Review: Dead Cells, by Motion Twin
by
Stuart Holland
This review was originally a series of tweets, which is why it is structured as it is.
This review was a part of my “Back Catalog” series in 2020, where I went back and achievement hunted in games that I had previously started, but not completed.
Next up on #BackCatalog is Dead Cells and it is fuckin’ great
When I first played Dead Cells, it was definitely a case of me being in the wrong mindset
I got up to the Concierge (a boss) but couldn’t get past him - I got frustrated any time I died
But that’s the point of Dead Cells. The slow, incremental progress - each death gives you more options about how to do your next run.
Go into every run expecting to die and not get anywhere. And then when the stars align, it’s so good
I gave it a better shot this time and now that I have more equipment and I’m also actually better at the game, it has really opened up.
I’ve “beaten the game” four times now
If you don’t die, “beating the game” can be done in less than an hour, so “beating the game” multiple times isn’t as huge a task as it sounds.
And when you beat the last boss the first time, you get an item that increases the difficulty while equipped
Higher difficulties aren’t just numbers. Enemies spawn in new places. New enemy types appear. The mechanics around how you heal and which paths are available to you change
There are 5 difficulty levels and I’m currently playing the third one
There’s a great atmosphere and very light touch environmental storytelling. There’s something wrong in the abandoned castle you’re fighting through, but you don’t know what
That makes it sound creepy, but it’s all very tongue in cheek. The main character (Beheaded, cuz y’know, he has been beheaded) is very cavalier with his own life because he comes back (and knows it)
The platforming mechanics are tight and extremely well tuned. Not one of my many deaths felt like the game’s fault - I could always see where I’d gone wrong. And after so many deaths, that is a real testament
The music is great - upbeat, slightly creepy, and motivational. It keeps you company along the way. The Castle stage has a great soundtrack and calls back to the first stage really well
https://open.spotify.com/album/5MuOiTfGZfVbZ1rPcDX5A0 (That’s the whole album, “The Castle” is the track)
There are loads of little gaming easter eggs in the game
“Who needs an Italian plumber?” - achievement for reaching the “Ancient Sewers” level “Crowbar” weapon found next to a body with a facehugger on it (it does bonus damage after you use it to break down a door)
Dead Cells has a few extremely difficult achievements (beat boss X without taking any damage, one for every boss) that I’m unlikely to get, but like so many good games, I’m just looking for more excuses to play it at this point!
So folks who’ve played Dead Cells, what are your preferred weapons/equipment?
I’ve had my best success with the Hand of the King’s Symmetrical Lance, Frost Blast, Double Crossb-o-matic, and Wolf Traps as my loadout.
Dead Cells
