Cuphead Review (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch & PC)

Cuphead is a bit like a fever dream that you can’t wake up from—an episode that locks you in a chokehold and spoon feeds you the heart of a thirties ballad in the hopes that you’ll hunger for another bite from the bowl of its psychedelic time capsule. It’s an unhinged nightmare—a vibrant yet mysterious power horse that progressively builds on the past and utilizes the weight of nostalgic charm to weave its pulpy extract. Visually wholesome, yet mechanically complex, it initially tricks you into believing that it’s an ode to fine arts and cartoons of a somewhat dated era. But then, just as you begin to feel comfortable with its chalky design and seemingly harmless aesthetic, it grabs you by the scruff of your neck and pulls you in. You fall deeper into a bullet hell, and it doesn’t let you go until you connect the dots and repay a debt to the devil.

Entombed within its classic thirties-inspired exterior is an oddly complex bullet hell experience that pays homage to high-octane side-scrolling run-and-gun culture—a network that builds its world on the axis of powerful boss battles and rapid attacks, nonsensical imagery and full-throttle theatrics. In an effort to capture the heart and soul of its chosen field, it openly embraces the wackiness, the whimsy, and above all, the adrenaline-soaked nature of a world lost in bitter turmoil and endless bullet casings. It’s quick, messy, yet oh-so-satisfying and more-ish.

To call Cuphead an easy game just wouldn’t be right. Frankly, it is awfully difficult to see beyond the cute and whimsical atmosphere and anthropomorphic crockery, given that it is, and proudly so, a tribute to childhood cartoons above anything else. Yet, it also doesn’t take much to come to terms with the fact that, cheesy grins and neighborly expressions aside, there is a rather taxing experience that requires a lot of patience to truly enjoy here. See, while the concept isn’t all that hard to wrap your head around, the way in which Cuphead presents its world, as well as the obstacles that you must overcome, can be a lot to wrangle. It doesn’t help, either, that it puts boss fights at the center of every cornerstone. But, we’ll touch on that later.

At its very core, Cuphead is more of a “shoot first, ask questions later” ordeal—an experience that sidelines the need for convoluted plot points and mechanics, and instead focuses on bullet sprees and dopamine injections. There is a story to unravel here, mind you. However, it gets lost in the grand scheme of things. Alongside a watered-down plot that follows two pieces of crockery—a cup and a mug, naturally—on their quest to repay a debt to the devil, Cuphead primarily casts its focus on a classic run and gun experience—a voyage of psychedelic exploration and unhinged fever dreams, where jazz music and jolly ‘ol sprites band together to create a whimsical vision that waxes the best of 1930’s culture. It’s pulpy, but not to the point where it’s sickeningly hard to stomach. The gameplay on the other hand, unfortunately, requires a strong heart and a lot of patience.

While the titular protagonist thankfully bears the weight of a versatile hero with a lot of ammunition and reliable abilities—dashing and prancing, for the most part—the enemies, sadly, represent the worst of bullet sponge-like entities. Like a traditional bullet hell, every battle requires careful calculation and precise analysis, and not, for example, an itchy trigger finger that couldn’t care less where the bullet travels. The fact is, Cuphead is an unforgiving game that requires a lot of patience and skill to work through. It is worth the headache, mind you, as it makes an effort to counter the curveballs with some great facets, including a stellar jazz-centric soundtrack and an incredibly well-orchestrated atmosphere, along with some brilliant characters and boss designs.

In an effort to help ease the burden of being a lone cup in a chaotic world, the game features a local couch co-op mode — which is great, given that some of the best battles are best fought as a team. It’s also a lot less stressful, too. I can’t guarantee that you won’t encounter the odd argument, mind you. But, if you can stomach the occasional confrontation, then you’re sure to find a relatively pleasant two-player experience here.

I have no reason to suggest Cuphead as the ideal cup of tea to soothe the senses, because frankly, it hits more like the almighty freight train of psychedelics. But, it’s the brief interludes that make it tolerable—the moments of satisfaction that come with a triumph, and the frequent spouts of joy that tie in with each post-boss climax. It isn’t always easy to drink it back and enjoy it during the time of consumption, but the aftermath, however, goes down a real treat. And that’s what’s worth knocking back here: the calm after the storm—the sense of accomplishment that froths over your ego after the kettle has boiled. If you can wait for that, then you might just find the perfect tea party.

Verdict

It’s best not to let the classic thirties-inspired cartoon configuration fool you into believing that Cuphead is anything other than a ruthless run-and-gun bullet hell with painfully taxing boss battles and world layouts. The bitter truth here is that, while it does sport a clean and somewhat wholesome atmosphere, Cuphead is anything but a jolly ‘ol stroll down memory lane. That isn’t to say that it’s unworthy of your time, mind you. No, if anything, Cuphead is arguably one of the best love letters to classic shoot ‘em ups on the market, with thanks to its slick and elegant jazzy score, fluid yet awfully flamboyant gameplay mechanics, and all-round sketchbook aesthetic that puts even the likes of Steamboat Willie to shame.

I won’t lie to you. Cuphead isn’t a smooth beverage; it’s a shot of absinthe with a side of hot sauce. Yet, it’s also something of a cocktail that’s frothing at the brim with excellent ideas and ingredients, too. It’s a love-hate thing, really; you’ll hate slamming it back, but you’ll also enjoy the hangover come morning, weirdly.