DNF Duel (Switch) Review – Now you can play it on the go

DNF Duel is a 2.5D fighter based on an immensely popular game, Dungeon Fighter Online. After debuting on the PS4, PS5, and PC in 2022, the game finally landed on the Nintendo Switch.
Game Name: DNF DUEL
Platform(s):  Switch (reviewed), PS4, PS5, PC
Publisher(s): Nexon
Developer(s): Arc System Works, Eighting, Neople
Release Date: April 20, 2023
Price: $49.99 and available via Arc System Works online store.

I want to prefix this review by stating that we’ve already reviewed this back in 2022 for the PC, and much of what is said is similar to that review. If you want to get to what’s different for the Switch version, head down to the online and port impressions.

DNF Duel is yet another fighting game that looks to dazzle anyone who dares play it with amazing-looking visuals, an easy-to-learn system, and, yes, dare I say it, simplified inputs. Special moves can either be performed by using the proper circular inputs, or you can use a direction, and the magic put and perform the same move. The only difference is that if you perform the proper input, your magic recovery will be just a smidge faster. And when I say smidge, I mean you’ll hardly notice it. This is why during my time with the game, I opted to use the simplified inputs.

The character/player Controls are handled by six buttons; A (light), B (medium), S (Skill), MP (Magic Points), Guard, and Awakening (more of that later). Yes, there’s a guard button, but you can simply hold back to block. The guard button is a must-have, and you might as well get used to it.  The guard button is also used for rolling, which can be used to avoid attacks or slip past your opponent and get behind them.

DNF Duel does bring a unique take to a number of things that we take for granted in a fighting game, and after a few matches, I enjoy those changes. The first is the way health is handled. Simple yet effective, the game uses colors to signify the type of damage you received. Certain attacks will provide white damage to your health bar, which is recoverable over time. However, red damage means that you have permanently lost that portion of your health. It’s an interesting system that affects how you attack, which moves you’ll use, and how to recover lost health while being pressured.

Unlike some other fighting games, resource management is handled differently in DNF Duel. Instead of building up meter, every character starts out with 100 Magic Points or MP. This is how characters dish out damage using special moves, and each move uses a specific amount of magic. Running out of magic puts you into Exhaustion, and you’ll have to wait for your magic to recover or hit your opponent with standard attacks. But it’s not as straightforward as it seems. As long as you have a single magic point, you can still perform a special attack, but you’ll stay in exhaustion longer. Or, if you have white damage, you can convert that into magic points using the skilled Conversion, which is great for extending combos when your MP meter is almost dry. The downside is the white heath is converted into red health, and you lose it.  Lastly, the more health you start to lose throughout a match, your magic point meter will expand.

In terms of the character roster, there’s something here for everyone; Zoners, mid-rangers, and of course, characters that do their best when they’re up in your face. Each character possesses something that I’m sure will fit your playstyle.

For everything that DNF Duel does right, there are still a number of things that frustrated me with the game.  There’s a lack of defensive capabilities, which does tend to cause players to get blown up. There’s still no air blocking, no universal air dash, though several characters have access to this as part of their moveset. While rolling is available, some of the character’s rolls are flat-out terrible and end up doing more harm than good. This can also be said about the guard break, which lets you break out of attack strings by performing a special move to push your opponent way that costs way too many magic points. And even then, a guard break isn’t guaranteed and can be countered. Still, the game is in a better play than it was when it was first released in 2022.

Should you not want to play online, there’s also plenty to do. A story mode is available for each character, though it’s not very long, and you can blast through each in about 35-40 minutes. A training and tutorial mode is accessible, and recommended that you check out so you can learn the ins and outs of both the game and get used to the characters. Once that’s done, you can jump into arcade mode or survival mode. There’s even something for those who like collecting things by purchasing various avatars, nameplates, music, and more by playing the game and accumulating gold.

Speaking about the online play…

How are the netcode and online play?

Alright, let’s just get a few things out of the way, because I know you’re already wondering about this. I know because I can read your mind. No, DNF Duel for the Switch does not feature crossplay or cross-progession with either the PlayStation or PC versions. That’s strike number one! Secondly, the game doesn’t feature the updated rollback net code either for some reason uses delay-based netcode.

I wasn’t able to play DNF Duel online during my review as I wasn’t able to find anyone to fight. Once the game is released, I hope that changes, and I can update this review. That said, the Nintendo Switch version requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play online, and should you not have one, then you are completely locked out of online play.

It’s not a bad port

While the frame rate isn’t bad on the Switch, while it feels like it is 60FPS, there’s a big downgrade to the visuals. The characters and backgrounds are all washed out, and the game is full of jaggies. On the Switch’s small screen, it’s not as noticeable and didn’t bother me. But when I played the game in docked mode, it was very noticeable, and it reminds me of how the game looks on the PC until you implement a fix (why hasn’t this been fixed yet?). It doesn’t make the gameplay any different, but it is jarring, and I hope that this is addressed in a later update.

Despite this, the game plays great if you’re using a Switch Pro controller or a fight stick. I was able to pull off the combos I’ve learned on the other platform versions with zero issues. Sure, you can play it on a JoyCon, but I tried it, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The game loads fairly quickly, and the game sounds just like it does on the other platforms.  Plus, with the Switch, you have the added bonus of being able to play DNF Duel wherever you want.

Worth a try

DNF DUEL on the Nintendo Switch isn’t a bad game. Despite its shortcomings and the lack of a “Proper Netcode,” it’s worth a play if you’re tired of playing Super Smash Bros. and want to jump into another fighter; this isn’t a bad alternative if you like anime fighters. The simplified inputs are great, the game moves at a fast pace, and it is a lot of fun. The only things holding it back are Nintendo’s silly online system, and the lack of crossplay, as I don’t think many are going to be looking to play this online when there are better alternatives.

Review Disclosure Statement: DNF Duel was provided to us for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy for more info.

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