Cuphead Reviews
Cuphead may look like a fun cartoony platformer, but be ready for the teeth to be bared and your patience to be slowly gnawed away.
If you’re into checking out new and unusual takes on games, then Cuphead is for you. I’d temper your enthusiasm, however, as that’s where the uniqueness ends. It’s an average, 2D hand-drawn game that it seems people are expecting way too much of.
There is a game worth enjoying in here, if you can deal with periodic frustration. During encounters that are fully defined it's easy to get stuck admiring everything that StudioMDHR has created, and it was more than a good enough reason to turn my Xbox One on. It's because of those parts that are so good that it's really difficult to ignore the glaring issues.
There are no moments of downtime to come down from the frustration or elation of your battles, it’s just long bouts of tension and stress that, for the most part, outweigh any joy that’s felt. It’s a shame, because at times Cuphead is an absolute pleasure, but more often than not I was left shouting vile things in anger at the screen, and I’m quite a patient person. So yeah, Cuphead is a work of art, and it will divide opinion like the best works should.
The problem lies in the gulf between a good game with unbelievable art, and a work of art. Cuphead gets so close to being more than a cool-looking game, but the gameplay and art style don't merge in any meaningful way. It's still worth playing, and it's still the best-looking exercise in humility and frustration that you can find on the market today.
For players that appreciate classic run-and-gun combat, punishing difficulty, constantly learning from failure, and breathtaking art, Cuphead’s experience will not disappoint.
Cuphead might be a tough cookie, but it charms with superlative art and music. For every time you might be frustrated by a tough section, you'll be delighted by some wonderful animation or new attack. It isn't perfect; the Run and Gun levels don't live up to the bosses, and a lack of feedback can make fights feel futile. Overall, though, the game succeeds in what it sets out to do -- just be prepared for a real challenge.
Cuphead is a stunning game that truly stands out from its peers on a presentational level.
Cuphead is a hot news of the indie scene. Atypical animated graphics attract many players, but it has a catch. It is directly extraterrestrial hardcore. More than Dark Souls? Hardly, yet it bothers you enough. However, if you overcome the difficulty, you will get exactly what you bought: a trip to a completely unique game.
Review in Czech | Read full review
I really liked Cuphead. While not having the skills to finish the game – yet – I will be plugging away at it. It’s a mountain and I am determined to reach the summit. The game has one of the best art styles I have ever seen and while I do wish there was an ‘easy mode’ so that more people could enjoy what Studio MDHR has created here, it’s impossible not to admire the execution.
Cuphead is as tough to play as it is pretty… and boy is it pretty.
Cuphead is a great game with fantastic visuals and has a marvelous soundtrack. A fresh and unique game recommended to everyone.
Cuphead is not only a charming love letter to Cartoons from the 30s, but also an exciting boss rush marathon that is sure to get your heart pumping without ever getting into territory of "too hard" or "unfair". Even if there might be a lack of content and variation over time, it was never enough to hinder the sheer amount of fun I had in fighting all these giants dragons, robots, sunflowers and vegetables.
Review in German | Read full review
Cuphead’s biggest enemy isn’t the Devil, it’s RNGesus.
Cuphead’s exquisite visuals and jazzy soundtrack perfectly transfers over to Switch, though you’ll need to be up for the challenge to appreciate most of its rewards. Most importantly, this game may be the start of a beautiful friendship between Nintendo and Microsoft.
Cuphead is not for the faint-hearted, and I will say from the outset don’t be lured in by its cutesy, charming hand-drawn visuals. It’s tough as nails. When the Nintendo Switch edition launched, it introduced a handful of updates to the game including the ability to play as either Cuphead or Mugman right from the start of your adventure.
[Cuphead] feels right at home on the Switch, though Joy-Con latency issues meant that handheld play was a more enjoyable experience than docked mode.
With such a well-respected and well-known title such as Cuphead, there really isn't a lot that can be said for the PS4 port that hasn't already been stated since its original release in 2017. A fiendishly difficult platformer with a great soundtrack and beautiful level design and aesthetics awaits any gamer that loves a challenge, and is happy to put the hours in. Sit in a darkened room, avoid any and all of those pesky real-world interruptions, and take on a telepathic giant carrot. Ace.
Aesthetics aside, there really aren't any games like Cuphead being made anymore. This kind of running and shooting platforming action game has nigh vanished from the gaming landscape. The closest modern example that casual observers may be aware of is maybe Metal Slug or the Mega Man games, because nobody has seen Contra since 2007. This used to be a popular genre, with such amazing titles as Turrican, Gunstar Heroes and Dynamite Headdy, which used to tap into a very primal part of our brain that is addicted to adrenaline. Thankfully, Cuphead is not style over substance. Controls are tight and responsive, and retries load up nice and fast, so time is never wasted. This is every great boss battle gaming has seen before and more, thanks to Studio MDHR's dazzling creativity and focus on creating a palpable sensation of accomplishment. There may not be many console exclusives on Xbox One these days, but Cuphead is a real standout, and is a must-own for everyone who loves fast action and crushing challenge. Come for the cool art and animation, but stay for the gameplay.
Nothing revolutionary in the Platformer genre here. However, the true challenge lies in the difficulty Cuphead has in addition to its one of a kind classical art direction that is very nostalgic.
Review in Arabic | Read full review