REVIEW: Cuphead is an animated show on Switch 126e56

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Cuphead and Mugman come to Nintendo Switch to make you go crazy with super lively and difficult battles

next to the incredible Celeste's, Cuphead is among the biggest surprises in the world of independent games in recent years. Taking a ride in the style of cartoons from the 1930s, the game is a show of charm, creativity and challenges that will drive any player crazy. Now, this digital masterpiece comes to Nintendo Switch. 4h5p3u

O showmetech obtained a personal copy of Cuphead for the Nintendo switch and, after an intense game play (and almost having thrown the joy-cons on the wall), we bring a complete analysis of the version of the game that arrived as a sales success on Nintendo's hybrid console.

an animated world 4c1n2m

Inattentive players may look at Cuphead and imagine that it is a simple game for children. However, they are very wrong. Perhaps the most extraordinary fact about the game's indie developers, the Studio MDHR, is that despite starting production of the game with just two people (the founding brothers of the company) and with no experience, they learned for themselves how to paint and animate just by reading and watching old drawings from the 1930s.

Cuphead creators started out on their own and learned to paint as they saw drawings
Cuphead creators started out alone and learned to paint as they saw drawing

The end result is not just the game's stunning and charismatic visuals, but the realization that there is no digital polygon on your Switch's screen. Despite having other elements, Cuphead is at its core a collection of boss fights with gameplay in the style of 2D platform shooters, as well as the classics Contra and Metal Slug.

Where the idea to do this came from, we still don't understand, but the entire 1930s cartoon aesthetic is recreated absolutely flawlessly. It's not just that the game mimics the art style and animation so accurately, but the actual character designs are so wonderfully weird and imaginative.

In cuphead, you control one of the main ones and you have to destroy enemies with powers
In Cuphead, you control one of the main ones and you need to destroy enemies with powers

Whether they're an angry potato or the devil himself, all the characters, even the heroes, manage to look strangely sinister in the way that cartoons from that era always did.

There are a total of 30 boss battles and almost all of them are fantastic to watch – something rare in western games. But behind all the creativity and beauty of Cuphead's adventures is the fact that it's a difficult game. Demonically difficult, to be honest.

One of cuphead's highlights is its innocent boss difficulty
One of Cuphead's highlights is its innocent boss difficulty.

Cuphead and Mugman's shenanigans 4x6yx

The story involves the titular Cuphead, and his co-op companion Mugman, fighting for their souls after being tricked into a casino run by the Devil himself. This gives them no option but to collect the souls of previous debtors, which appear in the form of everything from an evil-looking clown made of balloons to a giant cigar and an animated whiskey bottle.

The protagonists are deceived and need to defeat the villains at the behest of the devil
The protagonists are deceived and need to defeat the villains at the behest of the Devil

These are all fantastic simply as character designs, but they're also surprisingly varied when it comes to gameplay. Each has a wide range of different attacks, many of which are randomly distributed in of the order they come out.

So while you can learn the things that happen in each of the battles, you can't just learn the whole fight mechanically. Your character has a fairly simple set of skills, and can employ up to two different weapons, which can be switched at any time, and a two-stage, constantly charging special attack.

Your weapons are simple, but your opponents' weapons are not.
Your weapons are simple, but your opponents' weapons are not.

You can also aim freely while standing still and whenever you see a pink object you can jump on it for a bonus or interact with it in some other stage specific way.

Additionally, some levels take the form of 2D platform shooters like Castlevania, although they are still elongated boss battles at their core. However, there are only two of them per world and they are purely optional, although they are the only place to get coins to buy new weapons. These levels work well, and the level design is good, but they don't feel as unique as the bosses and their small amount doesn't really miss the player.

Cuphead is as cute as it is challenging
Cuphead is as cute as it is challenging

Crying over spilled milk 292p38

Mechanically, the game runs great, with responsive and reliable controls. This is a viscerally difficult game and there's no pretending it won't frustrate many players. There is one scenario more difficult than the other, but even that is very difficult, and using it does not unlock the final boss fight.

Each boss brings a certain quirk that is hard to beat
Each boss brings a certain quirk that is hard to beat

It's not like playing with a friend helps much, as in just one screen the other player becomes an unwanted distraction with so many different elements flying around. Playing Cuphead is constantly saying to yourself “ok, let's just go one more time” more times than almost any other game this decade.

Despite that, we can't help but wish that Cuphead hadn't been so relentless in its difficulty, as it feels entirely unnecessary considering how intrinsically fun the experience is and how reasonable its price for the amount of content.

Game is one of the most acclaimed in recent years

One of the few criticisms we can make about the game is the discreet sound design for its bullets, which are very quiet. It may seem like a small point, but it detracts from an important part of the sensory experience and makes it hard to tell how much damage you're doing.

There are no new features for the Switch version, although as usual any co-op game with simple controls is very well suited for the console. The port is extremely good, with a solid framerate, and you also get the benefit of two years of patches, the chance to play as Mugman in single-player mode, and lots of new animations.

Cuphead's only criticism is the sound coming out of the guns which doesn't sound magnificent like the rest of the set
Cuphead's only criticism is the sound coming out of the weapons which doesn't sound magnificent like the rest of the set

We know that Studio MDHR plans to release DLC with a new playable character and new levels very soon, so we'll be on the lookout so we can get frustrated again in merciless combat.

Cuphead is a production that demonstrates just how much a creative team can achieve with minimal help and budget, even if those same people seem determined to make life difficult for themselves and everyone else with such a difficult game.

Review: cuphead is an animated show on switch. Cuphead and mugman come to the nintendo switch to make you go crazy with super lively and difficult battles

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