Cuphead Review - More Than Just a Game, It's Art

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This game became one of the most awaited game of the year due to its unique cartoon visuals and full of nostalgic impression for old gamers now. But with all the animations in the game made with traditional animation techniques that is with pencil and paper and not digital, the game had to be postponed many times until finally released this year. With game targeted roads with 60 frames-per-second (FPS) instead of 24 FPS like most cartoons, MHDR Studios should make 2.5 times more thorough with the animations they make. One frame just wrong will have a bad effect on their animation.

Cuphead has been done for 7 years by two brothers Chad and Jared Malhenhauer are even willing to mortgage their homes to finish this game. Is the struggle worth the result? We'll see firsthand.

One day….

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Cuphead begins with an intro brought about like a children's story book. Game tells the story of two anthropomorphic glasses named Cuphead and Mugman at a place called Inkwell Isle. These two innocent characters visit a casino that cares for them - Elder Kettle is forbidden to approach. Both of these brothers did not obey the advice and still entered the casino. For newcomers, Cuphead and Mugman continue to win in the game of gambling dice. But the winstreak must be challenged after the casino owner comes - The Devil. This Antagonist character gives one fantastic offer: win one more game and they both become the owner of the casino. But if lost, the stakes are their lives.

The tempted cuphead of instant wealth instantly blew his chest away without thinking. His winning streak was broken and he lost the bet. The devil immediately ask for their lives because of previous approval. But these two talking mugs beg for forgiveness of the devil and will do anything to pay the debt. Hearing the request, Satan agreed and they were assigned to arrest other owed debtors. Having no choice, both our heroes comply with the task and run their mission to get a soul contract from each of the debtors hiding in various places.

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The story of this game is quite simple, but at least do not follow the cliché of games today like "save the world" or "save the princess". Behind this simplicity, the story at Cuphead looks a bit symbolic and has a moral message wrapped in old cartoons in the 1930s. What is so symbolic and what is the moral message in question? Maybe you want to find out for yourself.

Visual old-fashioned cartoons spoil the eye

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As you know, the main highlight of Cuphead is the Visual Studio MHDR design for this game. Visual from Cuphead wants to revive cartoon animation style from Rubber Hose as well as Disney in 30's. This cartoon style has its own unique characteristics where everything seems to move with elastic and also follow the rhythm of music that is played. For games released in 2017, Cuphead really succeeded in creating those nuances into their games.

Everything in this game looks fantastic and nice to be viewed by the eyes ranging from main characters, enemies, background and of course animation. This game also managed to bring the impression of nostalgia to players through their visual cartoons, although most of the play is not born in the era of the 30's. This success is all due to the dedication of MHDR Studio in their traditional animation technique with pencil and paper capital. They know if digital will not be able to create the nuances of these old cartoons, then they decide to take the old way that ultimately takes longer than digital. Dedication and the results given this game deserves thumbs up.

Creative and crazy boss

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Another important aspect of this game is the boss. This game focus in boss battle, then they should be able to create a collection of exciting bosses to be resisted and interesting to see. The result? Extraordinary and mindblowing. The whole boss in this game is really creative, none of which feels alike, and will make you wonder to shout "What the f * ck ?? !!

Starting from the first location you have been met with a bunch of strange but creative bosses ranging from flowers that can throw boomerang, frog boxer who can turn into a gambling machine, to carrots that can spend a hypnotic attack or something like that. Cuphead will keep you curious as to what the next phase of the boss will be, and your expectations will continue to be struck by a bizarre yet imaginative transformation of the boss.

The boses offered are also always varied. Every boss has his own theme, then you will not be met with clown-themed bosses or dragons more than once. Along with these varied themes, their type of attack also differs from one another. You are not always met with a boss with a straight bullet attack, the next boss will do a much different kind of attack, making you unable to play with the same tricks continuously. Boss is designed to feel new and far different from before, giving no monotonous impression at all in every boss you meet. Anyone who comes up with a brilliant idea on this boss needs to raise his salary.

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