Acclaimed filmmaker and avid gamer Guillermo del Toro recently voiced a wish for a more forgiving experience in the challenging roguelike-metroidvania, Dead Cells. In an interview with IGN on July 29, del Toro explained that the game's core mechanic of respawning after death hindered his ability to explore and progress, particularly for what he termed "elderly players."
"Dead Cells was really interesting to me," del Toro stated, expressing his frustration with restarting runs. "I just hate respawning, because you only get about 35 levels and then you start again. You get faster, but please, do a version without respawning for the older, for the elderly players. I'm available. Contact me and send it to me, please. I beg you!"
Motion Twin, the game's developer, responded to del Toro's appeal the following day, highlighting that an Assist Mode already exists within Dead Cells. "We'd like to officially add this moment into our own personal Cabinet of Curiosities," the studio told IGN. "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! This mode lets you resurrect at the start of the current biome or closest checkpoint, rather than restarting the entire run."
The developer thanked del Toro for his "kind words" and expressed hope that this information would enhance his enjoyment of the game. Assist Mode was introduced in June 2022 as part of the version 2.9 update, also known as the Accessibility Update or Breaking Barriers Update. This patch brought a range of accessibility features designed to allow players to customize their gameplay experience. Beyond the respawn options, Assist Mode and other features introduced in version 2.9 include the ability to adjust incoming damage from enemies and traps, an auto-hit setting, and an expanded parry window. These options collectively offer a way to tailor the difficulty, effectively providing a less punishing experience akin to what del Toro described as a hypothetical "Alive Cells" instead of "Dead Cells."
Del Toro has had a notable presence in the video game industry in recent years. While his early work included unreleased projects in the 2000s and 2010s, his contributions are perhaps most recognized for his co-direction of the horror title P.T. alongside Hideo Kojima. He also made a physical appearance, though not a voice role, in Kojima Productions' 2019 title Death Stranding, where his likeness was featured.