The video game developed by indie company Studio MDHR, titled "Cuphead," has been released since Sept. 29, and the reviews are now in from multiple sources. Despite the charming animation and deceptive appearance, "Cuphead" is actually as rumored: a challenging game even for the most seasoned of players.
Dualshockers described "Cuphead" as "breathtaking and brutal." The striking visuals that the game has is clearly inspired by cartoons shown during the early 1900's such as "Steamboat Willie" and "Popeye," but with the game mechanics of classic 2-dimensional scrollers such as Capcom's "Megaman." The developers had clearly not skipped any detail in the creation process with the sound effects and music being true to the theme of the game.
In a review by Gamespot, the boss challenges are quite difficult as well. Players will need to make full use of the rapid fire mechanics of the game, while relying on their reflexes and fluid motor skills while keeping their composure in order to successfully defeat the boss. Most regular stages last for an estimated three minutes, but that time could feel much longer due to the fact that players only have a limited amount of lives per instance.
However, Gamespot had only given the game a rating of eight out of 10 due to the weak impact of the two-player mode. However, they further stressed that the careful development that went into the game as well as the careful execution made it not just an exceptional title, but a "rare gem" in the competitive world of the video game industry.
According to Games Radar, the story of the game revolves around the titular Cuphead and Mugman. These two characters are on a quest to get their soul back from the Devil, after accidentally losing their souls while gambling at the Devil's Casino. The only way to accomplish this task is to defeat as many bosses in the game as possible, and the fictional place where these battles take place is in Inkwell Isle.
"Cuphead" is now available on the Xbox One.
