Part of the Kotaku review In my first game of Dead Cells, I died after about four minutes. In my most recent one, I lasted almost an hour. The time difference between those two attempts says a lot about how Dead Cells evolves as you play it, and how you evolve alongside it. That first game went something like this: I started out in the prison, like always. I picked up a crappy sword and a crappy bow, and I began my escape attempt. I rolled and jumped around a bunch of archers, mutants, and weird bomb-throwing pink creatures. I picked up some scrolls that increased my character’s damage and hitpoints. I killed a bunch more archers and mutants, then made the mistake of dropping into a larger group of them than I’d intended. They killed me. My most recent game, 15 hours later, went like this: I started out in the prison, like always. I picked up a powerful broadsword and an Ice Bow that would freeze enemies in place, and began my escape attempt. I dodged and jumped around a bunch of archers, mutants, and weird bomb-throwing pink creatures, slicing through them with ease. In minutes I had traversed the entirety of the level, picking up every upgrade material and scroll in sight. Using special abilities I’d unlocked, I conjured magic vines to climb and located weak points in the floor to blast through, fighting my way through five more areas, from a toxic sewer to a creepy pirate town. I defeated a hulking boss on a bridge. If I slipped up and took damage, I would heal thanks to my potent health potion. I grew more and more powerful, killing dozens upon dozens of enemies until finally, a fast-moving boss at the top of a clock tower took me down. The more you play Dead Cells, the more it opens up to you. As soon as you’ve grown familiar with one area or set of enemies, it will reveal new ones, stitching its level geometry together just randomly enough to make each new encounter feel slightly tweaked. And for all the permanent skills and item upgrades I’ve unlocked between that first playthrough and now, my skill with the game is the thing that’s changed the most. It unlocks tomorrow on all platforms and PC it is 20% off on PSN for 19.99
Have it downloaded and ready it will be a great game to kill time when the little one wants to stay up most of the night rather than sleep.
been playing the early access a little before the release. feels great to play, I think the enemies and weapons are really fun. I still have staying power issues with these rogue likes, though.
Got to the 2nd area on my first try. After 3 lives I've gotten to the 3rd area and I have permanent upgrades Vine rune Health Flask I Gold Reserves I Recycling I Time for bed
Yeah those crits are nice. Love the nutcracker for its damage and ability to stun enemies at 75% health or higher plus the short range projectile it fires after each slam. Favorite loadout so far health vial, nutcracker, freeze shot and the launcher that shoots two blades when placed on the ground.
I prefer double grenades to that blade shooter thing. I’m terrible with the traps...I always manage to throw caution to the wind and end up taking damage when I trap people
Watched the alpha some on streams, it’s like an adult version of Rogue Legacy which was an awesome rogue lite.
Also in the same genre, just not roguelike in any sense, Guacamelee 2 is available for preorder. First one was a lot of fun.
Have you gotten to a timed gate yet? I got to the sewer in 45 s and got about 15 souls and a bunch of gold...only problem is that I didn’t get any of the loot from the first area so I need to make it out of the sewer alive to score my starter bow upgrade
I’ve only gotten to three areas, but I wouldn’t call the difficulty punishing tbh...at least compared to some of those impossible old school games. You do get fucking wrecked if you just dive headfirst into a bunch of enemies and you’re dead in like 2 seconds but that’s kind of the point. Randomly kinda reminds me of the metal gear solid gameboy game(which was awesome) in the way that you can clear an area by sneakily picking guys off one by one.
Luring those ninja devils out of a force field area is fun and exhilarating as hell because they will chase your ass quick, but it’s the best way to fight them if they’re in a group
Yes but I'm always a few minutes late so I can't access it. Excited to see what opens up in the first few levels
I played for like an hour this morning and honestly I was feeling like it was kinda weak...just played for another hour and now I’m seeing the depth to it. I also just figured out that the down b(x) move from above is absolutely essential in combat.
Mother fuck I was almost out of the sewer with my basic bitch melee weapon and bow and a god damn exploding lightning bug got me and my 30 souls
Yea this game rules. Definitely getting a Hollow Knight vibe from the way it started out seemingly meh but turns incredible really fast.
Absolutely in love with this game. Just beat the concierge w/ twin daggers ice bow combo. Sinew slicer and wolf trap are amazing as well
Love this game. Got it yesterday. Did a few runs dying early then had like 3 really long ones. Got to the last level (I believe) late last night and that level really kicks it up a notch with the spear dudes. Died. Went to bed so angry. Once I had this setup I thought I was a bit too strong until the last level. Flame Torch Shield Slicers Wolf Trap (Cooldown mutation is a must) I don’t see many use a shield but i felt it was really strong vs bosses. First time vs Concierge he rocked me. Second time with shield he barely hurt me.
There are some really interesting late game items like this shot thing that debuffs enemies for more damage and if you kill the enemy it travels to the next one nearby. That thing was cool.
Got to final boss with really strong build. Bested the clock tower guy first try with it. Two upgraded Double crossbow traps that do double to burning and fire bombs. Last boss still kicked the shit out of me, I got him probably halfway.