Difficulty
Many difficulty modes are available. And online opponents have just as many different skill levels and experience.
Violence, fear, nudity?
Whimsical fights with protagonists from manga. The fights do not involve blood, however some non-interactive cinematic scenes sometimes show characters with bloodied clothes or faces. One image quickly shows a monster body impaled by many weapons. Some female characters have revealing outfits, and bouncing breasts.
Language level used
It’s quite sustained, the story is quite convoluted for each of the characters, and the texts are only available in English (or Chinese, Korean, Japanese).
Positive message
Some women are depicted in sexy poses and in small outfits.
Minimum reading level required
Must know how to read for a few years to understand the menus and history in English.
Additional costs ?
None for now, many characters and content will be available for purchase after release.
Minimum level of execution on the controller required
So for once! Here is an affordable fighting game in its maneuverability! The manipulations are very simple to perform: direction + button. Veteran players are rewarded by making quarterbacks but the advantage is minimal. There is a way to have a lot of fun with simplified manipulations.
Principle of the game
DNF Duel is therefore a fighting game in 1 vs 1, in 2D. It features the character classes of the Korean beat’em up fighting game Dungeon Fighter Online RPG. Thus the names and classes of the characters are: Ranger, Inquisitor, Launcher, Berserker… 16 characters are available at launch of the game.
The goal is to choose a character, and reduce the opponent’s life bar to zero by using attacks, special moves, tools available at the right time in the right situation.
In addition to the life bar, each of the characters has in a fight:
- a guard bar. If the character blocks attacks too much for too long, the bar breaks, and the character is vulnerable for a short time.
- an MP (Mana Points) skill bar. This is a bar that allows you to use special moves but in moderation. Once exhausted, it takes a moment to fill up again
When the life bar is less than or equal to 30% of the starting length, the character can launch a move called Awakening. This one can be launched only once per Round, and allows to launch a devastating fury, in the form of a non-interactive animated scene, for the life of the opponent so well placed.
The game is played with 6 buttons:
- Weak (but fast) attack
- Strong (but slower) attack
- Skill button (to launch character-specific abilities)
- MP button (Mana Points, to launch the special moves of the characters)
- Guard Buttons (Combined with the front steering, this allows for a dodge. Note that it is also possible to protect yourself with the rear steering)
- Awakening button (to launch the devastating fury when the life bar is inside 30%)
All the subtleties are taught in the game’s Tutorial mode.
Local game mode
Free Battle Mode: Play against a human opponent locally, or against an opponent of their choice controlled by the console
Arcade mode: sequences of 8 fights up to an end boss.
Story Mode: Each character has a unique story, and just read it as texts and animations scroll across the screen. Fights punctuate the story. This lasts about 20 minutes per character. Multiplied by the 16 characters, this makes a lifespan of about 5 hours.
Survival Mode: Chain as many fights as possible without losing.
Training mode
Tutorial Mode
Online gaming modes
Ranked Match: Classified part.
Player Match: It is a question of making unclassified games with opponents that we find in lobbies. Up to 8 players can meet in a lobby and 4 matches can take place simultaneously in a lobby. In a lobby, the player embodies an avatar that he can personalize, and converse with other players. It is therefore possible to chat with strangers in this game mode. This can be positive as well as negative.
Conclusion
If you’ve never played a fighting game, here’s the title for you! DNF Duel is beautiful, the music is very pretty, the game is easy to play, to take in hand and to learn. The part of the online game is for once (compared to other fighting games) very successful. Indeed, there is little or no slowdown during online combat. It is easy and quick to find opponents.
The characters are very well designed, drawn and animated. They are quite different from each other, there is something for everyone.
The launch price of the game is low: 65 CAD + taxes compared to the standard of 80 CAD + taxes.
Everything works, everything is sublime. There’s plenty to have fun for, for hours, if you have someone to play the game with locally, or you’re willing to learn the game and play online.
Unfortunately there is no cross-play, i.e. Playstation players cannot play with Steam players on computer. Information to keep in mind if you want to play with friends.
Video explaining the basics of the game
The fighting game player, host, TV presenter, Kayane made a video to present the basis of the game, in French. I share it here.
