Technical Information

Developer: Studio MDHR
Publisher: Studio MDHR
Release Date: September 29, 2017

The Cuphead and Mugman brothers lived happily until one day they went far away from home and entered a casino.
They started playing and got caught up in a wave of good luck, but they didn’t stop. However, everything went wrong, and they ended up in debt… but the Devil promised to forgive their debt if they returned with some souls that were indebted to him. And this is where the adventure begins…

Cuphead is a 2D platformer, in a classic cartoon style, with a good dose of difficulty.

Final Considerations – Analyzing the Game as a Whole

Graphics

I don’t have words to describe how amazing I think the art in this game is!
All characters and scenarios were inspired by cartoons from the 1930s, and to give everything a retro touch, the game also features an old film filter.

The animations are incredible, each character has a unique sequence of movements.

The game’s interface is very simple. The menus clearly explain what each option does, and the HUD indicates your HP with numbers from 1 to 6.
Your special attack charge is shown by cards that appear right next to the HP counter.

Soundtrack and Sound Effects

Cuphead brings the best of jazz and ragtime.
The music is very well composed and memorable, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to the soundtrack without even playing the game. I don’t even need to say that I recognize all the songs, right?

The game also features brief narrations that alternate with sound effects, adding strong emphasis to what’s happening on screen (for example, when you defeat a boss, the narrator says “Knockout!”).

Gameplay

From the very first moment I played, I found everything fantastic. I have to admit that I was very impressed with the overall quality of the game.

The game is divided into three islands, each with its own stages and bosses.
At the end of the game, there’s a casino where you’ll face some mini-bosses, including the Dice King and the Devil himself.

Most stages are boss battles, with each one having distinct stages (usually three) that change their attack patterns.
Some bosses, instead of being fought in platformer mode, are faced in shmup mode (yes, you get into a little airplane and start shooting!).
There are also run-and-gun stages where you must defeat endless enemies while moving toward the end of the level. These stages contain coins, which you can use to buy weapons or skills.

The game has local co-op support. And don’t be fooled, when playing in multiplayer mode, the difficulty also increases!

Replayability and Game Retention

The game is difficult, and that’s a dividing line.
I started playing Cuphead on day one and made it to island three. Then I put the game down because I didn’t have the patience to finish it. I only finished it three years later.

It’s either all or nothing. Either you’ll insist until you beat it, or you’ll get really angry and give up.

There are achievements that are extremely challenging, so if you want to unlock them all, you’ll need a lot of patience and perseverance.