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Softonic review

A great port of this superb gun-and-run cartoon adventure

Cuphead Don’t Deal With the Devil is a gun-and-run action game developed by Studio MDHR. Inspired by classic 1930’s cartoons and the rubber hose art style, this boss rush extravaganza finally lands on the Switch with the same jaw-dropping visuals and challenging gameplay that enthralled Xbox One, PC, and PS4 players around the world. Its hand drawn animations, watercolor backgrounds and jazzy soundtrack masterfully blend in this addictive and fiendishly difficult platformer. Did you think Dark Souls was a punishing game? You definitely need to check Cuphead out. Find out how the misadventures of these fun-loving cups are the ultimate challenge you’ll find on Nintendo’s hybrid console.

Story: Becoming the Devil’s Collector

Cuphead’s narrative takes us to Inkwell Isle, a magical rural area full of meadows and forests where the fun-loving siblings Cuphead and Mugman live under the watchful eye of their loving uncle Elder Kettle. Despite their uncle’s warnings, one day the two boys wandered far away from home and ended up in the Devil’s Casino, where they tried their luck in a game of Craps. After several winning streaks, even King Dice, manager of the casino, was shocked by Cuphead’s luck. However, the tables turned when the Devil offered a deal that was too good to be true: All the money of his casino if the siblings could win one more roll, but if they lost, he’d own their souls. You might wonder what was the result of the roll? None other than the ominous snake eyes.

After pleading for their very lives, the Devil offered a new way to repay their debt. Showing them a list of his debtors, the Casino’s owner asked the siblings to find his debtors before midnight the next day and collect their souls for him. Only this way would he pardon their lives and let them go. After telling their misfortune to their uncle, Elder Kettle gives Cuphead and Migman the ability to blast fire from their fingers, since the debtors won’t be giving their contracts willingly. This sets the stage for the most dangerous yet colorful adventure across the whole Inkwell archipelago. Their objective is none other than harvesting the souls of those unfortunate fools that, like themselves, were reckless enough to make a deal with the Devil.

Gameplay: An outstanding platformer full of boss fights

Don’t let Cuphead’s adorable cartoonish look fool you. While at its core the game’s a classic run-and-gun platformer similar to other titles such as Metal Slug, it comes with a devilish twist. Cuphead’s gameplay is based on continuous boss battles and believe us when we say they’re not easy. We’re talking about Dark Souls' level of difficulty here! To survive these encounters you’ll have to memorize all the enemies’ moves and create a winning strategy analyzing both its attacks and weaknesses. With Cuphead’s limited HP and boss cycles being quite long, you won’t have a single moment to breathe, but victory will feel extremely rewarding.

To aid you in your adventure, Cuphead and Mugman have a wide selection of weapons and abilities to defeat their opponents.There are plenty of these, and they are all very different, making fights even more challenging. For example, Cuphead will be able to dash, improve his finger shots by throwing homing bullets or even gain the ability to fly a red fighter plane (complete with its own bullets). It’s also interesting how these weapons and abilities are fairly easy to unlock, so this way players will be able to master the ones they feel more comfortable with and use them in the insanely difficult boss battles.

Cuphead can be played both in single player and local co-op mode. The latter is great news for Switch owners since, being portable, it makes it much easier to play with friends. For this reason, Nintendo’s hybrid console is probably the best platform to play this fantastic game if you are looking for a fun and challenging co-op experience.

Graphics and sounds: Watching cartoons never felt better

Cuphead is the most visually jaw-dropping 2D platformer you’ll ever play and it just looks fantastic on the Switch. Designed in the style of Max Fleischer and Walt Disney, Cuphead brings a cartoon world into gaming like you’ve never seen before. From its hand-drawn animated characters to its watercolor backgrounds, the game is an absolute piece of art.

Being a Switch port, it’s only natural to wonder if Cuphead looks as great on Nintendo’s console as it does on the PC, PS4 and Xbox One versions. Thankfully, it does. The hybrid console handles the game beautifully, offering the same defined, colorful cartoonish look. Loading times are fast and quick and the game runs smoothly at 60 fps except for a few noticeable drops.

The game’s visuals aren’t the only amazing thing about Cuphead. Accompanying them, you’ll find a fantastic jazz soundtrack that perfectly complements its 1930’s theme. Catchy melodies and upbeat rhythms will make you jump, run and shoot your way through the different platforming levels. However, it’s during the boss fights when the game’s soundtrack absolutely shines, offering you the perfect beats to defeat the game’s ultimate challenges.

Does the Switch port of Cuphead bring anything new?

Nintendo’s port of Cuphead: Don’t Deal With the Devil comes with a few new features and goodies. You’ll now be able to choose between Cuphead and Mugman in single player mode (before, the blue colored mug was restricted to co-op play).There’s also a large number of new character animations and taunts that, while not adding too much to the gameplay per se, are a welcome addition to this superb game.

Is Cuphead on Switch worth it?

Definitely yes. In fact, the game is a perfect fit for Nintendo’s hybrid console. Playing it in handheld mode is an absolute delight, being able to carry your very own cartoon world to enjoy short bursts of action and challenge the bosses wherever you go. The game’s performance is as good as on any other system, running smoothly and without noticeable drops. Also, the Switch is great for co-op, being able to play the game with friends on the same console just by sharing one of the two joy-cons.

Does Cuphead have any DLC?

Yes, it does. The Delicious Last Course adds a new island full of challenges that Cuphead and Mugman will visit in hopes of bringing Ms Chalice back from the spirit world. There, the siblings will learn from Chef Saltbaker that only the Wondertart can permanently grant Ms Chalice a body. However, to bake this sweet goodie, he’ll need some ingredients from some of the most powerful bosses from the island. With a cranked up difficulty level, The Delicious Last Course is a brand new adventure that you’ll be able to play from the first time you meet Ms Chalice in the base game. Are you ready for more cartoonish action?

An outstanding and fiendishly difficult game

Cuphead: Don’t Deal With the Devil is as great as ever on the Switch. Captivating, frustrating and with breathtaking visuals, Studio MDHR’s masterpiece is still the best gun-and-run experience you’ll find on Nintendo’s console. Whether you’re looking for a challenging game or a great co-op title to play with some friends, give Cuphead a go. You’ll definitely thank us afterwards.

PROS

  • Amazing jaw-dropping visuals
  • Great jazzy soundtrack
  • Clever boss fights
  • Thrilling gun-and-run gameplay
  • Works great on the Switch

CONS

  • Its high difficulty will frustrate casual players
  • No online co-op

Also available in other platforms

Program available in other languages



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