Hello, explorers! Everyone here at Passtech Games are absolutely thrilled to launch Curse of the Dead Gods on PlayStation 4 tomorrow! We know our soul-corrupting, trap-avoiding, monster-slaying roguelite can be challenging, so we’ve assembled these seven essential tips to help you take your first steps into the twisting darkness of the Temple.
Seek the light
The walls of the Temple writhe under the shadows cast by your trusty torch. Most areas you traverse in Curse of the Dead Gods are filled with groups of enemies and traps hiding in the dark, so make sure to seek sources of light, or create your own by setting fire to braziers, cobwebs, or even enemies before equipping your weapons to fight. Remember: fighting in the dark will cause you to take more damage from every attack. The icon at the bottom center of your screen indicates if you’re fighting in the light or in the dark.
Explore your surroundings
Exploration is key to a successful run in Curse, despite the many dangers that lurk in the shadows. Maximize the amount of gold, weapons, and mystical relics that you find by searching everywhere, and keeping an eye out for hidden rooms. The risk is always worth the reward.
Play with traps
Traps can be deadly, but they will kill enemies too. Scout your surroundings to see what’s available, then push creatures into spikes and poison streams, lure them near a flame-spewing statue, or find other ways to utilize your environment. There are many ways to be creative in combat.
Manage your stamina
If you’ve played a lot of action RPGs, you’ll be familiar with the stamina mechanic. Little white pips under your character represent your stamina, and managing it is key to staying alive. Stamina is drained by performing combo finishers, ranged attacks, two-handed attacks, and dodging. Balance offense and defense, and keep some stamina in reserve, or you may not be able to avoid damage at a crucial moment. A perfectly timed dodge restores one stamina, and there are weapons and relics hidden throughout the Temple that can boost it, too.
Practice your parry
The parry is an extremely effective combat tool, for those who can master it. Tap the parry button just as an enemy strikes to deflect their attack, stagger them, and weaken their defenses. It even works on projectile attacks, does not cost any stamina, and restores two stamina, if successful. The timing can be difficult, but practice on enemies which attack patterns you know, or equip a shield to increase the window in which a parry will be successful.
Manage your corruption
Before the Temple takes your life, it might take your soul. The purple curse bar at the bottom right of your screen is your corruption. Taking damage from certain attacks, offering your blood to a shrine instead of gold to get bonuses, or entering a new room corrupts your soul: reach 100 corruption, and you’ll be inflicted with a random curse. Many curses are a double-edged sword, putting a twist on some gameplay mechanics. For example, one curse causes enemies to explode upon death: this forces you to be more careful, but you can also use the explosion to set off a chain reaction on the enemies. It’s up to you to let your greed for power kill or save you: the more corrupted you become, the more you will find powerful cursed weapons and relics… But reach five curses, and your life will start to slowly deplete. You can remove one of your curses by defeating a champion, but that may only delay the inevitable…
Unlock Blessings and weapons
When you die in Curse of the Dead Gods, you’ll lose all the weapons, relics, and gold you were carrying. Fortunately, you do keep treasures like Jade Rings and Crystal Skulls you’ve collected in a run. Crystal Skulls can be exchanged for permanent, powerful blessings that provide useful bonuses and effects. They allow you to create your own build, with great synergies, so make sure to experiment to find new powerful combinations. Jade Rings are used to unlock new weapons that you may find as you explore the Temple. Look for treasure chests in every dark corner for a chance to find your new weapons.
We hope these tips serve you well, Explorers. We believe you are ready to face the depths of the Temple, so grab your torch and weapon, and take the plunge. The Gods of Wonder await you…