Dungeon Fighter Online (DFO) is a unique title amongst the recent free-to-play MMO releases. Originally the game was developed in Korea in 2005; it wasn't until 2009 that the game hit Stateside, in Nexon America's beta test. That isn't what makes DFO unique, though; after all, most free-to-play games originate in Asia. No, what makes Dungeon Fighter Online stand out is the whole concept of the game itself. It's not a WoW clone, or an EQ clone, or a Lineage clone; instead, you can best view it as an MMO bastardization of Streets of Rage and other sidescrolling arcade beat 'em ups. Players fight enemies on a series of maps (dungeons) throughout the game, learn new skills, use items, and generally button-mash their way to fame and glory. For nearly a decade this proved to be the most winning combination in American arcades, but years later can that formula manage to prove a winning title for American PC gamers?
Fast, furious, retro action. There are many who will assuredly find Dungeon Fighter Online's throwback gameplay to their unliking. For me, however, it's a refreshing change of pace from the usual auto attack, hotkey-based MMOs. With realtime combat identical to sidescrolling brawlers (except with more skills and equipable inventories) DFO is a blast to play, alone or with friends. The best aspect of the retro gameplay, though? Its fast, and there's rarely a moment of peace as you progress through the dungeons.
Lots of classes, each with unique advancements. Even though this is a sidescrolling arcade brawler MMO, the traditional classes are largely there: you have the tank, the melee DPS, the healer, the mage, the ranged DPS, and soon the rogue. It doesn't stop there, though, as each class in the game has their own unique advanced classes, each with completely different skills, and different playstyles. So if you're put off by the lack of options starting out, don't worry, because once you level up a bit you'll have plenty more options.
Casual friendly MMO. As part of its emphasis on bringing back old-school gaming, Dungeon Fighter Online is a very casual-friendly title. Dungeons can be cleared in a matter of minutes, and many of them can be cleared solo if you don't want to wait for friends to get on, or don't want to find a party. This makes for plenty of times where you can login, play for five minutes, clear a dungeon, and get a sense of accomplishment. If you want to play but only have a little bit of free time, go ahead! You won't be stuck grinding rats or wolves because you don't have time to complete any quests!
Surprisingly competitive PvP. Usually with a game like this, a highly popular PvP mode wouldn't be what you would expect to find. But that's what DFO has! Believe it or not, Dungeon Fighter Online is actually one of the more popular MMOs overseas in term of tournaments. (Hell, it's technically one of the most popular MMOs of all time in terms of playerbase, too!) There are numerous options for PvP, but all of them would be what you'd expect in a title like this; 1v1, FFA, team deathmatch, etc. In the US the PvP isn't quite as loved as it is in Asia, but there's already a highly dedicated group playing the game solely to compete in PvP tournaments. So if you're a fan of 2D fighters and you're looking for a new challenge, this free MMO may be just the thing you were waiting for.
Repetitiveness is rampant. In a game like Dungeon Fighter Online, the fact that it's repetitive is almost a given. However, when you factor in the grinding needed at later levels, you'll find yourself playing the same dungeons over and over. With friends? It's still fun. Alone? Well, there's a reason sidescrolling brawlers were never famous for their single player capabilities.
Old-school graphics might not be your thing. Is Dungeon Fighter Online more unique in that it's a true-to-arcade sidescroller? (As opposed to other sidescrollers such as Maplestory which aren't quite the same?) Sure. But will it be unique for long? We'll see. There are a lot of action-based MMOs coming out in the next year, especially in the free-to-play market. With similar gameplay, it's not hard to imagine a game with better, 3D and physics-based graphics coming along and supplanting it.
Overall, it's easy to recommend Dungeon Fighter Online for at least a try. If you grew up in the 90s and remember that period of gaming fondly, DFO is a fun trip down memory lane, infused with some modern mechanics. In terms of the free-to-play MMO space, there are few games like it, especially when you factor in the popularity its achieved in terms of competitive play. Will it be a game that lasts you for most of the year? Probably not. Will it be something that can easily take up your free time for a few weeks, and maybe even a couple of months? If you enjoy the arcade brawlers, then most definitely. I can tell you one thing for sure: Dungeon Fighter Online is staying installed on my PC, which isn't something most new free-to-play MMOs can't claim.
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