Cuphead
" Challenging action indie with stunning 1930s hand-drawn art but brutal difficulty "
Cuphead Review
Cuphead is widely celebrated as a unique blend of challenging gameplay and stunning 1930s-inspired hand-drawn animation. Players are immersed in a world reminiscent of vintage cartoons, with every frame carefully crafted and paired with a lively jazz soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The gameplay is primarily focused on intense boss fights and bullet-hell mechanics, demanding precision, patience, and skill. While the difficulty is punishing, it is generally regarded as fair, rewarding players’ perseverance and mastery of patterns. The controls are responsive, and the weapon/charm customization adds depth to combat strategies.
Though the story is minimal and some players find the run-and-gun platforming sections less engaging, the game’s artistic presentation and gameplay loop keep players coming back. The DLC adds substantial content, including new bosses and a playable character, further enriching the experience. Minor performance issues are rare, and the game runs smoothly on most systems.
Highlights
Players especially praise Cuphead's hand-drawn vintage cartoon graphics and jazzy, big-band soundtrack, which together create a captivating atmosphere.
The boss fights are highly regarded for their creativity, evolving phases, and tight design, providing a satisfying challenge.
Controls and gameplay mechanics are noted for their responsiveness and fairness, emphasizing skill-based progression.
The DLC content and multiplayer mode receive positive mentions, adding replayability and variety.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the game's high difficulty, which can be frustrating or punishing for casual players.
The storyline is minimal and lacks depth, leaving players seeking narrative wanting.
Some players find the run-and-gun platforming levels less engaging compared to boss fights.
Occasional randomness in enemy attacks can feel unfair, and a few bosses (e.g., Dr. Kahl's Robot) are considered tedious or luck-dependent.
Minor performance hitches and control layout limitations are noted but do not significantly detract from the experience.
Pros
- • Stunning hand-drawn 1930s cartoon art style captivates players visually.
- • Energetic, jazzy big-band soundtrack complements gameplay perfectly.
- • Challenging boss fights with creative, evolving phases keep gameplay fresh.
- • Responsive and tight controls ensure fair and skill-based gameplay.
- • Weapon and charm customization adds strategic depth to combat.
- • Short level segments encourage quick retries and reduce frustration.
- • Multiplayer mode enhances fun when playing cooperatively.
Cons
- • Brutal difficulty may discourage casual or less patient players.
- • Minimal and light storyline offers little narrative engagement.
- • Run-and-gun platforming levels are less favored and sometimes frustrating.
- • Some boss fights feel luck-dependent or tedious to some players.
- • Occasional randomness in enemy attacks can feel unfair.
- • Limited control layout options on controllers may hinder comfort.
- • Minor performance issues in specific boss fights on some hardware.
Rating Criteria
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.
