Cuphead Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs

Downs

4. Many People Won't Get Their Money's Worth

Of course, the flip-side to such a level of challenge is that some - potentially the majority - of consumers simply won't get their money's worth. As mentioned earlier, we're talking minuscule percents of people who've even made it out the first world, let alone witnessing the majesty of World 3's more OTT battles.

And that's a real, immediately felt shame.

Cuphead's visuals are one of the driving forces to see it through. You actively want to see what else Studio MDHR have conjured up. The music is just as outstanding and unique per battle as the animations and abominations you're up against - though when you're 10, 20, 50 tries in, that appeal can start to waver.

With such a realisation that the game is saying, "No, you come to me", it's a stark contrast to the hand-holding we're used to, but almost to a fault being there is nothing less than the skill level required: No cheat codes, no easy modes that carry through for the majority - nothing other than bending to the game designer's whim.

Simply put: Cuphead is such a hard and unforgiving game reliant entirely on pattern memorisation and pure motor skill, it can be unbelievably off-putting - a realisation you won't get until you've played for yourself.