Cuphead

I remember when I first saw this game on TV when the Xbox One was first revealed. When this game flashed on screen during an ID@Xbox show reel, I became interested in an instant. That was back in 2013, and skip forward a few years later, I have yet to buy an Xbox One or any of the "exclusives," even when most of them are on PC. That changed when this game FINALLY released, and the best part is, the wait is worth it.

Now, before I get too deep into the gameplay, I have to say that unlike most journalists in the field these days, I'm not gonna do the idiotic "#Cup Souls" thing or even compare this game to Dark Souls in the slightest. While Dark Souls can be challenging, a more accurate comparison is most likely an NES game, which can actually be more difficult. Just like a NES game, more precisely Contra, it's an easy-to-play Run-N-Gun game, thanks to the simple tutorial that only a certain game journalist would find hard, that becomes hard thanks to ever spawning enemies and projectiles everywhere. Luckily, the game is still fair, and it even feels rewarding beating the bosses in the game, which is mostly what the game is. The controls are tight and responsive, though I have changed the dash to the Right Trigger for better access, and never have I felt like they were fighting against me. Back to the bosses, though, they will give you a beat down. We're talking about bosses that will fill the screen with projectiles and enemies, and they will require your whole attention span and quick thumbs to beat them. This game is a great time, solo or co-op, but if you're not a fan of hard games, it won't be for you.

Now, for the one thing it quickly got attention for, the graphics. Seriously, we can gush over a game for having the most "ULTRA-REALISTIC" graphics, but I find this game to have the most impressive graphics I've ever seen. This game sets out to emulate the look of the 1930s cartoons, and it emulates it to a T. The game sprites run at 24 fps, just like the cartoons of old, but still provides a rock solid 60 fps during gameplay, except for some very rare frame dips. The music and sound also adds to the graphics as well with the soundtracks mix of jazz and ragtime (if you don't believe me, just look up "Dice King theme" on YouTube), and you can even hear crackling sounds during the quiet times.

Overall, this a hard, yet awesome game that emulates the aesthetic perfectly. If you have an Xbox One, this game is a must-have, and even if you're getting the game on PC, which you have a choice of getting it from Steam, GOG, or Microsoft Store if you want the "Play Anywhere" version, this game can pretty much run on a toaster.

Seeing the first trailer for Cuphead, I immediately swooned. The marriage between that animation and a videogame was something that seemed impossible. It was a big moment of "how did no one think of this before?" With it being an Xbox release and not having the confidence to try and play this on PC, it seemed like I wouldn't get the chance to ever give Cuphead a shot. The PS4 edition was a big surprise and despite the warnings, I picked it up and battled my way through. Was it worth the wait? I think it depends on the type of gamer you are. I'll be covering the pros and cons below.

Visually and acoustically, Cuphead absolutely lives up to hype. This game is so unlike any other big release on the market. Not only is it unique but its got all the polish and there's little out of place. The animation is exciting and well designed throughout. Cuphead feels authentic to the cartoons of yesteryear its paying tribute to and if I hadn't watched so much material on it ahead of time, this game would have floored me. I also really enjoyed the music and all of the work with the sound. The score is very orchestral but there's jazz influence and each fight brings some new catchy beat that's going to have your toes tapping while you're screaming at your TV or computer monitor. I also want to credit the gameplay (I'm going to talk about the difficulty later) for also having a different flavour. The game is mostly boss fights with a few platforming levels sprinkled in and I think there was a considerable effort into making each one memorable. Is every level equally stunning or fun? Absolutely not but I remember each fight and something that made that one different.

Part of the aura surrounding Cuphead is the reports of how difficult it is. Go on the internet, there are many videos of let's play gamers screaming, crying and yelling. I thought it couldn't be that bad.... Could it? I was full of hubris to think I could do better. This game is RIDICULOUSLY HARD, I spent hours trying to beat each boss. Not just 20-30 minutes, 2-3 HOURS at a time for the more difficult ones. There is so little margin for error and no breaks when playing Cuphead. Reviewers reassured gamers that the feeling when beating a boss made up for all the anguish, it wasn't that way for me. I became so desensitized to failing that after I beat one, I sighed and moved on to the next. Kahl's Robot took 3 different sessions just for me to beat it and the Run & Gun levels weren't any easier. The difficulty isn't fun and it goes beyond any normal expectations for a "difficult" experience. Between the time invested, the frustration, the repetition and the anguish, I was miserable most of the time I was playing this game.

This is one of my shorter reviews and that's reflective of the kind of experience I had with this game. Was there plenty of stuff I loved? Definitely, it's an ambitious product with style to burn that both critics and more tolerant gamers have showered with adoration. But I didn't truly enjoy any moment playing this game past the opening credits/prologue. I respect this game and its creators; they should be praised. But I will never play this game again, its too difficult to recommend and it wasn't worth the time I invested in it to beat it. I'm not trying to whine or go on about my experience, if you look at the stats, they reaffirm my take. On average 10 PERCENT of people who played this game actually finished it. That statistic tells the story of how TRULY accessible this game is and if you loved this game when you finished it, I tip my hat to you. I've rated it based upon both the pros and cons and arrived in the middle. Don't be like me and just assume you're just going to fly through this game. Buy it if you're interested in a REAL CHALLENGE, if you're more of a casual gamer, watch a let's play and have a few laughs instead.

Cuphead has both spectacular graphics and amazing music. The gameplay of all the different and unique bosses are extremely entertaining. Beating one feels like climbing a mountain. Highly recommend trying to find all the secrets of the world especially the 4th barber shop singer. Even if you don't normally like games of this genre I still would recommend you try it.

Cuphead mixes the classic feel of the 30's with platforming brilliantly.

Cuphead is brilliant, it is the pinnacle of indie gaming. Different aspects make this a master piece. Recently with indie games there have been a fair share of absolutely shocking and poor games. I feel like recently trying to find a good cheap indie game is like searching for a diamond ring in a metric tonne of pig crap. Cuphead is this ring and I'm wearing it proudly.

The first aspect that makes this brilliant is the visuals. The old Disney inspired visuals get me excited. They have that nice old Disney feel and definitely are made by the attention to detail (Cupheads little gloves are adorable). The map you walk around to get to each level is very nice, it may be a little simple to begin with but as you progressive, boy does it look good.

The second aspect I love about it is the sound track, can't really describe it, go listen to it yourself on YouTube. It has a nice classic sounds to it. I wouldn't listen to it on my bus journey but it does add to the atmosphere of the game

Worth a buy, do it immediately, wont regret it!

Joe Beaumont