Infernax: Deux or Die Review: Two Heroes Makes For a Demonic Good Time

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since I last reviewed Infernax. I rather enjoyed the game the first time around but wasn’t sure what to expect from the latest DLC, Deux or Die. So I decided the best way to learn was by doing, and I spent a few hours with the updated adventure. The new content managed to balance the game in a novel way, with the addition of a new playable character, Cervul the Squire. And best of all, Infernax: Deux or Die is an entirely free update to the game on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles. Keep reading to discover why Deux or Die isn’t just mandatory gaming, but why this twisted tale is the best possible version of the game.

Now, before we begin in earnest, here is a quick reminder. As I spent a lot of time reviewing the base game already, I won’t be recapping everything. So instead, this Infernax: Deux or Die review will primarily focus on what’s new in the game. And in case that wasn’t already apparent from the subtitle, it’s all about Cervul the Squire. The update now lets you play Infernax in three different ways. You can still play it solo as Duke Alcedor, try local co-op with one player as Alcedor and the other playing Cervul, and finally can play a mode that lets one player alternate between the two characters on a whim. So no matter your preference, there’s an option for everyone now. And since Infernax wasn’t known as being the easiest game out there, I appreciated how Cervul’s addition helps things feel a bit more balanced.

There Is Another…

Let’s touch on how Cervul the Squire plays. Whereas Alcedor is a frontal attacker, getting up close and personal with his mace and occasionally casting magical spells from afar, Cervul is a very technical support character. His primary means of attack is tossing an endless stream of hatchets at foes. Cervul can lob them in a short arc or hurl them at a steeper angle. This means he’s very good at attacking enemies from below or a distance, but not so hot when they’re charging him. Those floating eyeball bastards take advantage of this weakness, so don’t be afraid to have Alcedor deal with any foes that get too close to his squire.

Besides hurling hatchets, Cervul has four different tools that completely change up the gameplay. These aren’t items found in dungeons like relics or spells, but instead can be learned at any time using experience points at save statues. They basically function as his version of magic and don’t cost anything other than time to reload them. Here are the tools in brief – wielding a giant shield with Pavise, which can be held in front of or above Cervul or placed on the ground; using Bandages to heal either character; holding a Banner aloft to make both characters move faster and jump farther; and fire a powerful Crossbow at foes. Each of these tools can be further upgraded using more experience points, and the upgrades really make each tool incredible. That said, by far, my favorite and most used tool was the Crossbow. When fully upgraded, it fires devastating horizontal bolts that pierce through adversaries and shreds weaker enemies.

As you can probably tell by now, Cervul’s talents are meant to compliment Alcedor, but not overshadow him. This is perfect for co-op but also very helpful for the mode where you alternate between the two. Lest you think it makes things too easy, let me assure you, it doesn’t. Not only do you face significantly larger hordes of foes when you tango with Cervul, but you’ll also find new traps to frustrate you in the devious dungeons. To help ease this added challenge, if one of the characters is killed, they can resurrect the other by saving the game. Or if you have purchased additional lives, you’ll both respawn if you manage to meet your untimely demise, which happened pretty frequently in the still irritating water dungeon.

Give In To The Darkness

Deux or Die also adds new dialogue, though most of the time, people will talk with Alcedor, not his lowly squire. I did appreciate how Cervul still shows up in the cinematic sequences and various quests. Speaking of which, there was one thing I really wanted to try out this time around. Infernax has a morality system, where your choices will put your characters on a path of good or evil. Since I was a goody-goody the first time, I went full villain in Deux or Die. And let me tell you, being evil takes some work. But by doing my best to do my worst, I was thankfully able to have both Alcedor and Cervul undergo a sinister transformation shortly after beating the third dungeon. While Alcedor isn’t all that different once on the path of evil, Cervul plays dramatically differently.

Who Needs Heroes?

For one thing, evil Cervul hurls explosives instead of hatchets. For another, his tools are totally changed up. He gets a Void Shield, which can absorb projectiles and fire them back as a laser beam; he trades his Crossbow for a Poison Dagger, which deals damage to foes over time; Bandages are replaced with the far more helpful Ichor Potion, which fully heals you but needs to be replenished at statues; and he can summon the hideous Oculoservitor, which spawns eyeballs to harass your foes. I have to say, it’s a ton of fun playing with the evil version of the characters, though both versions have their strengths and weaknesses. I also spent a hot minute trying out the Contra mode, and that’s a whole lot of overpowered fun. Enemies and bosses don’t stand much of a chance against rapid-fire mayhem, which is great if you need a break from Infernax handing you your butt on Classic.

Demonic Glory

Visually, Infernax: Deux or Die is just as amazing as the original. It’s still full of punchy, gory visuals, and there are new tweaks that keep things fresh. It’s mostly smaller visual details, but it shows the folks at Berzerk Studio are dedicated to their craft. Musically, things are mostly unchanged in Deux or Die, but that’s hardly a bad thing. The only thing new I noticed was some added musical tracks in Contra mode. Put together, the visuals and music in Infernax are still utterly fantastic.

Infernal Addiction

When I first reviewed Infernax, it nearly earned a perfect score, and I only held back because the difficulty may not be for everyone. But now that you can team up with a friend to take on hordes of demonic foes, I can’t relent any longer. Infernax: Deux or Die is truly the best version of this game, and I highly recommend everyone give it a shot. If you haven’t tried it yet, be sure and jump on it now that the enhanced version is finally here.

Final Verdict: 5/5

Available on: PC (reviewed), PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S; Publisher: The Arcade Crew; Developer: Berzerk Studio; Players: 1-2; Released: April 5, 2023; MSRP: Free DLC update

Editor’s note: The publisher provided a review copy to Hey Poor Player.