Fighting games as a genre can often seem quite attractive due to the allure of flashy combos and hype matches. However, they also have an unfortunate reputation for being hard for newcomers to get into, thanks to complex mechanics.
DNF Duelis the latest release from legendary fighting game developer Arc System Works, best known for titles likeGuilty GearandPersona 4 Arena. Based on the popularDungeon Fighter Onlinegame,DNF Duelhas the name recognition to make it an attractive new game for beginners and pros alike. For those who fall into the beginner camp, here are a few tips to make a first-timeDNFexperience as easy as possible.
7Get Familiar With The Controls
Despite how similar they can look on the surface,fighting gamescan be extremely different from each other in a variety of ways. The first of these is in the controls themselves. If players are used to other fighting games, or if they are new to the genre,DNF’s controls might take some getting used to.
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DNFis a “4 button” fighter (not counting the limited use Awakening Skill), which means the player only has four attack buttons, as opposed toStreet Fighter’s 6 orSuperSmash Bros’ 3. These include the standard A, standard B, Skill, and MP Skill buttons. These buttons have similar functions for every character, so get familiar with them.
6Get Comfortable With Big Attacks
Another aspect ofDNFthat might take some getting used to is the game’s bombastic attacks. Due to the wild nature of the game it’s based on,DNF Duel’s attacks are purposefully very wild. What would be a powerful special move inother fightersis a standard attack here.
It can be intimidating to see an opponent pulling out attacks that cover half the screen, or even the whole screen. Players just need to remember that they have access to these huge moves as well, and have several ways to deal with them effectively.
5Pick Whoever Looks Cool
A player’s choice of character in a fighting game can have a big effect on how much they end up enjoying it. This makes picking a character the first major decision in this game or any other fighting game. A good habit is to simply pickwhatever character looks cool.
Even when playing the best character in the game, new players might not be motivated to play them if they don’t match their own playstyle or aesthetics. While still learning the game, simply playing as a favorite will help keep players motivated. It’s always possible try out other characters once new players get better at the game.
4Don’t Worry About Inputs
A lot of people want to get into fighting games, but don’t have an idea what a “quarter circle” is, or how to do a “dragon punch” motion. Thankfully,DNF Dueldoesn’t force new players to learn these inputsright away.
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All moves can either be performed with a single button or a button and a directional input, similar to platform fighters likeSmash Bros.orRivals of Aether. This includes MP skills, which are a player’s most powerful tools. Players also have the option of performing MP skills via inputs, which is worth learning eventually, as it will improve performance across the board.
3Watch Mana Levels
The game’s blue meter represents the player’s mana, which is the resource that controls all their skills. Different MP skills use up different amounts of mana, but if overused, the player will be unable to use these attacks for a few seconds, giving opponents a big advantage.
As mentioned above, MP skills can either be performed with a simple input, or a motion input. While it’s all right to start with the former, most players will eventually want to move on to the latter. Motion inputs make skills cost less mana, allowing players to pump out bigger moves in a given combo.
2Don’t Be Too Defensive
When new to a fighting game, it can be very easy to get scared and stay on the defensive. However,most fighters have mechanics to punish players for being too defensive, andDNFis no different. Particularly, many attacks do large amounts of chip damage through the player’s shield, which will eventually break.
While the chip damage will recover over time, players don’t want to be stuck with too much of it. The shield meter next to the player’s health tells them how close the shield is to breaking. If the shield breaks, the player will be open to any attack the opponent wants to use, so be careful to not stay blocking the whole time.
1There’s Always A Chance To Come Back
Whether the player gets off to an unlucky start, or needs some time to adapt,DNFoffers options to get that much earned comeback. Losing health comes with a host of benefits. Not only does the player get more mana the lower their health is, but any recoverable health remaining can be used to cancel moves. This allows players to unleash longer, higher damage combos, or avoid getting punished by their opponent.
When at low health, players also get access to their “Awakening,” a powered up state, as well as their super move. So no matter how dire things seem, don’t give up.
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