Before Marvel’s Spider-Man took over all my time, I was playing Dead Cells on my Switch. I saw a sale on the physical copy on Amazon and decided to take a chance.
Dead Cells is an action-platformer roguelike though with far less randomization than I am used to. I find it very enjoyable, though I have yet to finish a single playthrough. There are a ton of things to unlock and collect for future playthroughs but, unlike Binding of Isaac, I am not inspired to complete or see everything.
Different levels have guaranteed access to new movement powers so, like Castlevania or Metroid, to advance you have to find these powers. I had to give up on my longest playthrough because I hadn’t unlocked the one power I needed to progress. That was depressing. At the same time, I enjoy the initial gating because it forces me to try different level paths, each with their own enemies and hazards.
The gameplay is fluid and animations are great. I would easily put it on par with Castlevania Symphony of the Night or, more recently, Hollow Knight in terms of fluidity. The bosses thus far have been a letdown but its an enjoyable game to try and go as fast as possible in (like Sonic the Hedgehog where most enemies are to be ignored).
I love the pixel art and the humor. You play a corpse animated by a sentient slime. There’s a story, but it is revealed in randomly generated rooms that add to the theme/ambiance of the game. It is all very background, but it adds up to be a pleasure.
I noticed on my periphery some hype for this game. Like Hollow Knight, it seems to have a lot of fans and a strong following. I personally feel Hollow Knight is better in every way, but Dead Cells does a better job of offering similar gameplay in a more bite-sized, arcade-esque fashion. It is perfect for Nintendo Switch.
I doubt I write a full review when I do get to where I feel comfortable stopping. I’d say if you generally enjoy this kind of game, then Dead Cells is another enjoyable entry in your personal library. Otherwise, it may be worth a shot to find out if this is the kind of game for you. Its challenging but I never feel like it is challenging in a deliberate or unfair way. I think it has great entry-level potential and it stands well on its own regardless of the reason you want to give it a shot.
Murf Versus 