Permadeath may be a feature that switches off many a gamer as soon as they hear the mere mention of it in an upcoming title, but this is what drives Dead Cells.
A brand new rogue-lite 2D platformer, Dead Cells forces you to learn from your mistakes as you progress through a castle full of traps, obstacles and enemies.
Learning from each and every death, remembering which hazards await and figuring out which of the many paths is the best to go down is essential for any kind of progression in Dead Cells. The utilisation of a number of powerful weapons and magical spells will be needed to dispose of whatever enemy stands in your way, as well as in the fight against pattern-based bosses that will appear every so often.
Key to your survival will be to use the different paths that you find throughout the castle, making the most of hidden rooms and secret passages to keep gameplay opportunities fresh and ensure you make some sort of step on your journey with each life – as each has different obstacles to overcome.
Each ability, upgrade and path you unlock will remain with each life so in theory every single run of the castle should bring improvements. But ultimately it is down to how you use the satisfying combat, customisable character sets and upgrades to suit your own playstyle, that will denote how long you survive for.
If you wish to accept the challenge Dead Cells poses, then you can do so on Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch. For Xbox One, you can purchase it for £19.99 from the Xbox Store now, but do it quickly and you could see that price reduced. Those on other formats will need to pay a visit to their usual digital store.
Those on the fence would do well to keep an eye out for our full review. It’s coming very soon.
Game Description:
Dead Cells puts you in control of a failed alchemic experiment trying to figure out what’s happening on a sprawling, ever-changing and seemingly cursed Island. Tough but fair combat, responsive controls, challenging foes, permadeath and of course, the emergency panic roll to get you out of trouble, make for a demanding, visceral and cathartic action game. Experience a Roguevania, mixing an interconnected world, branching paths and unlockable skills with the constant adrenaline-pumping threat of permadeath. No checkpoints. You either vanquish the final boss in one go, or you try again. However, you keep some of your progress for successive runs; new paths you’ve unlocked, access to new levels, mutations, abilities and weapons. Speaking of weapons, Dead Cells features a plethora of ways to slay your enemies. A large variety of swords, bows and of course spells, but also whips, grenades and turrets, each one with its own unique twist. Plus, mutations and scrolls allow you to build and customize your character differently with each and every run. At the end of the day though, it’s YOUR skills as a player that matter most! Roguelites are about constantly sharpening your skills, until what was an insurmountable obstacle becomes a walk in the park. Patience, you’ll get better!… eventually. Features: RogueVania: The progressive exploration of an interconnected world, with the replayability of a rogue-lite and the adrenaline pumping threat of permadeath. 2D Souls-lite Action: Tough but fair combat, the iconic dodge roll, more than 90 weapons and spells with unique gameplay… The unforgiving action wed to the absence of any kind of safety net makes for an adrenalin pumping ride each and every run. Nonlinear progression: Sewers, Ossuary or Ramparts? Once unlocked, special permanent abilities allow you to access new paths to reach your objective. Opt for the path that suits your current build, your play style, or just your mood. Exploration: Secret rooms, hidden passages, charming landscapes. Take a moment to stroll the towers and breath in that fresh sea mist infused air…
