Cookie Cutter Reviews
I respect Subcult Joint’s ambition, and there’s definite heart and energy behind Cookie Cutter. But passion doesn’t always result in captivating gameplay, and at a time when great Metroidvanias are everywhere, the bar for quality is only getting higher. Next to the cream of the crop, Cookie Cutter feels like a rebellious copy more than a true breakout.
My overall impression of Cookie Cutter is that it’s an excellent Metroidvania and certainly one of the best to be released in recent years. The Overkill Edition on Nintendo Switch looks and runs great, and while I have little doubt that more powerful systems make Cookie Cutter even more visually appealing, the Switch is no slouch at maintaining the 60 FPS you want for this style of game, and in handheld mode you’ll be pretty impressed with how great the game looks. I’d highly suggest checking Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition out whenever you have the chance, you won’t be disappointed.
If you are a fan of the genre and enjoy games with more blood flying around than a transfusion centre then there’s plenty of fun to be had with Cookie Cutter. Control is responsive and fluid, and the game comes to life in its later portions. Once the power is in your hands, letting rip with a flurry of blows or skewering an enemy with your stratoblaster is a real hoot. For me, though, the spikes in difficulty and the slow opening hours required to get Cherry into a place that was satisfying left me with mixed feelings. For the majority of its runtime, Cookie Cutter skirts on the edge of greatness. Lacking one original twist or idea to elevate it from the pack. Overall – I give Cookie Cutter Overkill Edition the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Cookie Cutter is a spectacular romp, and I had a blast in my 15+ hours. It’s not reinventing the wheel or changing the definition of a Metroidvania, but it is nailing the term with gusto. The hiccups I did notice, like lack of mini-map, are easily rectified. The foundation is sturdy and makes for a session in which I have no regrets about participating. I’m worried that with the title it has, it won’t attract the audience it deserves.
Cookie Cutter stays true to the tried and tested metroidvania recipe.
If you are a Metroidvania fan, you can give Cookie Cutter a chance and immerse yourself in its colourful world with plenty of gore. But keep in mind that there are some features that fail in terms of gameplay mechanics.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
An excellent metroidvania that will surely appeal to all fans of the genre – except those who expect fresh ideas and interesting stories from such games.
Review in Russian | Read full review
While rough in places, Cookie Cutter manages to brawl its way to the top thanks to a strong combat system and wonderfully-bad attitude. The story and world-building are surprisingly well done, and Cherry is a strong hero despite being on a rage-fueled spree of bloody vengeance. While the ending has everything but a "To Be Continued..." dialogue box, the game is a satisfying first entry that does a great job of introducing its cast and detailed setting. Cherry's world was broken long before she was created, but that's not really her problem. Doctor Fallon's abduction destroyed her in more ways than one, and if the world of Cookie Cutter is improved by a rage-fueled robot's ultraviolent rampage, then that's just going to be a bonus.
Cookie Cutter looks incredibly good, offers a huge world full of hidden nooks and crannies, and the gameplay isn't bad either. However, there are some design flaws where the game tries to be something it's not. This leads to unnecessary frustration.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
My Cherry Amour
Cookie Cutter is a good Metroidvania, elevated by some pretty stellar graphics. Don't expect to walk through this one - the game raises the difficulty in response to your character powering up. A lot of value here for the asking price.
Cookie Cutter is a fantastic game with excellent RPG elements, fighting mechanics that are a healthy mix of fun and challenging, and an artistic style that adds dimension and character to an already very well-made world. The sound does nothing but add to the equation, and the heart that is put into Cookie Cutter is immensely impressive.
There is a lot to love about Cookie Cutter, and I think players who play the game after reading this will have an even better experience than I did. This is of course due to some early launch bugs that caused some players, including myself, some frustration with progression which is why my review was slightly delayed.
Cookie Cutter’s artwork and fast-paced combat are a delight but a lackluster story that fails to capitalize on its potential as well as genre generic mechanics do little to help it stand out.
It’s a shame that Cookie Cutter is so utterly off-putting because the core gameplay is tight and flexible to foster inventive combos. Level design flows nicely for the most part and it seems like the developer truly understands what a good metroidvania needs to engage players.
Cookie Cutter delivers everything and more of what he intended with his proposal. With a good story, dynamic combat, and a wealth of visual details, the game wins you over from the start and makes you want to play "just a little longer" for hours. Negatives exist, but they are not so relevant in the final result and all of them can be easily fixed with updates. Especially for those who enjoy the Metroidvania style, this is a must-have title.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cookie Cutter's real downfall comes from its lack of innovations. While a new Metroid game might not need to add much in terms of new ways to interact with things, fresh faces on the scene should be doing something to stand out amongst the others. Cookie Cutter's visual design helps with that, but it doesn't go much further. Regardless, it really does have quite a bit to behold within, and it is a fun time, and that's really what matters. It is a fun time, and while there are some hiccups with things, there isn't too much to be upset about.
Cookie Cutter is a bloody, splashy metroidvania that makes aesthetic presentation, combative exhilaration, and narrative anxieties its trump cards. As a debut title, Subcult Joint's work knows how to distinguish itself, thanks to an overall care that is evidently over the top and a marked and clearly visible authorial trait. Ludically, however, Cherry's adventure is much more ordinary, but although fun is always assured, it often falls into youthful errors such as an all-too-spaced camera, a difficulty that is not always balanced and excessive chaos in some battles. Nevertheless, the path of revenge to make Garbanzos pay will be a very satisfying experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fulfilling the promise of elaborate traditional animations, Cookie Cutter aims at the target of the metroidvania formula without the intention of innovating it. It's a precise, debauched and bloody hit, without a doubt, but it still leaves the feeling that the adventure and the songs are not in the same rebellious tone as the vigorous personality displayed by the protagonist in her fluid and brutal movements.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cookie Cutter is a compelling yet rough Metroidvania experience that is bound to keep you entertained for hours on end. In its current state it's undeniably rough around the edges, but, with a few patches here and there it's bound to become a cult classic in no time.