Dead Cells officially launched in 2018 on a plethora of platforms after reaching its 1.0 status. Most developers would have moved on to make another game by now as it has been five years. However, Motion Twin seems dedicated to this game, unlike a lot of other developers who work on roguelikes.
The wild thing is that it seems to be working. Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is the latest expansion to this smash indie hit. Many of the best beginner tips can be transferred over from the core game, but there are some new things to go over too. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to get a refresher every now and again.
1 How To Access Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania
The biggest question on the minds of players is probably how to access the content. Every DLC pack that has come before it was integrated into the core experience and the same is true for Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania.
That said, players do not need to beat the core game, or any of the other DLC to get started. In the prison section, Richter Belmont will be waiting. Players simply need to find him and he should point out the way to Dracula’s Castle.
2 Does It Play Differently?
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania plays exactly the same as every other piece of content in the core game. Players will always begin in the prison and will be able to select a few weapons and other items before moving on to the roguelike action.
There is one exception to this rule in that there is a secret mode in the DLC entitled Richter Mode. If players are able to set that up, they will be able to play as the legendary Belmont warrior. He plays differently from the nameless undead hero though. Dead Cells shifts to a more familiar Castlevania play style for extra nostalgia for this beloved Konami series.
3 What’s New?
This is the fourth batch of DLC for Dead Cells following The Bad Seed, Fatal Falls, and The Queen and the Sea. There is nothing major in this new DLC that will change things dramatically. Richter Mode is a cool new way to play but players will be doing the same core content as the rest of the DLC.
There are new areas such as Dracula’s Castle which are filled with classic Castlevania enemies like the weird fish monsters. The music also returns with new remixes. There are other cameos besides Richter in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania too as well as plenty of weapon blueprints, Easter Eggs, and so much more. It’s a short but sweet ride into nostalgia town.
4 Progress Saves Between Areas
For those that don’t remember, this game saves in-between areas. So, for example, if players make it to the upgrade room after the prison, the game will checkpoint there. As long as the screen transitions and loads into a big new area, players are safe.
The overall point is that players do not have to beat Dead Cells or this new DLC in one endless run to the finish line. If things are starting to get too much, they can take a break. That is the golden rule of roguelikes even though they can be hard to put down.
5 You Can Get Alucard’s Shield
Players can meet Alucard in Dracula’s Castle on the way to the throne room in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania. Waking him up will result in Alucard being the new guide ahead of Richter. Alucard will give updates throughout the castle and back at the prison if players die. There is a secret behind his coffin too that some may miss.
Players can get his shield, which should start with decent stats. The reflection on it is quite good and it usually does a considerable amount of damage for a shield as well. The basic tip is to explore every inch of these new areas for secrets like this.
6 Grinding For Cells
As a reminder, Cells are the big blue orbs that are used to buy permanent upgrades in-between dungeons areas of the game. Some of the aforementioned new pieces of gear include the Bible and the Throwing Axe weapons from the Castlevania series. One of the coolest new weapons can be obtained after defeating Death.
Players should aim to unlock his scythe as soon as possible in the upgrade area. Also, whenever a new costume blueprint unlocks, they should grab one of those too. Players should be able to get their hands on Maria’s costume in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania fast enough. Playing as her won’t change the gameplay but it will at least allow players to feel more like they are playing a real Castlevania game.
7 The Assist System Still Works
Besides the four DLC packs, Motion Twin has been updating the game for free in multiple areas too. One of the more recent updates within the past year or two added some assist features. Players jumping back into Dead Cells for the first time just for the Castlevania content may not realize these options are there.
Players can reveal the map which is a huge upgrade. They can also reduce enemy health and how much damage enemies deal. If this new DLC or the overall game is giving players trouble, it wouldn’t hurt to check these assist options out in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania.
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania was released on March 6, 2023, and is available on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.