Cuphead is a game that caught the public’s attention from its very first appearance because of its “different” visual style. Its aesthetic replicates old cartoons from the 1940s and 1950s in a creative and charming way. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most anticipated games that has just arrived on Xbox One and also on Windows 10. The title developed by Studio MDHR is fun, incredibly humorous, and challenging—a truly amazing experience. But can Cuphead really stand out? Check it out!
Cuphead has earned a reputation for being a relatively difficult game, so let’s set the record straight: Cuphead is not impossible; it isn’t quite a 2D Dark Souls, nor is it the most visually stunning bullet-hell game in the world; and it isn’t overly punishing. For a game that has built its identity around an “old-school” design, Cuphead is unexpectedly incredible.
Initially announced in 2014, Cuphead sparked great curiosity about its art style as a tribute to the animated cartoons of the 1940s by Disney and Fleischer Studios. The brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, along with animator Jake Clark, blended hand-drawn art with the run-and-gun genre popularized by pixelated games like Mega Man.
The result is a double throwback—a wonderful nostalgia for the good old days of games and animations. Still, Cuphead teaches the player how to overcome each obstacle. Every boss fight has a strategy that must be uncovered through trial and error. And that is fantastic! To avoid stress, it’s best to view failures as a tool even more powerful than the weapon itself.
Do not expect to find any shortcuts in Cuphead, for the game promises to severely punish those who fail to pay attention to the movement patterns of each of the bosses encountered along the way.
These enemies, by the way, come with a wide variety of styles and patterns. One of them, for example, is a carrot that basically uses three moves: an earth-and-worm shot in the first phase, rays shooting from its head, and a sort of carrot shower in the second. And I must confess, that turned out to be the easiest challenge, as I managed to defeat it on my own.
One of the most striking aspects is, of course, the art, which looks even more beautiful when you play the game. It is impressive and almost magical to see the characters leaping and moving, and to realize that you’re controlling an interactive cartoon. The visuals even manage to surpass games like Child of Light and Rayman Legends.
The best part about Cuphead is that not only do its visuals impress, but it quickly proves to be a game that will guarantee many hours of fun for the player. The controls are simple, typical of a shooter, and easy to master, which makes all the difference in gameplay. After all, the challenge the game presents becomes one of its greatest attractions.
Furthermore, in the game you can choose the levels in any order simply by exploring the large main map, in a vibe somewhat reminiscent of Commander Keen. In fact, each level is essentially a boss battle. In addition to being varied, these battles are heavily inspired by classic 8-bit and 16-bit games, complete with distinctive attack patterns and even final forms. One boss, in particular, is clearly a tribute to the Mecha Dragon from Mega Man 2. Another, with bees and beehives in the background, appears to have been taken straight out of Donkey Kong Country 2.
Verdict
- Graphics
- Interface
- Entertainment
- Gameplay
- Features
Summary
“Cuphead” has been in development for a few years now, and it’s great to see it live up to its promises since E3 2015. It’s an incredible and very fun experience. With an impeccable soundtrack, it perfectly captures the era its developers so clearly revere. On top of that, it’s also an intense action game with an increasing level of difficulty. We can safely say that Cuphead is a tremendous achievement that will probably go down as one of the most incredible and creative titles of 2017.
Image: Xbox