Curse of the Dead Gods: Critics praise the game's addictive loop

Curse of the Dead Gods is an action-packed indie game that has been receiving mixed reviews from critics. Released in February 2021, the game developed by Passtech Games and published by Focus Home Interactive has gained attention for its challenging gameplay and dark, atmospheric setting. **One of the main highlights of Curse of the Dead Gods** is its unique gameplay mechanics, which blend elements from various genres. The game offers a fast-paced and intense combat system, challenging players to make quick decisions and strategize their approach. Additionally, the game incorporates roguelike elements, such as procedurally generated levels and permadeath, adding a layer of replayability. While many critics appreciate the game's challenging nature and diverse combat options, others **criticize Curse of the Dead Gods** for its repetitive gameplay and lackluster story.

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In addition, many cameras have facial recognition capabilities and can cross-reference any citizen suspected of antisocial behavior or even the most minor offenses with an extensive database. The Phoenicians didn t invent wine evidence of it from about 8,000 years ago has been found in the country of Georgia but they spread winemaking throughout the ancient Mediterranean, along with olive oil and innovations such as the alphabet and glass.

While many critics appreciate the game's challenging nature and diverse combat options, others **criticize Curse of the Dead Gods** for its repetitive gameplay and lackluster story. Some argue that the game lacks variety in enemy encounters, with the same types of enemies appearing frequently throughout the levels. The limited range of weapons and abilities is also a point of contention for some critics.

2,600-year-old wine 'factory' unearthed in Lebanon

The oldest press found in the country was used by ancient Phoenicians to manufacture vintages once adored around the Mediterranean.

Archaeologists have unearthed new evidence of the extensive overseas trade in wine by the ancient Phoenicians, with the discovery of the oldest wine press in Lebanon.

The find sheds new light on winemaking by the Phoenicians, the seafaring merchants who introduced a culture of drinking wine throughout the ancient Mediterranean, and whose influence lives on in the beverage’s worldwide popularity.

Excavations at Tell el-Burak, about five miles south of the Lebanese coastal city of Sidon, have revealed the well-preserved remains of a wine press used from at least the seventh century B.C. It is the earliest wine press ever found in the Phoenician homelands, which roughly corresponded to modern Lebanon. The discovery is featured in a study published Monday in the journal Antiquity.

Large numbers of seeds show grapes were brought there from nearby vineyards and crushed by treading feet in a large basin of durable plaster that could hold about 1,200 gallons of raw juice.

The resulting “must” was collected in a large vat and stored in distinctive pottery jars known as amphorae for fermenting, aging, and transport. (Here's how climate change is changing the flavor of French wine.)

The wine press at Tell el-Burak. While Phoenicians spread wine culture across the ancient Mediterranean world, evidence for their local manufacturing efforts was scarce until now.

The wine press was excavated along with four mudbrick houses at Tell el-Burak, part of a Phoenician settlement inhabited between the eighth and sixth centuries B.C. that was probably devoted to making wine for trading overseas, the researchers write.

“Wine was an important Phoenician trading item,” says Hélène Sader, an archaeologist at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and co-director of the Tell el-Burak Archaeological Project. Phoenician wine from the Sidon region was particularly famous and mentioned in texts from ancient Egypt, she adds.

But little evidence of Phoenician winemaking had been found in Lebanon itself, possibly due to the haphazard nature of archaeological excavations.

“The coast of Lebanon was never thoroughly surveyed, and very few sites with Iron Age [Phoenician] remains have been properly excavated,” Sader says.

Some similar winemaking sites, however, have been found on the northern coast of what is now Israel, which belonged at that time to the Phoenician kingdoms of Tyre and Sidon.

The Phoenicians didn’t invent wine—evidence of it from about 8,000 years ago has been found in the country of Georgia—but they spread winemaking throughout the ancient Mediterranean, along with olive oil and innovations such as the alphabet and glass.

The earliest known alcoholic beverage dates back to about 9,000 years ago. Find out which civilizations produced the first beers, wines, and spirits; the chemistry behind alcohol's mind-altering effects; and the surprising ways alcohol has influenced culture.

The ancient seafarers introduced vineyards and wineries to their colony cities in North Africa, Sicily, France, and Spain. And they made it popular through trade with ancient Greece and Italy, where wine from wild grapes was known at the time but not so highly developed, says University of Toronto archaeologist Stephen Batiuk, who was not involved in the research. (Discover how alcohol has fueled the development of arts, language, and religion.)

“The Phoenicians perhaps introduced a drinking culture, [new styles of] drinking vessels, and a different way of relating to wine,” he says.

The Phoenicians’ love of wine extended to their religion, and its ceremonial use was reflected in other Near East religions as well.

University of Pennsylvania archaeologist Patrick McGovern, an expert in ancient winemaking who was not involved in the latest study, explained that the Phoenicians were descended from the Canaanites, a Bronze Age people who were also predecessors of the Israelites.

“Wine was the Phoenicians’ principal beverage for sacrifice,” he says. “But that was occurring already with the Canaanites, and it was passed along into Judaism and Christianity.”

McGovern speculates that Tell el-Burak may even have supplied some of the hundreds of amphorae on two Phoenician shipwrecks off Ashkelon in Israel, which date from around the same time.

“We did an analysis on several of the amphorae, and it was wine,” he said. “Maybe these vessels were coming from there.”

The Tell el-Burak project is a joint effort by an AUB team and archaeologists in Germany who have studied the site since 2001, although there’s been no work at Tell el-Burak for the past two years due to Lebanon’s economic difficulties, says Sader.

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**Another aspect of Curse of the Dead Gods** that has received praise is its dark and atmospheric aesthetics. The game's art style and sound design effectively create a bleak and foreboding atmosphere, immersing players in its mysterious and treacherous world. The game's intricate level design and clever use of lighting contribute to this immersive experience. However, **some critics mention** that the game's graphics and animations can feel a bit dated at times, lacking the polish of other modern titles. There are also reports of technical issues, such as frame rate drops and occasional crashes, which can hinder the overall experience. Overall, **the critics' reviews on Curse of the Dead Gods** are mixed, with some praising its challenging gameplay, atmospheric setting, and unique mechanics. Others criticize its repetitive nature and technical issues. Ultimately, whether or not the game appeals to players will depend on their preferences for challenging action games and their tolerance for potential technical shortcomings..

Reviews for "Curse of the Dead Gods: Critics applaud the game's replayability"

1. John - 1 star

I found Curse of the dead gods to be an incredibly frustrating and repetitive game. The combat mechanics are clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to actually enjoy the gameplay. The difficulty curve is also all over the place, with some levels being incredibly easy and others feeling impossible to beat. The lack of variety in the enemies and levels makes the game quickly become monotonous. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with Curse of the dead gods.

2. Sarah - 2 stars

While Curse of the dead gods has a unique art style and an interesting premise, I found it to be lacking in many areas. The controls feel awkward and unintuitive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. The lack of a compelling story or strong character development made it hard for me to care about what was happening in the game. The repetitive nature of the levels and enemies quickly became tiresome, and I found myself losing interest after just a few hours of playing. Unfortunately, Curse of the dead gods just didn't live up to my expectations.

3. Mike - 2 stars

Curse of the dead gods had the potential to be a great game, but it missed the mark for me. The difficulty level is extremely high, and it often feels like luck rather than skill is what determines whether you will succeed or fail. The lack of a clear tutorial or guidance on how to play the game effectively made it frustrating and confusing. The repetitive nature of the gameplay and the lack of variety in the enemies and environments quickly became boring. Overall, I didn't find Curse of the dead gods to be an enjoyable or satisfying gaming experience.

Critics highlight Curse of the Dead Gods' innovative curse mechanics