Cuphead: Review
- Nov 23, 2017
- 4 min read
Developer & Publisher: StudioMDHR Entertainment
Engine: Unity
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Genre: Run & Gun/Platformer
Mode: Single-Player, Local Co-Op
Available Now
By: Mitchell Cole
mcole@myfanaticsgaming.com
“Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional hand drawn cel animation, watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings.”
http://www.cupheadgame.com/
Carefree On Inkwell Isles
Cuphead takes place in a world called Inkwell Isles. Play as Cuphead or Mugman (in single player or local co-op) as you traverse strange worlds, acquire new weapons, learn new super moves, & discover hidden secrets while trying to figure a way to pardon yourselves from a deal with the Devil gone bad of course. In a carefree world, Cuphead & his friend Mugman live carefree lives. While running amok among Inkwell Isles though, both friends come across an enchanted casino owned by the Devil himself. After losing their wager, both friends agree to become debt collector for the Devil in order to pardon themselves from their own dirty deal on awry.
This run & gun / platformer is a nod & throwback to the wonder-years of the cartoon worlds in the 1930’s. From every detail; from graphics, sound effects, & music, this game screams as a homage to bygone years of days much simpler.
The Devil In The Details
While having the look of a whimsical platformer, the devil is in the details as Cuphead is an extremely tough but rewarding game that many communities & chatrooms have rightfully warned of. Three full worlds & a fourth world reserved for the end sequence with boss. StudioMDHR Entertainment created a borderline crazy game filled with multiple on-screen attacks from all corners of the screen at times. Underneath the whimsical, beautiful graphics lies a game that tricks players into thinking an easy time. This is as far from the truth as I have reported.
Beauty In Hell
StudioMDHR Entertainment took their good time in creating Cuphead but the end result shows bright, vibrant colors that perfectly illustrate the look & spirit of the 1930’s cartoon worlds. Each mini-boss or run & gun level is full of crisp graphics that shine with each attack. The sounds & music SHINE! Such lighthearted music & sound effects lull players into a fun, relaxing mindset while the games devilishly difficulty takes center stage.
While a pattern game at heart, the difficulty level of Cuphead sees objects thrown randomly throughout each pattern, making things much more difficult to anticipate. Just when you have died the tenth time & you feel you know the pattern, Cuphead’s bosses toss something you something may have never saw previously, or attacks with a similar yet different pattern altogether.
Sins Sent Straight To Hell
Cuphead is a near perfect game but one complaint I found myself cursing beyond the maddening difficulty was a near perfect control system with one glaring flaw. In game, players battle bosses who attack with a variety of arsenal. Many of these arsenal items are pink which indicate to players, they may jump attack the object, or ‘parry’ off of the item, thus gaining special points that help build for your super-move.
I felt the system’s timing was a hare off. While this may have been another devils trick from the creators, parrying objects with multiple other attacks on-screen had me scrambling on button controls when trying to jump into the parry. If the object is too close, you cannot parry but instead lose a precious point due to another simple attack you are simply looking to parry over. Many times, I died simply because as I jumped to parry, I instead was hit though I was pressing the button required to parry in time. The ending was a bit disappointing in my humble gamer opinion too but perhaps not for other gamers.
Overall
A
A Devilishly Great Game Worth Your Time & Attention!
Story: B+ | Graphics: A+ | Audio: A+ | Replay: A- | Controls: B-
Overall, Cuphead took a long time to come out. By release, much of its steam had played down. That being said, Cuphead as a game, is near-flawless & great in so many ways, its small flaw is overshadowed by addictive play from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed my romp & still have a few more A’s to upgrade to before seeing what the third-world character offers for all A’s, & did not have another controller to test local co-op. Both I intend to check into. It would be refreshing indeed for a classic local co-op romp outside of Nintendo. This would be a great game on the Switch or PS4 to be honest.
As such, Xbox One & Steam players have an excellent title to tout over the friends with other systems for a relatively affordable price at that. Take a chance from your usual genre & give Cuphead its due chance. You won’t be disappointed…Frustrated to no end at times, yes! But you will come back & win & feel that sense of satisfaction only a truly tough game may reward you with. Gamers Unite!
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