Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro recently shared his thoughts on the popular roguelite-metroidvania game Dead Cells, expressing a desire for a version without respawns. In response, developer Motion Twin has directed the filmmaker to the game's existing Assist Mode, which offers customizable options to ease the difficulty.
Del Toro, known for his work on films like Pan's Labyrinth, described Dead Cells as an "interesting" game but voiced his dislike for its respawn mechanic. "I just hate respawning, because you only get about 35 levels and then you start again," he stated in an interview. He humorously requested a respawn-free version for "older, elderly players," even offering to be contacted with such a release.
Motion Twin acknowledged del Toro's praise and addressed his request in a statement. "We are surprised and truly honored to see that Mr. del Toro is a Dead Cells player, and we can even help him right now: there is an Assist mode in the game!" the developer shared. They explained that this mode allows players to resurrect at the start of the current biome or closest checkpoint, rather than restarting an entire run.
First introduced in version 2.9, Dead Cells' Assist Mode provides players with a suite of options to customize their gameplay experience. Beyond altering respawn points, players can opt for slower trap activation, extended parry windows, and an auto-hit mode, among other adjustments. The developer concluded their message by thanking del Toro for his kind words and hoping the Assist Mode would be helpful.
Dead Cells, released in 2018, has been lauded for its contribution to the roguelite-metroidvania genre and continues to receive ongoing support from Motion Twin through updates and new content. The game has garnered critical acclaim, including a 9.5 out of 10 rating from IGN.