In Death Squared, bots must escape a laboratory without unwittingly triggering traps and sending a companion to the scrapyard in the sky. Both characters must reach their respective portals to complete a stage.
Each level is a puzzle littered with hidden dangers. Traps are triggered by specific actions, so caution and strong communication are key to survival. Success often seems imminent before a level-ending surprise is activated, but respawns are instant. In Death Squared's laboratory, experimentation is encouraged.
Solving Death Squared's cunning puzzles means dodging hazards like hidden floor spikes, holocubes which shove bots off ledges and lasers capable of frying any bot of a different color. A keen eye isn't always enough; if a teammate moves without warning, the decision could cost them a friend and all progress on the stage.
The PlayStation 4 version will receive exclusive levels, robot skins and silly controller features to distinguish itself from the Xbox One release, which will have exclusive levels of its own.
"The reception to Death Squared has been amazing from groups of all sizes and skill levels," said Patrick Cook, lead designer, SMG Studio. "It's been a lot of fun to watch the many different groups of players approach our puzzles. Every team has its own dynamic. Strangers at conventions start high-fiving, couples have an equal share in a level's success. I think everyone can get behind comradery in the face of adversity."
Death Squared can be enjoyed by a single, two or four players, but the experience is at its best in multiplayer. Two bots can be split between two controllers or a duo can be put in the hands of one person, with each bot mapped to a separate joystick on the controller. Four-player opens a whole new set of levels, designed for a larger group and chaos.
Brimming with high-tech hazards, Death Squared's sleek hosting facility builds its trials from suspended cubes, using vibrant colors to highlight interactive objects and puzzle mechanics.
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