21 Q Review - Dead Cells (The Bad Seed DLC)
Who made Dead Cells Bad Seed DLC?
The original game was made by Motion Twin, while the Bad Seed DLC was made by a different studio called Evil Empire.
Is Bad Seed Indie?
Yes, both Motion Twin and Evil Empire are small independent studios
How long has it been in development?
According to the creative director at Evil Empire, Bad Seed has been in development for over 8 months. This is why Motion Twin expanded their studio by creating Evil Empire. This enables Motion Twin to focus on the next project while Evil Empire can focus on support and updating Dead Cells.
What Genre is it?
The Bad Seed DLC doesn’t change the game play drastically other than adding a few new layers to mastering your combat skills. Dead Cells is still a rogue-vania in the words of the developers.
What’s new in the Bad Seed?
The Bad Seed features a range of new content, two new areas, completely new weapons and new enemies being the noteworthy additions. A new weapon and how it interacts with the rest of your build is enough to make a run feel fresh.
Do I need to play the original?
No, you don’t because what makes Dead Cells so good is that every run is different. Different paths lead different places and some runs you won't encounter any of the new content, but when you do it’s always a fun surprise. It’s what makes each run feel unique
How much is it?
If you already own the game it’s only 4.99. If you haven’t bought the game yet, there is no better time than now to jump in as you can get the bundle on sale for around 30.
What platform is it on?
It’s everywhere but there is a collectors edition limited to ten thousand copies between the switch and the PS4. It’s called the prisoners edition and it features a physical copy of the game, code for the dlc, vinyl soundtrack, 8 inch action figure, keychain, numbered certificate and a few other goodies. This will cost $110 but if you are itching to play the game this version won’t be out until June
Is it on GamePass?
Yes, the base game and Rise of Giants is on GamePass but if you want to purchase the bad seed you’ll have to pay extra for that.
Is there any more planned dlc?
Yes, Motion Twin has said that some will be free and some will be charged to help keep the lights on. Rise of the Giants DLC that was released in 2019 was free and another free DLC is coming soon ish according to the team.
Does it look good?
Dead Cells has always had a retro 16 bit look and while none of that has changed here the new biomes that you can venture into including the swamp and the arboretum add a new palette that helps keep things from getting stale. This is crucial when playing a rogue-vania like this
Does it control well?
One of Dead Cells greatest strengths is how precise the controls were and how learning the rhythm between them was the key to success. In Bad Seed, you gain a new weapon that takes up both weapon slots which adds a complete new layer of skill and control to master
How long is The Bad Seed?
Putting a time frame on a game like Dead Cells defeats their purpose. The Bad Seed won’t add finite hours to the game but does add two completely new areas for you to master, learn the enemies and collect blueprints on your way to collecting everything.
Does it have technical issues?
I have been playing on Switch in both docked and handheld and haven’t experienced any technical issues. The game still looks great with solid frame rate with and feels great with super tight controls.
Is it worth playing again if I have played it before?
A new weapon and how it interacts with the rest of your build is enough to make a run feel fresh. The same can be said for adding a new level that changes the path you take towards the end game. If you have played this game before but put it down then you should jump back in for another run or two. The game has received many updates which makes the early game feel more accessible.
Is it couples friendly?
I think the game could be played together with your significant other. You could pass the controller between runs which could last over an hour. You could also pass the controller between the different biomes. Challenge mode is short and sweet and has a time limit so you could have some friendly competition while keeping time between playing the game minimal.
Is it family friendly?
I don’t think Dead Cells lends itself to playing with your family as there is a lot of violence, a bad turn of events on a run can be frustrating and it’s only single player. However if you’re kids are old enough it’s a heck of a game and the violence is fantasy based.
Does it have replay value?
A rogue lite is always a good idea to play over and over again. Dead Cells has tweaked that formula where the amount of variables at play during any run makes it feel different.
What’s the best part about Bad Seed?
Dead Cells was such a great game in the first place that having any reason to go back is great. One item or new area affects the whole play through which makes the bad seed a worthy edition to an already excellent foundation.
What’s the worst part about Bad Seed?
Depending on which direction you take from the start you could do a full run without seeing anything new from the Bad Seed. Luckily, Dead Cells is such a fantastic game that playing the original content for an hour doesn’t feel wasted or boring. It also makes the encounters with the new content feel much more special as opposed to being forced on you.
Do you recommend it?
On the basis that you already own the game, it’s well worth the additional 5 bucks to get a slew of new content if you didnt complete it. If you don’t own Dead Cells or haven’t played it, it’s even more worth your time and money. In its current state it’s been through early access and refined. It’s been in full release for over a year with multiple patches and now two DLC’s. The current state of the game today makes it worth your money.
19/21