DOFUS

Game overview

Dofus is a isometric 3D turn-based MMORPG that's been around since 2004. The game offers players a wide variety of class choices to pick from, and each are different and unique in style and ability.

The game's graphics are pleasant to look at considering its age, but the visuals still leaves a lot to be desired. The game feature a well written story that is funny and engaging, and it drives the character progression nicely from zone to zone.

The best thing about Dofus is undoubtedly the game's turn-based combat system, which requires players to tactically plan and execute attacks within a time limit. The combat enhances the overall feel of the game and places it among the great tactical MMORPGs in the current era.

However, to get the full game experience, free to play players must pay a subscription fee to access restricted content to advanced character progression. But for what it's worth, the content on offer is vast and high quality which makes Dofus stand out like a gem in a sea of standard online games.

➔ Main points:

• Large selection of classes with 17 in total
• Fun and strategic tactical combat which is addictive
• Well written story that's engaging and funny
• Minimal system requirements
• Occasionally dull graphics
• Must pay to play the full experience

Full review

Substance Over Style

Published by Ankama Games in 2004, Dofus is a living example of an online game that has stood the test of time. Dofus is an isometric 3D MMORPG that features a gripping but humorous story, wide variety of classes and skills plus a turn-based combat system that's tactical and appealing to gamers who prefer more strategic combat in MMOs.

The combination of everything Dofus offers is the reason why it's still a popular game today. Graphics wise, the game has had several visual improvements over the years, making the environments and character models look sharper and better for larger screen resolutions. Combat and movement animations also look very decent for a 12 year old game, and the game doesn't require high specifications to play.

However, the visuals can get dull after sometime as there isn't much variety in graphical options - character outfits and cosmetics largely remain the same and only a handful of cosmetic slots can be equipped to make your character stand out.

Another aspect of gameplay that new players may struggle with is how movement works. Instead of using the WASD keys to move, players will have to left click to move their character in the world, thus making Dofus one of a few MMORPGs that features point and click gameplay.

While the graphical style and aesthetics may not be as impressive when compared to newer MMOs today, Dofus still has plenty of substantial gameplay to offer that will keep players hooked for the long term.

Text-Based Adventures

As the new hero in the World of the Twelve, your saga begins during a time when the world is in chaos. The six Primordial Dofus - dragon eggs of the gods - have been stolen, which is the cause of the destruction of the land and the incarnation of the evil that rises in place of peace and tranquility.

Your job in the long run is to bring back the stolen Dofus and restore balance in the world while building your reputation as a great warrior along the way. Before jumping into a new game, Dofus offers players a couple game modes which are classic and permadeath. It's incredible to think that Dofus offers a permadeath server, when other newer MMOs completely ignore this excellently challenging way to play RPG games.

It's incredible to think that Dofus offers a permadeath server, when other newer MMOs completely ignore this excellently challenging way to play RPG games.

The game's grand adventure is presented to you in text-based dialogues which are very well written and captures that feeling of an epic adventure. Both main the main story quests and side quests in Dofus rely on text-based storytelling, so expect to see plenty of dialogue from NPCs that have question marks over their heads.

The narrative is well paced and there are plenty of ways to advance character progression from level 1 to level 200, besides just following the main story. There's PVP arenas to cater to competitive players and there are other PVE activities such as crafting which is very comprehensive for those who want to make money by selling off their crafted wares.

The Tiles of Battle

The combat system in Dofus is very straightforward and easy to learn. Battles against enemy creatures and NPCs are turn-based and take place on floor tiles that players can move their character into.

At the start of your turn, you will have a set amount of Movement Points and Action Points. Movement Points can be spent to move your character around the map, and tiles will turn green to indicate that you have enough movement points to navigate towards the tile. Action Points on the other hand are used to execute abilities and spells. Tiles will turn blue to indicate that you may cast your spells within that range, so make sure the enemy is within a blue tile.

At the start of your next turn, all movement and action points will be replenished. Overall the mechanics of Dofus's turn-based combat is very tactical, and is a lot of fun to play as strategizing your next move and deciding on which ability to cast will require sharp wits and knowledge of the enemy's strengths and weaknesses.

It's also important to learn the different elemental damage types in the game such as fire damage, earth damage, water damage and air damage. During the game you will encounter enemies who are more resistant or more susceptible to different elemental damage, so it's a good idea to scout your opponent's stats beforehand to help give you a combat advantage. The more you prepare tactically for battles in Dofus, the better player you will become.

Round Up The Gang

A great feature of Dofus is that the game has an astonishing 17 classes that players can pick to play. It's cool to see that a lot attention and detail were given to ensure that each class has different combat styles and unique designs to offer players something that will suit their play styles.

Unlike other MMOs, the classes are named differently. The Rogue class for instance, may be called Sram's Shadow but the skills and abilities are definitely Rogue-ish in nature - from laying down traps to turning invisible for a few turns - which makes the classes feel mysterious yet familiar.

When a game has that many classes, sometimes it's harder to make them all stand out individually. But Dofus has managed to do this impressively, as each class has its perks that will come in handy during combat. The game's story also does a good proactive job in recognizing which class you have selected, with equipment rewards being relevant to your class as does the acknowledgement of NPCs from quest texts.

What truly makes the classes shine in Dofus is how well they all work in combat. There are so many abilities and skills to learn in your journey to level 200, and because each class is well thought out, combat becomes a tactical masterpiece especially when you know what skills work in which situations.

The Great Pay Wall Of Dofus

The only con that Dofus has is also its biggest, that it needs a monthly subscription in order to unlock access to more gameplay such as new zones, classes and other quality of life systems that are vital for MMOs such as creating guilds.

Sure, there is plenty to do in Dofus for free to play players, as they will get access to most classes plus the two starting zones which are Astrub Village and Incarnam. However, F2P is very restrictive, allowing players to only level to 100, and can only grind enemy monsters that has a max level of 40.

Unfortunately, large parts of this wonderful game is hidden behind a pay wall and you can unlock them by paying à la carte for certain unlocks or everything at once with a rolling subscription. Besides needing to shell out money to get the best experience possible, players should also take note of the in-game shop which for the most part, keeps things free of pay to win. The items on sale are mostly cosmetic which is good, but it does tend to sell gear that aren't as good as what you can craft or find in the game world, so hold on to your money.

Unfortunately, large parts of this wonderful game is hidden behind a pay wall and you can unlock them by paying à la carte for certain unlocks or everything at once with a rolling subscription.

Conclusion

When it comes to isometric tactical turn-based MMORPGs, no other game does it as good as Dofus, and this 12-year old game has every right to be proud of its long lasting legacy in online gaming. The combat is incredibly tactical and fun to play, as one wrong movement from a hasty decision could mean life or death for your character.

The story is also very engaging due to its well written and humorous plot and dialogues. While large portions of the game requires an active subscription to enjoy, the game does offer loads of quality for the asking price - so if you can afford to pay for it, we highly recommend it.

Ready to enter the world of DOFUS? Click here to play now!

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Review summary

1. Substance Over Style
2. Text-Based Adventures
3. The Tiles of Battle
4. Round Up The Gang
5. The Great Pay Wall Of Dofus
6. Conclusion