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[Dead Cells] is a roguelite Castlevania

DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
https://youtu.be/Q1ZGq1mk1KM

DEAD CELLS is a platformer with randomized levels.
It isn't a metroidvania. The levels have branches off the main path, but there's no backtracking. There are a bunch of weapons and so far they all have a really satisfying heft to them. Comparisons to Dark Souls are kinda inevitable, with the whole "dropping your resources when you die" bit, but you can't just run to your body to recover them.

I'll post some more thoughts once I get some more time under my belt, but there is a lot of meat on these bones.

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Posts

  • GMaster7GMaster7 Goggles Paesano Registered User regular
    Hadn't heard about this game, but read the 9/10 review over on Polygon the other day, then watched the embedded video, and now I'm interested. It looks like a lot of fun to play.

    PSN: SKI2000G | Steam: GMaster7 | Battle.net: GMaster7#1842
  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    edited May 2017
    It feels good to play. The weapon animations are just really slick. There's an item I've gotten a few times that is basically an ice hadouken, and it might be my favorite non-damage weapon.

    Here's a few more things I've noticed that are non-obvious:
    • Enemies hit hard, but the damage dealt will flash yellow and slowly drain from your life bar. Any damage you deal will recover HP up to the point where the bar has fallen.
    • Weapons like bows that have limited ammo regenerate it over time
    • Spend all your Cells every time you meet the merchant. You lose them all when you die.
    • You don't need to have enough Cells on hand to unlock/upgrade an item. Just put what you have towards it.
    • Right stick move the camera. Useful for seeing down pits.
    • fffffffffffffffffffuck the mushroom enemies in the Sewer

    Delzhand on
  • MugsleyMugsley DelawareRegistered User regular
    I've watched multiple streamers play it and they have all praised it. I bought it via Bundle Stars for less than Steam (I think it's still available if you check soon). I haven't had a chance to play it yet but it has already leapfrogged past Bayonetta on my play list

  • Ratsult2Ratsult2 Registered User regular
    Delzhand wrote: »
    It feels good to play. The weapon animations are just really slick. There's an item I've gotten a few times that is basically an ice hadouken, and it might be my favorite non-damage weapon.

    Here's a few more things I've noticed that are non-obvious:
    • Enemies hit hard, but the damage dealt will flash yellow and slowly drain from your life bar. Any damage you deal will recover HP up to the point where the bar has fallen.
    • Weapons like bows that have limited ammo regenerate it over time
    • Spend all your Cells every time you meet the merchant. You lose them all when you die.
    • You don't need to have enough Cells on hand to unlock/upgrade an item. Just put what you have towards it.
    • Right stick move the camera. Useful for seeing down pits.
    • fffffffffffffffffffuck the mushroom enemies in the Sewer

    It is actually pretty clever what they do with bows. Every arrow you shoot, you get back. If you miss and hit a wall, it comes right back, if you hit an enemy, you don't get it back until they die. So if you spread the damage around, you need to clean up with another weapon... and it also means that you can't just sit back and fight a boss at range. The trade off is that they can make ranged weapons pretty strong, and you never have to worry about conserving ammo. It ends up being a good balance.

    Also, I'm pretty sure you have to spend all your cells at the merchant before you can move on.

  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    You can just break down the door. I barely even registered that doors could be opened without smashing them.

  • Vrtra TheoryVrtra Theory Registered User regular
    From the videos, this game looks pretty stellar. Hoping they are successful enough to do the OSX port.

    Are you a Software Engineer living in Seattle? HBO is hiring, message me.
  • MugsleyMugsley DelawareRegistered User regular
    The devs have some posts on Steam. They have fairly lofty goals for the game; and I hope they achieve as many of them as possible.

  • Descendant XDescendant X Skyrim is my god now. Outpost 31Registered User regular
    This is a pretty great game. I saw it being streamed on Twitch while at a bar with a friend, and as soon as I got home I bought it. This almost never happens. I'd really like to see it ported over to the Switch as well; this game would be fantastic on the go.

    Garry: I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time I'd rather not spend the rest of the winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!
  • MugsleyMugsley DelawareRegistered User regular
    Bars broadcast Twitch now? I'm not sure if this means I need to get out more, or less.

  • El FantasticoEl Fantastico Toronto, ONRegistered User regular
    edited May 2017
    I'm super interested in this game, but the "Early Access" tag has me a bit skeptical. I'm no stranger to early access games, and the majority I've bought into have been worth it. The fact that a game site even reviewed a game while it's in early access and still gave it a high score should say that this is a quality game. It just feels weird to even see a review for an early access game?

    If you're reviewing it, the game should be complete. If the game is fully complete (as in there is an ending) and the game is 95% all there, then why are the devs leaving it in early access?

    El Fantastico on
    PSN: TheArcadeBear
    Steam: TheArcadeBear

  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    The core gameplay, graphics, and sounds are present and finished. What's missing are things like achievements, progress tracking, story elements. Meta-stuff. I wouldn't say the game is "finished" without it, but it's not "buggy" or "broken" in any conventional sense.

  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    One of the coolest things about this game is it's pixel shader. I'm 90% sure that the player and enemies are animated 3d models, but rendered as sprites. Only it's in real time.

  • BasilBasil Registered User regular
    The game is beautiful, fo sho.

    9KmX8eN.jpg
  • GoodKingJayIIIGoodKingJayIII They wanna get my gold on the ceilingRegistered User regular
    Great design, everything looks beautiful in motion, and I like me a good SOTN-style game.

    I'll grab it when it's done, for sure.

    Battletag: Threeve#1501; PSN: Threeve703; Steam: 3eeve
  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    I'm gonna keep a cautious eye on this. I'm never universally down on Early-Access things, but I've learned enough to know that sometimes development reaches peaks early on and the hammering-down-details part is long and not interesting.

  • webberwebber Registered User regular
    I'm at 16 hours in the game and it's super good.

    The roll has to be one of my favorite dodge mechanics. It feels really well timed with later enemy attacks.

    This lucky penny is bullshit.
    Hearthstone - Webber #1330
    3DS: 0920-3235-4071
  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    webber wrote: »
    I'm at 16 hours in the game and it's super good.

    The roll has to be one of my favorite dodge mechanics. It feels really well timed with later enemy attacks.

    I got a pickup during a run today - I don't remember if it was an amulet or weapon - but it dropped a bomb whenever I rolled. It had fantastic synergy with my other items. I had the daggers that deal more damage from behind, so I'd freeze an enemy with ice grenades, roll behind them, and start stabbing. A lot of the time the bomb would just blow them right up. Made it all the way to the Ramparts that time.

  • webberwebber Registered User regular
    I just picked up the rapier today. That thing is the best weapon I have seen so far. Weapon spoiler in case people want to discover what it does on their own.
    It crits after you roll.

    This lucky penny is bullshit.
    Hearthstone - Webber #1330
    3DS: 0920-3235-4071
  • captainkcaptaink TexasRegistered User regular
    I haven't gotten rapier yet. Currently it's dual daggers, throwing knives, or electric whip exclusively. The shields all seem pretty bad in comparison.

  • Genji-GlovesGenji-Gloves Registered User regular
    Yeah it's pretty solid, like rogue legacy but more a Castle Vania feel.

    The electric whip is pretty good has some serious distance. Ice bombs are handy and the shields are pretty good, just unlocked the shield that when you parry it gives you a force shield for a couple of secs.

    Managed to get to the Ossuary and it's a lot harder than the ramparts for sure. Be good to see the full game when done if I have any complaints is the enemies need more variety.

  • SyzygySyzygy Registered User regular
    One thing that bugs me right now is focusing on an Item-strength build is ridiculously more effective than a weapon-strength build. Fighting elites is absolute horseshit with a weapon build thanks to the fact taht they can teleport directly to you instantly if you get too far away and they constantly spawn mini zombies that limit your ability to dodge around/through the elite. With items, if you can get a grenade + turret you can just climb halfway up a rope and keep tossing them out. The mini zombies can't get you and the elite can't attack you or teleport to you. Against all other enemies and bosses items basically give you incredibly huge range AND burst damage advantage (plus sustain DPS if you have a turret)

    It's not even that items are too good, the weapons just suck, especially in later levels when everything hits like a god damn truck and basic zombies can one shot you with a leap attack. Especially when you get hordes of them that prevent you from unleashing a full melee combo because you'll need to be constantly leaping and dodging to avoid the inevitable damage you'll take if you DON'T dodge and jump like a maniac. Items let me avoid doing most of that and unload their damage upfront in bursts, leaving me free to fuck off to a ledge where the enemies can't attack me and I can either cheese them to death or just wait out the cooldowns.

  • Descendant XDescendant X Skyrim is my god now. Outpost 31Registered User regular
    Mugsley wrote: »
    Bars broadcast Twitch now? I'm not sure if this means I need to get out more, or less.

    This was at a bar called EXP in Vancouver. It's kind of a dark hole-in-the-wall where the drinks are nerdy (I had a Nuka Cola Quantum). There are two other bars like it in Vancouver called the Stormcrow, but they're a little more fantasy-themed.

    Garry: I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time I'd rather not spend the rest of the winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!
  • ZxerolZxerol for the smaller pieces, my shovel wouldn't do so i took off my boot and used my shoeRegistered User regular
    I got to the graveyard a few times and difficulty spike there is pretty damn bad. No matter what kind of weapons/items I get or high my stats are, I always feel like I'm seriously outclassed and then three-shotted.

    Also shout outs to Old Sewers, which wouldn't be that bad except for those god damn spike fungis which makes the place a nightmare.

  • ZxerolZxerol for the smaller pieces, my shovel wouldn't do so i took off my boot and used my shoeRegistered User regular
    edited May 2017
    edit: oops double post my bads
    Syzygy wrote: »
    One thing that bugs me right now is focusing on an Item-strength build is ridiculously more effective than a weapon-strength build. Fighting elites is absolute horseshit with a weapon build thanks to the fact taht they can teleport directly to you instantly if you get too far away and they constantly spawn mini zombies that limit your ability to dodge around/through the elite. With items, if you can get a grenade + turret you can just climb halfway up a rope and keep tossing them out. The mini zombies can't get you and the elite can't attack you or teleport to you. Against all other enemies and bosses items basically give you incredibly huge range AND burst damage advantage (plus sustain DPS if you have a turret)

    It's not even that items are too good, the weapons just suck, especially in later levels when everything hits like a god damn truck and basic zombies can one shot you with a leap attack. Especially when you get hordes of them that prevent you from unleashing a full melee combo because you'll need to be constantly leaping and dodging to avoid the inevitable damage you'll take if you DON'T dodge and jump like a maniac. Items let me avoid doing most of that and unload their damage upfront in bursts, leaving me free to fuck off to a ledge where the enemies can't attack me and I can either cheese them to death or just wait out the cooldowns.

    yeah, elite mobs are bullshit, especially since the rewards you get for fighting them are not nearly worth the effort, and later levels pretty much demand a lot of cheese to effectively get through. It's not terribly excellent in that regard.

    Still a lot of fun though, and early access and all that.

    Zxerol on
  • SyzygySyzygy Registered User regular
    Yeah, they just need to tone enemy damage scaling the fuck down in the later levels. I should not be getting one shot by the same regular zombie from the prisons, especially after 4 health upgrades.

  • captainkcaptaink TexasRegistered User regular
    How do you fight the big sword swinging guys that appear late in the sewers, like, at all?

  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    captaink wrote: »
    How do you fight the big sword swinging guys that appear late in the sewers, like, at all?

    I got to that thing once and it one-shotted me. No fucking clue.

  • webberwebber Registered User regular
    captaink wrote: »
    How do you fight the big sword swinging guys that appear late in the sewers, like, at all?

    Roll, two hits, roll, two hits, roll, and final two hits.

    Or cheese them with a good ranged weapon.

    If you jump slam them, they get stunned too.

    This lucky penny is bullshit.
    Hearthstone - Webber #1330
    3DS: 0920-3235-4071
  • MugsleyMugsley DelawareRegistered User regular
    I watched a streamer who got to fairly late game. He had an item that puked out little pink blob duders that just chomped down everything. Between that and a turret, he didn't have much actual combat.

    Also, if you guys want to keep the devs iterating, I suggest you send in suggestions/criticism to give them some direction. There's also a chance they've already addressed your concern and it'll be fixed in a later build.

  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    Mugsley wrote: »
    I watched a streamer who got to fairly late game. He had an item that puked out little pink blob duders that just chomped down everything. Between that and a turret, he didn't have much actual combat.

    Also, if you guys want to keep the devs iterating, I suggest you send in suggestions/criticism to give them some direction. There's also a chance they've already addressed your concern and it'll be fixed in a later build.

    I looked at the suggestion forum and it's all full of stupid-ass nonsense like "god moves and limit breaks"

    which admittedly put me off from engaging in that community

  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    Meat Grinder is love. Meat Grinder is life.

    I got all the way to the Black Bridge with Meat Grinder IV and Grenade II, and only level 2 skills.

    In particular, Meat Grinder is the cure for those Mushrooms in the sewers.

  • MugsleyMugsley DelawareRegistered User regular
    Hm. Do they not have anything like a suggestion/feedback email address?

  • Genji-GlovesGenji-Gloves Registered User regular
    Best run so far.

    Made it through a bundle of levels, electric whip, blood shield, meat grinder and biters. Dps stacking combo.

    Any one looking to make some decent money I would recommend going promenades>ramparts>bridge

    Blocking is great and just as handy rolling. Blood shield was stacking bleed per parry on every enemy on screen.

  • Beef AvengerBeef Avenger Registered User regular
    edited May 2017
    Got to the end of the early access content. It's actually surprisingly short, mostly the difficulty giving the game it's playtime length right now. Hopefully there's a lot left to be added.

    Electric whip + damage buff spell is probably the best combo right now. Damage buff is a flat increase, not percentage, so a super high speed long range weapon like the electric whip just melts things with it

    Beef Avenger on
    Steam ID
    PSN: Robo_Wizard1
  • FiskebentFiskebent DenmarkRegistered User regular
    edited May 2017
    I just had my best run so far. I got both the teleportation rune and beat the bridge boss. I made it as far as the graveyard before I died.

    Really enjoying this game and looking forward to what they add to it.

    Fiskebent on
    steam_sig.png
  • captainkcaptaink TexasRegistered User regular
    Fiskebent wrote: »
    I just had my best run so far. I got both the teleportation rune and beat the bridge boss. I made it as far as the graveyard before I died.

    Really enjoying this game and looking forward to what they add to it.

    High five, I just did (almost) the same.

    I died to an Elite version of one of those axe-throwing guys.

    I really don't think the Elites need immortal minions on top of their increased health and damage.

  • captainkcaptaink TexasRegistered User regular
    I also figured out that you need to turn in the blueprint AND spend a few cells to unlock stuff. I was wondering why the blood sword etc. were never dropping.

    I unlocked 'random melee weapon to start'. It's great, except the game thinks the regular whip is a melee weapon? The regular whip is okay, but it's really tough to use as a primary weapon.

    I do wish you had a few bans or something you could use. Frost blast suuuuucks and it's always disappointing to see it pop out of chests.

  • DranythDranyth Surf ColoradoRegistered User regular
    edited May 2017
    Oh damn, I had a really damn good run earlier tonight. I think my HP was up to level 8, strength was 5 and skills were 4 or 5 by the end, I had one of the rapiers with the x2 damage dealt but x2 damage taken. But with 1500 hp and crits near 3k, I could get my health back pretty easily most of the time. I got all the way through the graveyard finally and hit the last boss apparently... got him to his last phase before I died. So damn close.

    Dranyth on
  • FiskebentFiskebent DenmarkRegistered User regular
    There are some neat touches in the game. I was in the old sewers and one of the worms got pushed down on a really small ledge. Then a little speech bubble popped up that said 'YOLO' just before it jumped off.

    steam_sig.png
  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User regular
    I have yet to clear a single challenge room. Something about the combination of time limit and unknown length makes me play more aggressively than usual. And I'm already have a fairly risky playstyle.

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