Welcome to a new review at Gaming Coffee, this time I bring you "Curse of the Dead Gods" (COTG) a roguelike developed by Passtech Games and publisher Focus Home Interactive. It is currently available on Steam and has a lot of cool items. COTG is a title that mixes several genres and games that we have seen before, I would classify it as the union of Dead Cells, Hades and Slay the Spire. Basically and in summary, what we do is run in runs or scenarios until we die or (Dead Cells) reach the end to defeat a «boss» after advancing through a map with alternative paths (Slay the Spire). In order to enhance our adventure, the game has a great variety of "attributes", passives, weapons, buffs, relics, etc. that we will analyze later with what we can increasingly empower the protagonist (Hades), thus, do more damage, have better weapons, more life, etc. The game has several interesting mechanics, it is a lot of information perhaps to explain and understand or tell you, but once we repeat the levels several times, we begin to understand what it is about and how to carry out our adventure. We are going to go by parts since there are many things to touch that are relevant and do the title. Gameplay within the run illumination First of all, we will start in a dark level, so it is important to use the «Torch», the first item or weapon that we analyze and that will be part of our «inventory» (I put it in quotes because there is not actually an inventory with backpack but if weapons / accessories equipment that we will see later). The idea of ​​the torch is to illuminate the path. Why is it important to illuminate the path? Well, when setting fire we can see with the «LIGHT» hidden traps on the stage, which we would not see if we did not have the torch equipped in our hand. Something super important to mention here is that if we choose to strike, for example with our sword, the torch will be unequipped, therefore what must be done to maintain the «LIGHT» is to light certain places such as the «BRAZERS» that will keep the light illuminated. unless they are destroyed or hit by an enemy. Something interesting to note is that in the dark the damage received increases by 50%, so it will be vitally important to always keep the stage illuminated (whenever we can, we will see that there are curses that do not allow it), for this there is a indicator at the bottom of the screen to know if we are in the light or in the dark. Finally, and to close the lighting issue, we can set parts of the stage on fire such as poison clouds, explosive barrels, enemies, leaves or lianas, etc. to illuminate for short moments since there will not always be braziers, depending on the level we are at. We will see later that if we obtain certain curses they can harm us, there is one that is very annoying and makes our torch only reveal the traps but do not illuminate or set anything on fire, which in general creates big problems. Mobility Regarding mobility, we will have the possibility to dodge and block attacks, the "ACTION" of "DODGE" allows us to roll to one side or the other to avoid attacks or traps. Every time we activate the dodge we will consume a "STANDARD POINT" (located as white points under the character), if this runs out you will no longer be able to dodge, so to recover it we must stop attacking or dodging for a few seconds to reestablish it. The attack of either the torch, the main weapon, the secondary weapon or the two-handed weapon, will consume in most cases if (CHARGED ATTACK) the stamina is charged, for this we must bear in mind that it is not always good attack for attacking, and balance attack with defense calculating the endurance points we have. There are several "advanced combat" movements that we can carry out, if we hold down the main attack a "CHARGED ATTACK" can be activated, if we hold the secondary attack for a few seconds and release at the right moment we can make a "PERFECT SHOT" and if If we block at the ideal moment, we can take a "STOP ACTION" weakening the enemy and recovering two points of the resistance we have. Another option that the game allows is to perform "QUICK KILLS". After defeating an enemy, the quick kills counter is activated. Taking casualties we increase this counter and the amount of gold that enemies are dropping. The counter is refilled every time we hit an enemy, dodge or parry / block perfectly. If we receive damage, this counter will be reset, losing the bonus. Weapons As I mentioned quickly before, we have 3 types of weapons that can be equipped in the runs, the torch that will not be able to at least for what I played be modified by another item, the main weapon, the secondary weapon and a two-handed weapon. Each of these has its own "combo" that can be executed by pressing the same key several times, in the best Mortal Kombat style. We can also combine attacks of the main weapon style 3 times and 1 of the secondary one, and similar variations, to achieve attack the enemies from short or long distance as we need. All these aforementioned weapons can be melee or ranged, one of the good things about the title is that we can choose several times that we want to carry either for damage, for bonuses, because the weapon has a type of damage such as fire, electricity, poison, etc. or because it simply suits us for a combo. Relics Relics are objects that will give us passives and we can buy or exchange them at altars in exchange for offerings of gold or blood. These objects can be obtained and activated by adding them to the inventory, in addition, the maximum that the game allows is 6 and if we find another we can choose to replace any of the previous ones. Corruption As the name of the game indicates, it has corruption, it is measured with a "CORRUPTION COUNTER" located in the lower right corner of the screen. Every time we complete a level and pass the final door we will gain corruption. This counter that we mentioned has 5 indicators, when the bar is filled, that indicator will light one of them, which will leave us "CORRUPT" and when we cross the next door we will be "DAMNED". Being cursed, basically is the assignment of curses to our character, providing modifiers of the basic rules of the game and that last until the game ends. This is very wide from urns that do not contain gold and are full of blood and that blood generates corruption, that the enemies are hidden when being in the shadows, that when suffering damage we obtain hallucinations, etc. The problem with this mechanic is that, as I mentioned, when you reach the fifth indicator, you will get a very difficult curse to carry, which will seriously jeopardize your chances of winning. Map Every time we finish a level we can access the «MAP», in addition to receiving curse points, which we will talk about later. The map allows us to see the reward of the following areas that we can access (Slay the Spire). This leaves us a certain "advantage" available to choose if we want to go for gold, weapons, weapon upgrades, relics, attributes, healing, challenges or "unknown" (random event of those mentioned). When we choose weapons, relics or attributes, at the end of the level we will have to make an "OFFERING" to the gods on the altars, to obtain one of the three gifts they offer you. These gifts basically depend on what we choose as mentioned above, so we will find 3 weapons, 3 relics or 3 attributes. Here there are certain mechanics that the game offers us and that is quite good, these objects that we can choose can be bought with "GOLDEN OFFERING" (paying with gold) or with "BLOOD OFFERING" getting the item but receiving corruption. In addition to this, as we progress through the title, we can unlock "DIVINE FAVORS", these favors allow us to "re-roll" the objects we obtain, in this way we can be lucky to get something better than what that we see when entering the altar. Attributes The attributes are powers of the dead gods and improve the attributes that we have during the game. There are three types of points: Constitution, Dexterity and Perception. The constitution points increase the maximum health of our character, the skill points increase the basic damage of the weapons and the perception points increase the gold we receive and the chances that enemies will drop objects when defeating them. The interesting thing about all this is that in the altars there will be an option that almost always mixes two of these points in a single purchase, so if we have enough gold or make an offering of blood, we can take two bonuses together, obtaining two bonuses in just one moment. Bosses / Heads Although we will talk about it a little later, the bosses or bosses can be chosen since we can choose certain "levels" that we want to do from outside the runs. These Bosses each have special mechanics, from one that throws lightning and summons storms, to another that summons animals that will attack us. The important thing is that each Boss has its own mechanics, they are not crazy or have combat phases, in fact I think they are quite simple, what's more, if we manage to buff life during the game it is very likely that even while standing still and receiving constant damage let's win the same. This is something that I think they should change, as I say including boss phases or something additional that makes it a little more complicated, it lacks that difficulty that is felt in Dead Cells for example, every time we reach a Final Boss. By defeating a Boss or Final Boss, we will obtain "CRYSTAL SKULLS", "JADE RINGS" and "EMBLEMS" which we will talk about later. Gameplay out of the run Underworld Once we eliminate the Final Boss or lose our lives, we will reach the Underworld. This place is between life and death, where the dead gods rest. There will be several things to do here and it is where we can take advantage of the use of our rewards as we collect them level after level. All improvements unlocked from the underworld are permanent and are preserved after dying, it is the typical scenario where we will unlock objects, passives, etc. to modify and improve our character for future runs. To make these improvements, we will have to invest our crystal skulls in blessings or weapon altars and jade rings in abandoned weaponry. Blessings The blessings are powers of the dead gods, they are very powerful and are "PASSIVE ABILITIES" that will help you during the following explorations or runs that we carry out. They can be unlocked using crystal skulls and we can see what each one does without having to buy them. These passives can be equipped up to 3 and are modifications that improve our chances of survival, give us more damage in certain conditions, gold or attributes when starting a new map. Abandoned Weaponry Another option that we will find in the underworld is the "abandoned weapons", this section lets us go unlocking with jade rings weapons that we do not have so far. There are a wide variety of options to choose from here, from super powered weapons with special powers, chromatic knives that can shoot fire, lightning or poison, etc. The possibilities are endless, the good thing about all this is that we can read what those weapons are and choose them before spending the points by spending them randomly. Weapon Altars Weapon Altars are locations in the main room that must be re-established little by little to find equipment before starting an exploration or a new map. This restoration is usually very expensive and requires a lot of crystal skulls, however it gives us the possibility of receiving better weapons to start super equipped in the runs. The maximum amount of altars that we can unlock is 4, we can also increase their power to get better things if we have the resources to do so. As I mentioned before, this section is one of the most expensive in the entire game, but I understand that it is because if we get a too powerful weapon we hardly start playing, the game loses all grace, and the combat mechanics to dodge or block would lose their importance. Emblems The emblems are very important for the game, as we pass or complete certain levels they will give us "x" amount of emblems. What these objects do is unlock us and allow us to access weapons that were blocked and we cannot exchange for previously jade rings, blessings with skulls or maps that request a certain specific amount of emblems. The emblems are unlocked automatically according to the amount we have of locked weapons, blessings, or new maps, we do not have to exchange them manually as we do with the other objects. The good thing about all this is that we access a variety of new levels with different bosses, different designs and new mechanics. In addition, the game offers us daily "events" that with certain specific characteristics present unique levels and that we must pass to get extra skulls or jade rings without having to repeat the levels that we have previously passed thousands of times. History Well we come to a section which I think is a problem for the game, the title has a minimal, very basic story of an explorer who enters a cave and is cursed. The truth is that I expected much more from the story part of the game, it is a pity that they have invested so much time and different things in this title without being able to add story content that nurtures and develops COTG better. Perhaps with some future update or update they can provide some history content to users, completing it would be a magnificent game full of things, with much to see and discover, for the moment I feel it incomplete and that although it has many elements I do not finish closing. Sound and Graphics At the graphic design level, the title behaves in an excellent way, those comic-style designs that we have seen in other games like HADES with highlighted black edges, the work behind each stage to make it feel "alive" is extraordinary. There are many details behind each level that we pass, from lianas on the walls, vessels, sand, earth, bones, etc. Each level has its own personality, and depending on the map we choose to fight, it will be identified with something specific, just as we have a classic Indiana Jones-style map in a crypt or temple to a map with poison in the best Diablo style. Regarding the sound and music of the game, at the sound level it seems to me that it exceeds my expectations, this theme of being in a temple, with a certain echo in the background, the noise of the fire, of the sword when brandishing it, is excellent, a very delicate next to the graphic section to achieve that enveloping sensation that we players love so much. As for the music, well, it is a subject to improve as much as the history section, I do not think it is something fundamental and super necessary to make it a 10-point title, but it is true that it is conspicuous by its absence. This is more due to the amount of things that happen on the screen like explosions, blows, etc., where it really goes to the third plane, but hey is something that is missing and that they could incorporate later. Conclution Curse of the Dead Gods is a roguelike game that mixes the best of various games like Dead Cells, Slay the Spire, and Hades. It is a title where as adventurers we will be cursed and we will have to defeat different Bosses on different maps to unlock improvements in our character. At the playability level, the game shines, it has many elements together from various games like the ones I mentioned at the beginning. From being able to dodge, block or perform combos to our enemies, to the possibility of obtaining corruption and damaging the game by not taking care of it. It is a unique title, with elements rarely seen together, that make a great result and a very entertaining title. The problem lies in the story and the content that the game does not have to supplement or fuel the repetition of dying or completing a level, unlocking passives and trying again to continue unlocking things. The reality is that over time the repetition makes it monotonous and boring, because all you have to do is keep killing to get more skulls and jade rings to unlock passives again, there are no hidden powers like in Dead Cells or long-term goals, causing the game to lose points. Despite all this, Curse of the Dead Gods is a great roguelike adventure title, a very difficult game experience to play and learn, but totally fun, complete at the gameplay level but with some problems from the story and the elements that make it up. surround.