Somewhat Modern Sidescrolling Beat 'em Up
Dungeon Fighter Online is an online version of those games you used to play in the arcade where you'd go around and punch things. This game has stepped up from that in design quite a bit, but it keeps the heritage of the earlier games and delivers similar gameplay. With the release of DFO on Steam, I thought now was a good time to share my experience with the game.
You pick one of several different classes, which get differentiated even more around level 18. For myself, I started out as a mage, because I know I like casters. I found myself enjoying the witch skills, and liked the mix of spells and action, and I was intrigued by the broomstick, so I chose to become a witch at level 18. I have sampled the other classes, and they are different enough that I don't think they're just for show, but being required to level up in standard RPG fashion meant I wasn't going very far with them. Playing multiple characters is viable (I have some friends who do), but I haven't the time or patience.
The gameplay is pretty simple once you're out in a "dungeon", the name for the areas you go around and hit things in. They start out really simple and easy, but once the game gives you time to find your legs it ramps up and gives you more interesting enemies. You go from room to room and beat things until they explode into colorful chunks (seriously).
As a witch, I do a lot of running around, cast a spell from a distance, close in and smack people with my broom, and then fly away. I do find it getting repetitive sometimes, which is the main reason I don't play more often, but I know that doesn't bother everyone.
There is the option to do PvP in an arena, but it never appealed to me too much. I did dabble, and there seems to be a robust community. Nobody seemed unbeatable, but some of the classes were annoying (I'm looking at you, Mechanic). A big level difference in PvP won't completely kill you because your stats get boosted, but it does give your opponents access to extra skills and higher level versions of their lower-level skills that can make level differences imbalanced.
The gameplay is simple, but with a little depth through the RPG skills system. The PvP is respectable. The aesthetic is a little retro, but I found that appealing. Overall, I do recommend DFO for people looking to spend some time beating things up once in a while, but the choice of the RPG leveling system was a bit of a bummer for me because it meant my more active friends got ahead of me and I got tired of grinding. If those don't sound bad to you, this is a game to check out.
