‘Dead Cells’ (2017) PS4 Review

The success of 2D action/platformers of the eighties and nineties has inspired a lot of great games in the past decade or so. But none of them hits that perfect level of nostalgia and gameplay quite like Motion Twin’s Dead Cells. Check out the trailer to get a sense of what I am talking about. 

Dead Cells was developed by Motion Twin and is a Rogue-like, side scrolling, 2D action game. In Dead Cells, you play as a green ooze-like creature that possesses the corpse of a dead human so it can escape the prison that it is trapped in. Which makes sense since this is a Rogue-like, and you will die a lot. So each time you die, you possess another conveniently placed corpse left in the area where you started the game.

While the story for Dead Cells is a very simple one, that really isn’t the point. Dead Cells is all about the gameplay, which is some of the most fun I’ve had in awhile. The combat is probably the highlight for me, mainly because it is fast-paced and challenging. Not only that, but you also have a variety of weapons at your disposal. You can go in with twin daggers and make lightning fast attacks, go in slow with a huge hammer or broadsword and deal massive damage, or even use a bow to deal damage from afar.

Not only do you have a nice variety of weapons to use in Dead Cells, but you also have a plethora of tools and spell-like abilities you can use, like traps and freeze rays. Sometimes the weapons have their own special abilities that work on their own or deal extra damage in combination with other tools or abilities. The best part is figuring out different combinations of these to deal the utmost damage to your opponent. For example, I had a hammer that did massive damage when an enemy is frozen. It takes a lot of trial and error to figure out what works best for you, and in the process you will die….a lot.

Don’t let the fact that Dead Cells is a Rogue-like turn you away from this amazing game. Every single playthrough gets you a little further through each level. You can also purchase upgrades that will be available to you back at the beginning of the game. When you start back at the beginning, you will start to feel more powerful and the sense of progression will make you come back for more.

Now, let’s talk about the graphics. The retro 16-bit art style fits this type of game perfectly. The level design is beautifully rendered with a variety of eye popping colors from dank and dark sewers with flowing green acid to the tower tops that have a red and yellow sunset skyline. The enemy characters are also unique and have their own creative designs. This is how retro 2D games should look!

My Final Verdict:

Dead Cells is one of those games that will stand the test of time, from its retro 2D art style to its extremely addictive gameplay loop that keeps you coming back for more. Dead Cells is a lot of fun and is worth the purchase. It will be a top contender for my game of the year, and I cannot recommend this game enough. I played it on the PS4, but it is also available on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC.  You can get is from Amazon Here.