Cuphead (PC) review "Remember Monster Party? It's back, but in 1930s cartoon form."

Difficult games present you with a transaction. You supply the title in question with pieces of your sanity, extracted in frustration. The product, in turn, provides entertainment and maybe a sense of accomplishment when you overcome bleak odds. Obviously, this barter system isn't for everyone, as some folks prefer not to become incensed when all they want to do is unwind and wreak cartoony havoc.

Cuphead more than gleefully extracts bits of your anger by pushing you through a drawn-out gauntlet of devious foes inspired by 1930s cartoons. On the surface, it appears to be your average side-scrolling platformer, decked out in the style of vintage toons. However, beneath that cute exterior hides a savage beast that hits you with numerous multi-form bosses and mean-spirited moments that appear impossible to overcome at first glance.

The game defies expectations by first saying, "Screw traditional structure and levels." You don't venture through a bevy of challenges by charging to the right, dispatching weak enemies, and dodging perils. Instead, you encounter a whole six traditional-style stages that only serve as a means to hide currency, which you use to purchase power-ups or new weaponry. No, this game would rather cut to the chase when it comes to villains. After completing the introductory stage, you're already battling crazed vegetables, a blue slime, a couple of boxing frogs, and a sinister flower, all complete with ridiculous and surreal touches befitting of a vintage cartoon.



The thing is these aren't your average scuffles. They last a long time, hitting you with a variety of hazards and phases. At one time, you might find yourself dodging projectiles and taking choice shots. After that, your opponent could switch up their strategy, requiring you to occasionally leap onto floating platforms or take out the occasional distracting crony.

One thing you have to understand: you're the underdog here. Bosses sustain buckets of punishment without croaking, but you only get three hits and almost no opportunities for health restoration, not to mention zero checkpoints. Odds are you're going to get ripped apart almost any time you pick a new fight. You knowingly enter nearly two-dozen, knock-down drag-out bouts realizing you're going to get rocked right out of the gate.

And that's the beauty of it...

Every conflict presents problems to solve. You first try to identify patterns in your adversary's movements and strikes, looking for attack telegraphs or safe spaces. Most of all, the game has you seeking out pink projectiles or creatures. If you hit the jump button just before colliding with them midair, you can execute a parry maneuver that adds graciously to a burgeoning combo meter. Once that puppy's full, you can pull off whatever super move you've got equipped, be it temporary invincibility or a powerful cannon blast.



You see, when you're stepping up to a beast like Beppi the Clown, you're not merely engaging in your typical brawl. The guy starts off by hopping into a bumper car while metal ducks from a shooting gallery float by. The dude holds his ground before charging, not granting much time to react and hop over him. Meanwhile, you have to hope you've taken the time to hit the duck above him, or else that will snag you for a single hit. Bear in mind, you've also got to damage Beppi while saving your own skin, all while trying to store your special meter for a later, tougher segment.

Beppi eventually falls off his ride, but returns as a massive balloon attached to a helium-pumping contraption that sends deadly balloon animals after you. Oh, plus a roller coaster occasionally glides past, with various portions that hurt like hell. And yes, you've got to avoid all this while damaging Beppi. This madness might send you back to the world map, where you can exchange the goods you've purchased. You should consider utilizing the spread shot, or even going with extra health or an ability that renders you invincible when you dash.

In phase three, Beppi straddles a carousel horse that shoots horseshoes at you. The balloon animals have taken a bench now, but the coaster still comes around. Here, you learn one of the painful truths about Cuphead: you can occasionally get stuck in no-win situations that are not entirely your fault. Sometimes, the randomness of Beppi's horseshoes and the appearance of the coaster put you in a situation where you cannot escape damage, and by no failure on your part.
Super-difficult titles like this mainly work by being as fair as possible, and you can't help but feel that you're occasionally cheated out of wins due to rotten luck. Thankfully, it's not a consistent flaw...



You think you've got Beppi on the ropes until he transforms into a tremendous carnival ride, complete with moving platforms. When the coaster comes by, you have no choice but to hop onto one of Beppi's cars while it passes. Hell, you may as well stay up there, because now the clown coughs up a few penguins who crowd the floor before tossing baseballs that are a real pain in the ass to evade. If you're fortunate, you'll eventually hear "KNOCKOUT!" and emerge triumphant.

Are you tired yet? No? Well, dust yourself off because you've got whole legions of other bosses that are just as drawn out as that one.

Altogether, a complete slugfest won't last much longer than two minutes. However, you've got to take some factors into account. 1) You're going to die a lot. 2) The only way to "git gud" is to practice, and that requires you to replay segments you've already completed ad nauseam because there are no checkpoints. Seriously, if you're like me, there's a high chance you'll get burnt out playing Cuphead because any given battle proves exhausting. It's not hard to understand why I struggled to finish it. As much as I love it and its strangeness, it's a taxing, tiring experience.



So why even play at all, then? Therein lies the trade-off. What do I get in exchange for my hard work? Glimpses of creativity. This game oozes all kinds of oddness, from anthropomorphic plants to a casino overrun by various mini-bosses inspired by sinful activities. Where else can you beat the tar out of a cigar with a face on it, or pilot a prop-job plane to avoid a crash cymbal-toting monkey dangling from a giant arcade claw?

Hell, you trade shots with a queen bee in a hive/apartment building populated by literal "worker bees." They fly by every now and then, clutching their briefcases with exhausted looks on their faces. Earlier in the campaign, you watch one frog swallow his brother whole and take the form of a humongous slot machine. Yes, even the actual human characters are strange, including a stage actress who attacks with cheesy props and teleports by having her parasol morph into a mouth and swallow her.

Bottom line: Cuphead is a trip, but one that costs a steep price. If you're willing to go insane to witness content that's equally nuts, then this game is for you. However, if jaw-jacking challenge factors or "boss rush" products aren't your thing, then stay clear of this one. Personally, I'm glad I rolled the dice on it...

Community review by JoeTheDestroyer (December 30, 2022) Rumor has it that Joe is not actually a man, but a machine that likes video games, horror movies, and long walks on the beach. His/Its first contribution to HonestGamers was a review of Breath of Fire III.