The custom mode is cheating

[jvliaaaaan]

I mean you can just pick what you want and like always have a perfect build, that is like cheating, or is it just me? And don't come with "you don't have to use it", i know that, but it is unfair that you can just use that and it still counts as a normal run

[Rathelm]

Game's pretty hard and what people were doing was starting new saves and not unlocking anything they didn't want showing up. Maybe you could argue that custom mode shouldn't allow you to remove the starting equipment, but the difficulty of the game is tuned around you building gear sets you like through custom mode so... shrug.

[bobhome2]

Well, that's a fine opinion to have, and as you mentioned, you don't have to use that mode at all.

It's also a single-player game, so it's really not important that other people play it differently from you. I've actually been playing the game with almost nothing unlocked in the Collector, partly to get used to certain weapons, and partly because I have preferences. Custom mode allows people who do the same to unlock anything with the Collector.

Let's say you want to practice using certain weapons, and you don't want the RNG to get in your way. Custom mode allows you to pick those particular items, so you can simply jump into the game. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

It's also important to note that achievements are locked if you make the game "too easy," so it seems the devs consider certain parts of it to be "unfair" too. So not every run can be "normal."

But, yeah, it's your opinion, and you totally don't have to use it. :)

[Ray G.]

Well, it's single player so you're free to use it however you want and whatever your conscience says it's okay. Normal runs with everything unlocked are nearly impossible to complete at Nightmare and Hell difficulty because right now balance is pretty much screwed up and some deaths are so unfair that makes me want to play Dark Souls with no armor on to cope. Those who can complete normal runs are basically gods of this game and I tip my hat to them, but for the rest of us mortals there's custom mode.

[Gem of Temporarity]

Originally posted by JulianSan:

it still counts as a normal run

if you castrate it completely it doesn't

[LOUnatic]

So do what us old school players did....make a second save file and only unlock what you want.

[nightshift]

I agree with the OP, it can be considered more like cheating than not.
Random equipment is part of the challenge, you have to make do with what the game throuws at you. But there's a lot of other things too. Like the fact that you can set up to refill your potion completely between levels even at higher difficulties is plain cheating. 3 BC means no potion refills at all (excluding shops). No wonder you won't get achievements.
It's maybe only good for cell farming, but even experimenting should be on normal mode since that's when the game forces you to try out new things.

[LOUnatic]

Originally posted by nightshiftgamer:

I agree with the OP, it can be considered more like cheating than not.
Random equipment is part of the challenge, you have to make do with what the game throuws at you. But there's a lot of other things too. Like the fact that you can set up to refill your potion completely between levels even at higher difficulties is plain cheating. 3 BC means no potion refills at all (excluding shops). No wonder you won't get achievements.
It's maybe only good for cell farming, but even experimenting should be on normal mode since that's when the game forces you to try out new things.

But how does this affect YOU? If say I’m having a couple drinks and just feel like relaxing and farming cells for outfits/skins how does this affect YOU in any way? Just being gatekeeper-ish for the sake of it? It doesn’t impact achievements.....so don’t sweat it.

[jvliaaaaan]

Originally posted by sHAkE_zOOLA:

Originally posted by nightshiftgamer:

I agree with the OP, it can be considered more like cheating than not.
Random equipment is part of the challenge, you have to make do with what the game throuws at you. But there's a lot of other things too. Like the fact that you can set up to refill your potion completely between levels even at higher difficulties is plain cheating. 3 BC means no potion refills at all (excluding shops). No wonder you won't get achievements.
It's maybe only good for cell farming, but even experimenting should be on normal mode since that's when the game forces you to try out new things.

But how does this affect YOU? If say I’m having a couple drinks and just feel like relaxing and farming cells for outfits/skins how does this affect YOU in any way? Just being gatekeeper-ish for the sake of it? It doesn’t impact achievements.....so don’t sweat it.

It is just, you have to do something harder for the same outcome that some one else has, because it feels like cheating for you, for example, there is something you can buy to re-roll shops, but with custom mode, that is just pointless, just set up what you want

[LOUnatic]

So......if its pointless.......then why are we talking?

[Phirestar]

I don’t know about cheating, but it certainly runs counter to the idea of a roguelite, where you have to adapt your strategy to the tools that you’re given. While it may add variety, it does also further dilute what type of game Dead Cells wants to be.

It makes me wonder what the game would’ve been like if Motion Twin had scraped the roguevania idea and instead just built a full-on metroidvania, in more of a Salt and Sanctuary style.

[nightshift]

Originally posted by sHAkE_zOOLA:

Originally posted by nightshiftgamer:

I agree with the OP, it can be considered more like cheating than not.
Random equipment is part of the challenge, you have to make do with what the game throuws at you. But there's a lot of other things too. Like the fact that you can set up to refill your potion completely between levels even at higher difficulties is plain cheating. 3 BC means no potion refills at all (excluding shops). No wonder you won't get achievements.
It's maybe only good for cell farming, but even experimenting should be on normal mode since that's when the game forces you to try out new things.

But how does this affect YOU? If say I’m having a couple drinks and just feel like relaxing and farming cells for outfits/skins how does this affect YOU in any way? Just being gatekeeper-ish for the sake of it? It doesn’t impact achievements.....so don’t sweat it.

It doesn't affect me when others use god-mode. None at all. But that was not the question.
Is it cheating despite me not being affected? Can a bank robbery for example still considered a crime when it's not my money that's missing? Yes.
It's simple as that. While this does not cause any harm to others - same can be said for using invulnerability-mode in a game. Do what you want, but it's still cheating.

Custom mode was basically made for the increased demand of a certain type of players who thought that it is unfair to be hindered in a run due to not having their favourite gear all the time.
This is a mechanic that further meant to add to the challenge and promote the approach to try out new items and combinations. Still some of us did not understand why luck should play ANY role in a rougelite and Motion Twin made the mistake to give in instead of holding on to their vision.
Use it if you wish, but your experience will certainly suffer due to it, especially in the long run.

[LOUnatic]

The bank robbery example is a big time swing and a miss. Banks being robbed are federally insured so yes you as a tax payer are affected. Also banks getting robbed forced banks to up their security investments which takes up fees across the market.

But seriously, why are you upset? Are you upset because you got the flawless achievements before custom mode and upset others will now get them without making a second save slot with only the gear they like?

I mean I got the beat the game with cursed sword achievement when conjinctivius was the final boss. Are you upset with me too?

[nightshift]

Originally posted by sHAkE_zOOLA:

The bank robbery example is a big time swing and a miss. Banks being robbed are federally insured so yes you as a tax payer are affected. Also banks getting robbed forced banks to up their security investments which takes up fees across the market.

But seriously, why are you upset? Are you upset because you got the flawless achievements before custom mode and upset others will now get them without making a second save slot with only the gear they like?

I mean I got the beat the game with cursed sword achievement when conjinctivius was the final boss. Are you upset with me too?

I'm not upset about anything. Anyone can ruin their own game the way they like.
I do wanted to point out that just because others are not affected by someone cheating in a single player game - it is still considered cheating. Someone brought up the topic, I just highlighted the bad reasoning you did and explained why it is wrong. That is all.
Bank robbery whatever, I could use simple theft if that helps, but seeing you bringing up federal reserves and whatnot (which is another bad reasoning on your part - you know even if no money is harmed it is still a crime right?) makes me think that you're intentionally avoid to get my point.

[LOUnatic]

So what if I use custom mode to make the game HARDER? like if I want to make ALL food carry malaise, or start with zero gold, or make it so that I cant use recycle? Still cheating?

[nightshift]

Making the game harder by the custom mode is not cheating. Making it easier by the custom mode is. Obviously. I thought this was never in question.


I consider these alterations cheating, that is how I feel about them. I'm not judging people when they use them, but there's no need to lie about it. Do I consider it cheating? Yes.
Cheat code or - as it is in this game - a built-in cheat system, it doesn't make a difference.
Mods that makes you take half damage, or make you do double damage... they are mods, a much more sophisticated way of cheating - still cheating. Just happen to be in a different form, point is the same.
I don't have a problem with them existing, since I still have the choice to not use them, but I am against them labelled as alterations or improvements to ease and cloud the mind. Things should be consedered in alignment of what they really are. Robbery is theft and defalciation also. It's not "creative accounting", it is still theft. Just as cheat codes and custom mode are both cheating. No problem for us if you or someone else do it, just please don't flatter yourself or others. Cheat in your game if you will, but do so while pretending otherwise - that's wrong.