Review: Dead Cells (PlayStation 4)

Dead Cells is a rogue-lite, Metroidvania inspired, action-platformer. You’ll explore a sprawling, ever-changing castle… assuming you’re able to fight your way past its keepers in 2D souls-lite combat. No checkpoints. Kill, die, learn, repeat.

Pros:

• Beautiful pixel art styled graphics.
• 476MB Download size.
• Platinum trophy.
• Can rebind controls.
• Metroidvania gameplay.
• Diet-(How the food looks in-game) Carnivore, Castlevaniaesque, Vegetables, Fruitarian, Monster or all Baguettes!
• Smart roll- Will interrupt a roll if you are about to fall too far.
• Controls tutorial pop-ups on/off.
• Opening and ongoing tutorial support.
• Roguelike elements- When you die you lose everything you are carrying.
• Strong Castlevania influence.
• Fast fluid gameplay and runs really well on PS4 PRO.
• Can hide control pop-ups.
• Blueprints- Return them to the hub to unlock the weapon on the blueprint.
• Cells- These are the things used to unlock new weapons/stats/abilities in the game.
• Elite enemies- Stronger enemy and drops a lot more loot.
• Dead simple controls.
• Map and minimap which uncover as you play.
• Hidden breakable blocks.
• Portals are all over the place and you can freely fast travel between discovered portals.
• Big boss battles.
• Basic moves- Double jump, climb ledges and ropes, slam move and a roll to evade attacks.
• Loadout- Main weapon, Secondary then two powerful moves.
• Health- You can find health drops but also you have a flask that can be refilled in between levels, Can be improved and increase the number of uses.
• Weapons drops will show DPS and have green/red arrows to show if it is good or bad.
• Scrolls can be found where you choose which stat to increase for your run, They work off colors. Each weapon has a color or two and this scroll can increase that colors effectiveness.
• Hub- In between levels you go back to a hub where you cash in cells, use the shop and refill your flask. You come here when you die so you will get used to this area quickly.
• Difficult.
• Gold- Used to buy items from shops which can be found in level or at the hub, Can unlock locked doors.
• Some next level level design. Many routes and secrets to be found.
• Areas randomize every run along with randomized level layouts.
• Satisfying combat.
• Superb soundtrack.
• Infinite replayability.
• Easy to get into.
• Addictive.
• Can unlock new mechanics like the ability to save x amount of your money upon death or mixing up the starting weapons.
• Sweet animations.
• A wide variety of enemies from exploding bats to jumping monsters to archers and evil Wizard dudes.
• Some really nice locations.
• In the hub, you have a room full of bottles that (will) contain all unlocked abilities/buffs.
• Timed doors- Random doors will have a time limit in which to reach them and open them. Failing to meet these criteria will pop a notification telling you how late you were.
• Satisfying loot em up.
• Well paced.
• Full of risk-reward.
• A bright game despite the dark setting.

Cons:

• Difficult.
• You don’t like to get your ass handed to you.
• You get angry quickly.
• Tricky at first until you unlock a few upgrades.