IGN is known for its rapid news coverage, reviews, opinions and much more. But just recently IGN got involved in a plagiarism case for their Dead Cells review.

IGN’s Dead Cells review was (it has been removed since the plagiarism reports) a blatantly plagiarised version of YouTuber Boomstick Gaming’s review, which was uploaded almost 2 weeks prior to that of IGN’s. The YouTuber even uploaded a video demonstrating the parts where IGN just copy-pasted his narration.

Boomstick’s review was originally published on July 24th, while IGN published theirs on August 6th, i.e. yesterday. Since the controversial issue and its widespread popularity with the community, IGN removed both their video and article reviews leaving the following note –

Here are the parts IGN copied from Boomstick’s review –

00:03 Boomstick: Dead Cells takes the progression of a Metroidvania and integrates it into this procedurally generated action roguelite…

00:04 FILIP (IGN Reviewer): It takes the progression system of a Metroidvania and transforms it into a procedurally generated action roguelite…

00:15 Boomstick: In Dead Cells you will need to kill your way through a labyrinth of levels all punctuated by boss encounters that starts off quite linear but the more you play the more routes and game mechanics open up to you. You might not be able to make it to the final boss on your current run but if you can manage to salvage some blueprints for some new gear or better yet, an ability altering rune, it makes it all worth your while….

00:25 FILIP: In Dead Cells, you fight your way through an ever-changing labyrinth of levels with branching paths, you’re almost guaranteed not to make it all the way through on every run, but as your efforts lead you to blueprints that unlocked new gear, it makes it all worth your while….

01:22 Boomstick: In most games of this genres your coolest skills and spells are often set to stricky long recharge timers or a limited mana system but in Dead Cells, your abilities have incredibly quick recharges and allow you to seamlessly integrate these gadgets in normal encounters and doesn’t make you feel penalized for using your cool stuff. This combat system is fast, fluid, responsive and one of the most rewarding representation of 2d combat of the entire genre.

01:35 FILIP: Most games limit your most useful skills with long cooldown timers or a limited mana system but Dead Cells encourages you to use your deadliest gadgets with a fast recharge timer. It never punishes you using your best tactics. Fights are fast, fluid, responsive and hands down one of the most gratifying representations of video combat iv ever experienced.

02:30 Boomstick: Dead Cells only falters slightly with some repetition setting in, especially on the early areas and during longer play sessions. The enemy designs here are interesting and fun to fight but in the first level alone you will probably have killed the same enemy about 50 times already and that same enemy will be used throughout various levels.

02:30 FILIP: Dead Cells does falter slightly with some repetition but its only felt in its earlier areas and during extended play sessions. While early level enemies are a good introduction and make for fun and interesting fights early on, you can only kill so many zombies before it starts feeling a little stale.

03:07 Boomstick: Dead Cells figures out and intriguing way to have your rogue lite and metroidvania experience all in one by focusing on your failures and urging you to try something new the next time.

03:07 FILIP: Dead Cells strikes a perfect and engaging balance between the metroidvania and rogue lite experiences by focusing on your failures and urging you to experiment when you do fail.

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