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July 12, 2022
CUPHEAD: THE DEFINITIVE REVIEW GUIDE – PART ONE – PART TWO – PART THREE – PART FOUR
This isn’t going to come back as an unimaginable shock to you, however Cuphead: The Scrumptious Final Course is price $7.99. For that cash, you get six new bosses, a King Cube type single-phase mini-boss, and 5 single-phase mini-bosses the place your weapons don’t work in any respect and you’ll solely win through parrying. You additionally get new weapons which are probably the most highly effective within the recreation, new charms that truly made me transfer off the smoke sprint for the ultimate boss, a brand new character that comes with completely totally different expertise than Cuphead or Mugman, and a secret merchandise that, when you end messing round with it, principally prompts God Mode. It’s lots of content material for eight bucks. As a lot enjoyable as I had.. and I had blast.. I’m nonetheless in some way a bit disillusioned. For DLC that took nearly 5 years to make, I assume I hoped extra. Possibly a pair new Run ‘n Gun levels. Not less than one, proper? Nope. No new Run ‘n Gun levels. Possibly a couple of new shmup stage? Nope, only one. The perfect.. and worst.. factor I can say about The Final Scrumptious Course (doesn’t that sound higher than Scrumptious Final Course?) is that I want Studio MDHR had spent the final 5 years simply making a sequel, as a result of the content material we truly bought is spectacular.
The King of Video games and the 5 battles in opposition to bosses themed like chess items are principally all enjoyable, however a few of them are fairly weak too. I beat two of them (the Bishop and the finale, the Queen) on my very first ever try enjoying them. For a recreation like Cuphead, you actually don’t anticipate a mediocre participant like myself to have the ability to try this.
I think they really feel the identical manner and possibly have purchaser’s regret that they introduced DLC like 4 years in the past. Possibly I’m flawed, however I get that vibe out of Cuphead D.L.C. All the guts from earlier than is there. The bosses are artistic (although the entire “you’ve by no means seen transformations like this” left me anticipating rather more grand set-pieces than what we bought). But, after a sure level, I bought the “we’re holding again somewhat” vibe out of it. However, not less than you get lots of worth. Turning this $19.99 launch right into a $27.98 launch principally offers you the straightforward mode-without-penalty everybody has wished for 5 years now.
THIS IS CUPHEAD’S REAL EASY MODE
After beating the DLC, I began a brand new file the place I used solely Ms. Chalice for all the pieces I used to be allowed to make use of her on (solely Cuphead/Mugman can do the Mausoleums). I figured I’d want about 200 lives to beat your complete recreation together with her. I truly did it with solely 98 lives. Why’s that? Nicely, Ms. Chalice will get one further hit level. That’s enormous. It may be much more than that together with her Tremendous Artwork II, which is a defend that doesn’t go away till you’re taking successful (properly, except the sport glitches out, and this DLC is glitchy as all hell). She has a shorter commonplace leap, BUT, she additionally has a double leap. The double leap by itself nerfs a number of ranges and managers. In reality, a number of cash and challenges within the Run ‘n Gun levels are utterly annihilated by simply that double leap.
Ms. Chalice’s parry is tied to her sprint, and typically this will price you. She springs-upwards if you happen to rating a parry, which might ship you into one other projectile’s path (this occurred to me tons of instances), but it surely additionally makes in all probability over half the sport’s parrys simpler to attain. Mix her talents with the brand new weapons within the recreation, just like the over-powered Crackshot pictured above, and this IS the Straightforward Mode Cuphead has been begging for. If you wish to begin over from the start, you have to beat the Run ‘n Gun stage Forest Follies and Mausoleum I with the intention to get to the Ms. Chalice appeal and the over-powered DLC weapons. I’ve created a information on how one can begin a brand new file and rapidly get them.
WHO THE HELL PLAY-TESTED THIS SHIT?
The Scrumptious Final Course is glitchy as all hell. With the brand new charms and talents that grant you further life, I had deliberate on at long-last getting A+ scores on each boss. I labored onerous to cost up the Cursed Relic into the Divine Relic and was all set to kick ass. Nicely, a lot for that shit. My first match utilizing the Divine Relic, the sport mentioned I scored a 0 in life, and just like the careless manure farmer, I utterly misplaced my shit. I replayed the extent, did roughly nearly as good, completed with three life once more, and that point, it gave me credit score for it. Huh? And that’s simply considered one of many bizarre points. In the course of the very last boss of the DLC content material, I used Ms. Chalice’s Tremendous Artwork II for the additional defend. BUT, between phases, the defend stopped working. ONLY the animation for the defend was nonetheless there, as if it was working. However, it wasn’t. You’ll be able to’t use Chalice’s Tremendous Artwork II a second time till the primary one breaks, but, right here it’s.
I imply, they ONLY had 5 years of growth time. Which was the time the Black Plague killed half of Europe. I assume that’s becoming since an precise plague hit throughout growth. Possibly they took lots of break day to spend that candy, candy Netflix cash.
The factor that royally frosts my ass about these glitches is Studio MDHR had 5 fucking years to get it proper. FIVE! That’s over twice so long as the Dreamcast had in North America! That’s greater than your complete lifespan of the Wii U. Consider all of the video games developed for these consoles, and keep in mind that is simply DLC.. a 3rd of 1 recreation.. and but I triggered these glitches on actually my very first try enjoying. So, these glitches, that myself and different gamers had been consistently bumping into, in some way didn’t get seen over a 5 yr growth cycle? Are you fucking shitting me? It’s so shameful. AND NO, I’m not advocating for crunch or offended that it took so lengthy to come back out. I’m offended that, even with all time, easy-to-trigger glitches had been left in. Subsequent time, Studio MDHR, rent people who suck and don’t inform them the right way to play the sport. Simply watch them play, and take notes.
Based on the principles of Cuphead, having your life lowered to zero means you (checks notes) ah sure.. DIE! Nicely, clearly I didn’t die. It is a victory display screen. So, yea, what the fuck, Studio MDHR? And if that is “not a glitch” and there’s a penalty for truly utilizing the objects, then you want to clarify the principles of your objects higher. In fact, this is similar firm that tells folks to “git gud” whereas by no means as soon as promoting the sport as tremendous onerous on any retailer web page. Explaining shit? Pssh, they’re “old-fashioned.” As a reminder, outdated video games got here with instruction manuals.
What I determine will need to have occurred was their play testers had been simply too good at Cuphead and didn’t take injury. The traditional indie “I forgot that different persons are going to play this and they won’t have spent the final 5 years devoting their total life to this and thus are more likely to not play it as properly” state of affairs that I’ve seen time and again for the final eleven years. Yea, video games get glitchy, and yea, video games get patches. However, these weren’t like some bizarre, obscure factor. They had been proper there, SO EASY to set off, and but in 5 years they by no means bought discovered. It’s inexcusable.
CUPHEAD IS STILL FUN
Assuming a Cuphead sequel ever hits, and so they’ll in all probability want one other decade on the fee they develop video games, there’s a very good probability I received’t be capable to play it anymore. I’ve early onset Parkinson’s Illness, and on the desk for me over the following decade, assuming I nonetheless have sufficient management over my fingers, is the lack of my reflexes. This might very properly be my private Cuphead finale. It’s been an extended, unusual, rambling journey. It was the announcement of this very DLC that made me notice that I by no means truly hated Cuphead. That I truly form of beloved it. As soon as I bought over my anger at its snotty “git gud” angle and the the truth that its studio is crammed with douchebags who don’t have any consideration for recreation accessibility, I spotted that, after I beat Cuphead for the primary time, it was probably the greatest instances of my gaming life. And at last, the DLC is right here.
And so they nonetheless don’t do sufficient with the map screens. It took me like 5 seconds to seek out this coin.
The Scrumptious Final Course is enjoyable. I don’t suppose the bosses are as mind-blowing or over-the-top as lots of people had been promising. Plenty of reviewers speak concerning the six new bosses (eleven with the chess items) like they’re a reduce above the earlier bosses, however they’re not. They’re simply new bosses. They’re on par with the earlier ones, and the perfect factor I can say about them is none of them stand out as unhealthy, although I discovered one to be underwhelming, and there was a part or two right here and there that was form of boring. I didn’t love the shmup battle. I didn’t love the ice man. However, I didn’t hate them, both. $8 for this set could be probably the greatest values any DLC set has ever had. I simply want the hassle had gone to a full-blown sequel as a substitute. Now, onto the definitive assessment..
The King of Video games Battles
The King of Video games is what replaces the Run ‘n Gun Levels and particularly the Mausoleums in Scrumptious Final Course. It’s a sequence of 5 boss battles the place weapons and charms don’t work (besides Ms. Chalice’s appeal) and you have to parry to win. You can begin the DLC right here, if you want (and you must because the cash are tied to those battles). The encounters occur between the total bosses.. possibly. Generally it allows you to do a couple of battle, or allows you to even select which battle you wish to do, earlier than kicking you off and disappearing for some time. That is additionally the one part of the DLC the place content material was reduce from the sport. There was to be a sixth battle that includes the King himself, and the code for this battle nonetheless exists inside the recreation. Whereas Studio MDHR annoys me with their shitty angle in the direction of accessibility and the truth that they launched such a glitchy product even with 5 years to work on it, the one factor they’ve my full religion in is, if one thing will get reduce, it bought reduce for a cause. I’m going to imagine the King’s battle will need to have sucked, as a result of the opposite 5 battles are fairly dang enjoyable, even when some are tremendous simple to beat.
Boss #29 (King of Video games Battle #1): The Pawns
Obvious Inspiration: They remind me of the ants from outdated Disney cartoons.
IGC Likes: That such a easy premise continues to be very thrilling and intense.
IGC Dislikes: That there’s no scores for these battles.
Malice of the Chalice: Ms. Chalice has a vital benefit right here.
The pawns are the one of the chess fights that doesn’t really feel like a boss, which is becoming, I assume. They leap down at you, and it’s a must to keep away from making contact whereas hitting a parry on their head. Even the items you defeat will return to the highest to proceed leaping down, and if you happen to miss one, it’s a must to look forward to the opposite seven to cycle by their leaps earlier than you get one other crack at it. All the chess battles really feel like they had been made with Ms. Chalice’s parry sprint particularly in thoughts. In reality, that is the one a type of battles I truly beat utilizing Cuphead, and that was solely as a result of I used to be sure and decided to ONLY use him at first with the DLC, however I gave that shit up. While you play as Cuphead/Mugman, hitting a parry additionally means throwing your self into the sky and exposing your self to the pawns, however Chalice can hit her parries low to the bottom. Studio MDHR ought to have gone to Hasbro and provided to have them sponsor Ms. Chalice, as a result of she completely Nerfs™ these battles.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Whereas I mourn the lack of the Run ‘n Gun levels, I’ll be damned if the chess levels aren’t a enjoyable concept and maintain what ought to be a stale system recent. It actually helps that this opening battle is surprisingly intense. The speed and angles that the pawns leap down at you made me have just a few shut calls, and I even had a “died on the final one” a pair instances. Granted, as soon as I spotted the chess battles had been made for the chick, I’m like 6 for 0 with Ms. Chalice on this battle, however nonetheless, a pleasant opening sequence. That is in all probability the weakest of the chess battles by way of play worth and it’s nonetheless fairly dang good. Much more enjoyable than any of the Mausoleum levels. Like, it’s not even shut. Nice concept this was.
Boss #30 (King of Video games Battle #2) : The Knight
Obvious Inspiration: Horace Horsecollar, Ken from the Avenue Fighter sequence, A Knight for a Day (1946)
IGC Likes: The one of the 5 chess matches that I’d classify as tough.
IGC Dislikes: In contrast to the opposite chess battles, this one feels prefer it may have been expanded right into a full boss battle. Oh, and you’ll cheese the hell out of it.
Malice of the Chalice: You virtually MUST use Chalice. I by no means got here shut with simply Cuphead/Mugman.
By far.. BY FAR.. the chess piece that gave me probably the most bother, the Knight is definitely the deepest of the chess battles. Very first thing’s first: simply use Chalice. The Knight battle seems like Nintendo’s Punch-Out!! franchise as a platformer, the place counter-attacking is essential, however most of these assaults are too excessive of a danger if it’s a must to do the parry with an angled leap. The knight has three assaults that he telegraphs, and one which comes with no warning if you happen to stand too far-off for too lengthy. Hold a medium distance. If he pokes his head out of his helmet, he’s going to do an enormous sweeping movement. If he kneels down low, he’s going to dart throughout the playfield. If he does an upper-cut, it’s a faux out. You can too rating successful when he taunts you, but it surely’s excessive danger. On the plus aspect, if you happen to take injury, you’ve sufficient time to attain two or three free hits earlier than you cease blinking. It’s important to parry the pink plume to get him. Superior battle!
Meals For Thought: That is the final occasion of “I want this had been a full battle” I’ll need to cope with in a very long time, however I’ll give credit score to Studio MDHR: after they had a very good single-phase idea, they ran with it. Many of the King Cube mini-bosses and all DLC the mini-bosses are actually enjoyable. Yea, I want they’d been expanded into larger rights (properly, I may do with out with the opposite Chess fights) however I’m pleased we bought what we bought. By no means pad something out simply because somebody like me goes to bitch about it. Critically. I do know I’m sending combined messages right here, however glorious much less is all the time higher than uninspired extra.
Boss #31 (King of Video games Battle #3): The Bishop
Obvious Inspiration: Catholics. About rattling time we get some illustration in video games.
IGC Likes: A very distinctive idea that works inside the Cuphead system. Oh, and I lastly joined the “beat a boss the primary ever time I confronted it” membership. Take that, Angela!
IGC Dislikes: That Angela beat Djimmi the Nice on commonplace on her first try, which was a a lot larger diploma of problem, the show-off.
Malice of the Chalice: That is the one chess battle the place you want Chalice the least, although she nonetheless has a slight benefit on account of having the ability to parry from the aspect.
The Bishop is a one-of-a-kind battle in Cuphead. When you do nonetheless need to straight assault him, the key mechanic of this combat is extinguishing the candles he lights. You simply have to the touch them as a substitute of parrying them (stunned they didn’t work that out), and blowing all of them out renders the Bishop weak once more. It’s a terrific concept, and it really works. Possibly all this Cupheading has simply made me superior as a result of I aced it on my first try. It wasn’t the one one I beat on my first try (I additionally completely lucked into beating the queen as properly), but it surely’s not completely toothless as I died in my rematch with it the second time round. It’s a combat that’s tailor made for shut encounters, and as soon as I bought over the shock of wonderful victory, I’ve to confess, it’s fairly enjoyable.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I don’t suppose Studio MDHR is missing for good concepts. Every of the chess matches is memorable, and the creepy-ass Bishop is especially memorable. You don’t anticipate to see spiritual iconography in video games like this, however you actually don’t anticipate it to be a boss, in a church setting, with crosses and all the pieces round. I love the heart of it. Simply suppose: Nintendo would have demanded this be altered not even ten years in the past. We’ve come far.
Boss #32 (King of Video games Battle #4) : The Rook
Obvious Inspiration: Peg Leg Pete, traditional Sport & Watch video games.
IGC Likes: Each side of this battle; that they drew Betty Boop as a guillotine, which as I’ve acknowledged earlier than, is the best type of execution.
IGC Dislikes: That this character design wasn’t used on a normal boss.
Malice of the Chalice: Ms. Chalice has a vital benefit right here.
Whereas the Knight might be probably the most well-rounded of all of the chess matches, the Rook battle is my private favourite. I really like EVERYTHING about this combat. I really like the character design. I really like the heads. I really like that he’s simply ignoring you and sharpening his axe. I really like the macabre vibe of all of it. It’s additionally a satisfying battle. That is by far probably the most old-fashioned of all forty Cuphead bosses. Like somebody took a spinning-plate/juggling-type LCD recreation (comparable to Nintendo’s Sport & Watch Fireplace) and turned it right into a boss combat. And it really works splendidly. That is as near excellent as any mini-boss will get. Superior loss of life animation too.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I’m not a recreation developer, however I’d suppose that there’s lots of inspiration available from the Rook. It takes very old-school gameplay and makes it recent and thrilling in 2022. What makes it really feel so epic is the sheer scope of it. In fact, it’s a little bit of smoke and mirrors and probably not that totally different from how outdated 8 bit video games used to decorate up the bosses to make them look bigger. In contrast to lots of the larger-than-life Cuphead bosses, you possibly can see the seams right here. What you’re actually combating is only a wall that launches projectiles, and if you happen to bounce the projectiles again on the wall, it counts as successful. The Rook is simply an animation occurring within the background. However, all of it comes collectively to make a combat that feels a lot bigger than it truly is.
Boss #33 (King of Video games Battle #5) : The Queen
Obvious Inspiration: Alice in Wonderland (1951)
IGC Likes: One other totally different form of battle, and one other “haha, first strive” second for me.
IGC Dislikes: Oh hey, similar to the King Cube sequence of mini-bosses, the chess matches exit with a whimper.
Malice of the Chalice: Ms. Chalice as a bonus on this battle.
Studio MDHR form of sucks at mini-boss finales. Okay, that’s not completely honest. It’s not just like the Queen right here, or King Cube from the unique construct, are crappy to combat. They’re simply underwhelming. Right here, you’ve three cannons that sway forwards and backwards, and it’s a must to parry the fuses to shoot a cannon on the queen. She often sends stacks of lions at you, however the actual problem is she has one of many hardest “make it rain” assault patterns within the recreation. When you beat her, that’s it for the chess items. Beating the Bishop on my first strive made me really feel glorious. Right here? I felt like I had lucked out. Like King Cube earlier than her, I mentioned “that’s it?” Nicely, there’s a boss rush for an achievement, however in any other case.. that’s it.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Yea, they had been out of concepts. Wait, wouldn’t it have made extra sense so that you can shoot cannonballs on the Rook, which is a fort? And wouldn’t it’s extra becoming as a tribute to the Queen of Hearts to have her ship heads at you (“OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!”) that it’s a must to bounce again at her? Now I’m questioning if I’m onto one thing. Granted, she wasn’t meant to be the last boss. You realize, I pulled this out of my ass as a result of these “Meals for Thought” sections I pigeon-holed myself into doing might be robust to jot down after thirty-three bosses (and I’m scripting this on my thirty third birthday. Meta!) however now I believe I could be on to one thing. I’m fairly certain I’m not on one thing. Until any person put one thing in my water. Let’s not rule this out. Subsequent!!
ANGEL & DEMON: THE HIDDEN MINI-BOSS
Sigh. So, I used the order from the Cuphead Wiki to face the bosses, and so they have the Angel & Demon listed final, so I assumed it was some form of final-final-final particular boss. It is sensible! Have a look at the background! And there’s a factor that appears just like the Satan! HE WAS THE LAST BOSS THE FIRST TIME! However, no, this can be a particular single-phase mini-boss hidden within the recreation. Earlier than I get to the six main bosses that the DLC added, let’s assessment this combat.
GETTING TO IT
There’s a gaggle of three mountaineers, and if you happen to speak to them, they’ll not-so-covertly present you instructions. Subsequent to the Howling Aces battle is a graveyard. Use the middle tombstone as a guidepost for every route.
Like, see the way it says “UPRIGHT” within the textual content? Ranging from the middle tombstone, you’d go up after which proper, after which click on that tombstone. Now, repeat the method from the middle tombstone for the instructions the second and third place mountaineers offer you, and also you’ll unlock this boss.
What does this do? Nicely, you should buy an merchandise referred to as the “Damaged Relic” from the DLC store for one coin. Profitable this combat.. and it’s no slouch, even for a mini-boss.. modifications the Damaged Relic into the “Cursed Relic” which goes to be a ache within the ass for you if you wish to use it. In case you equip it, you solely get one hit level to beat bosses with, and it randomizes your weapons. Each time you let go of the fireplace button, use an EX shot, or sprint, your gun modifications. It’s loopy onerous at first, however, it slowly beneficial properties extra energy as you beat extra bosses.
In case you beat this and wish to rematch it, simply maintain down each triggers in entrance of the middle grave.
When you’ve overwhelmed sufficient bosses (there’s a complete scoring system. Seek the advice of the Cuphead Wiki on it right here) it turns into the Divine Relic, which is principally each appeal in a single, although the weapons are nonetheless randomized. It’s insanely over-powered, however by time you get it, you shouldn’t actually need it anymore. Anyway, onto the combat.
Boss #34: Demon & Angel in “One Hell of a Dream”
Obvious Inspiration: The battle happening with out the soul of all of us.
IGC Likes: Probably the most difficult, unique of the mini-boss battles within the recreation; that it’s a deleted part from the unique recreation being repurposed right here.
IGC Dislikes: That I truly did this boss final, and likewise the achievement is a reference to Castlevania II, which suggests operatives from Microsoft will kick of their door and shoot their canine. If they don’t have a canine, one can be supplied for them. They’ll identify it Mr. Tiny, and he’ll be the misplaced lovable little good boy that ever graced this Earth. They’ll bond with it and study issues about their very own capability for love they by no means may have imagined. At this level, operatives from Microsoft will kick of their door and shoot the canine. Sorry, that is the established penalty for utilizing “It’s a Horrible Night time to Have a Curse.” Guidelines are guidelines.
Malice of the Chalice: Ms. Chalice is definitely, in my view, at an obstacle right here.
That is a type of “rub your stomach and pat your head” bosses. I knew a man who may try this whereas whistling, the freak. The concept right here is, you’ll ALWAYS face the Demon, and if you happen to flip round, the Demon and Angel will swap locations. The Demon’s assaults will all the time damage you. The Angel’s assaults will all the time go harmlessly by you. It doesn’t sound very difficult, however holy crap, is that this a balancing act. There’s additionally a platform that strikes throughout the underside that’s suspended by a lightning bolt that causes injury. Being an fool, I didn’t discover the lightning bolt and thought the underside induced injury relying on the way you had been dealing with. When you get used to this, it’s pretty easy. I didn’t get used to it and solely received by equipping the guts ring and parrying further hearts and barely squeaking out wins. Superior combat although. Enjoyable reality: the Angel & Demon are, together with Goopy from Inkwell I, the one bosses that don’t assault you with minions.
Pachi-Pachi, considered one of many deleted bosses, although a few of them, or their proposed assault patterns, had been apparently reused for the DLC. A large vampire bat was additionally utterly completed and included in early demos and likewise is a no-show right here. I’d thought for certain it was coming.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: This was a deleted part from the unique construct’s finale Satan combat. Nicely, thank god they reduce this from there. That is INSANELY tough, and it’s solely due to how quick it’s that I managed to tug off a victory. Nonetheless, Cuphead reduce lots of content material and I hoped the DLC would restore that, or add further phases to the present bosses. So far as I can inform, they didn’t. That’s a disgrace. There’s some full-fledged deleted bosses that made it far in growth, together with a sentient Pachinko machine meant for the King Cube combat. No clue why they didn’t add that again in, or Jelly the Octopus, or the Demon Bat. The unhappy half is, this after-thought bonus combat is definitely one of many highlights of the DLC, as a result of there’s no battle fairly prefer it.
Boss #35: Glumstone the Large in “Gnome Approach Out”
Acknowledged Inspiration: The Outdated Man of the Mountain (1933), Pitfall!
IGC Likes: Seamlessly matches in with the texture of the Cuphead bosses.
IGC Dislikes: A kind of “tough by having busy visuals” conditions.
Malice of the Chalice: Ms. Chalice has a significant benefit over the primary part solely.
Glumstone is principally the icon of Cuphead’s DLC. He was a part of a graphic novel launched in 2020, and is even featured in The Artwork of Cuphead ebook that I used so closely for the Definitive Evaluation up thus far. We needed to wait a LONG time for this combat, which makes me marvel if Studio MDHR wouldn’t have been wiser to only add one boss at a time, for like $2.99. I’d pay that a lot for every combat, simply. Possibly they might simply create an arcade-like Cuphead expertise the place they launch a brand new boss no matter they end one. I imply, why not? You don’t want a narrative for these things.
PHASE ONE – VAPE MOUNTAINS (HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE TO THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS): Glumstone’s opening stage takes place on a sequence of platforms that transfer up and down, typically into the trail of geese. You additionally need to be careful for gnomes that spit fireballs at you or climb up the platforms. The bottom is roofed in spikes too, so follow the platforms. Sometimes, he’ll additionally seize a bear and simply deliver it throughout the playfield, just like the shark in Brineybeard’s combat, solely it’s slower and quite a bit simpler to dodge. Glumstone’s main assault is opening his mouth and blowing clouds at you. In case you’re not in shut vary, solely Chalice will be capable to attain all of them, as neither Cuphead nor Mugman can leap excessive sufficient to succeed in all of them. It’s a enjoyable part however simple in comparison with what’s coming subsequent.
PHASE TWO – HANDBALL: See, even giants play with themselves utilizing hand puppets. Wait, I didn’t imply it like that. I imply they play with their balls. NO, STOP! I imply they toss their balls forwards and backwards. I imply with puppets. I imply, with their arms. Oh Christ, that is popping out all flawed. What I’m attempting to say is the enormous bats its ball forwards and backwards when you look ahead to bulges beneath you. I imply little males coming at you whereas a much bigger man retains tossing to himself. It’s a part and it’s actually onerous. I imply to beat.
You realize what? Screw it. Transferring on..
PHASE THREE – IT’S NOT A TUMOR!!: I assume it’s presupposed to be an ulcer but it surely seems to be extra like most cancers to me. Possibly if you happen to simply wait Glumstone out lengthy sufficient he’ll die of pure causes. It’s a pleasant concept, since there’s like 1,000,000 cartoons that do that gag, but it surely’s form of underwhelming as a finale as a result of it goes from feeling epic in scale to form of small. However, the Pitfall! tribute is sweet, and the issue steadiness is spot on. It’s clear why Glumstone bought the lion’s share of pre-release hype. It’s the perfect of the bosses, in addition to Chef Saltbaker himself. In brief: enjoyable boss. Form of a meh ending.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Glumstone was a type of “on the drafting board a very long time” bosses that makes Cuphead work so properly. The magic of the artwork type is there’s dozens of cartoons that use a huge character, and Glumstone seems to be like all of them whereas in some way additionally trying like none of them. The power to borrow liberally from this period and are available very shut with out straight copying any character make for a beautiful useful resource and it’s superior somebody did such a very good job of paying homage to all of it.
Boss #36: Moonshine Mob in “Bootlegger Boogie”
Obvious Inspiration: Ants within the Vegetation (1940), Mr. Bug Goes to City (1941)
IGC Likes: Recycling deleted ideas from the unique construct.
IGC Dislikes: The Anteater has a bit an excessive amount of sponge.
Malice of the Chalice: Chalice has a main benefit in phases one & two and a vital drawback within the part three.
That includes not only one however two deleted ideas from the unique construct, the Moonshine Mob was the primary boss I fought after I began up the DLC. But, it seems like a combat that would have been a part of the bottom recreation, proper up till a pleasant (and for some, infuriating) twist on the finish of the third part. Bootlegger Boogie is the best DLC expertise: it feels prefer it may have been there all alongside, but it twists your expectations ever so barely.
PHASE ONE – SPIDER MOBSTER: This is without doubt one of the deleted concepts.. form of. Initially there was a shmup stage the place you fought the “Flying Gents” which was a spider in a high hat that appears kinda vaguely just like the Spider Mobster. This is without doubt one of the extra enjoyable phases, because it’s truly fairly busy, but it’s tremendous simple to get the cling of. There’s three totally different channels assaults can occur on, and success and failure will largely hinge on switching forwards and backwards between them. The spider has 4 assaults.
♥Coppers utilizing bug spray will often stroll out and shoot at you, a few of which might be parried, although the angles to attain one are fairly robust.
♣He’ll typically pull out a button and drop bombs on the stage that explodes a couple of second after you go them. These are a cinch to set off and keep away from the injury.
♦He’ll use an old-timey telephone to name in “toughs” to stroll onto the playfield and assault you. The flies will camp within the background and offer you ample warning earlier than strolling out and are simple to kill.
♠His hardest assault by far is kicking a caterpillar at you that ricochets off the partitions. This assault doesn’t occur in easy mode.
It’s a fairly good part. Considered one of my favorites of the DLC.
PHASE TWO – LIGHT BUG: The Mild Bug is without doubt one of the earliest ideas for a stand-alone boss that didn’t occur. The assault sample is, roughly, the identical because it was as a prototype. The Mild Bug dances forwards and backwards on the second aircraft whereas six beams of “sound waves” circle round you. There’s a warning of when one set of three goes to alter into an assault. Inexperienced is protected, yellow means “shit’s about to go down, yo” and purple is harmful. The assaults solely occur briefly and when you get the cling of it, avoiding the assault is straightforward (and if you happen to do it proper, the Mild Bug herself received’t be near you while you swap between ranges).
That is the place the crackshot turns into very useful, as you don’t must take intention and may give attention to avoiding the beams. For the musically inclined, you may as well use the music as a cue for when the assault will occur. There’s additionally cops and moonshine barrels working forwards and backwards this entire time, and among the barrels might be parried. I believe I solely scored one parry off a barrel your complete time. However, one other enjoyable part!
PHASE THREE – ANTEATER: In all probability probably the most visually placing of all of the DLC bosses, the Anteater’s arrival feels so rattling epic. It’s a disgrace the precise battle turns into fairly tedious. You get an opportunity to attain some early injury on the actual last boss at the beginning of the battle, however then the Anteater makes his transfer. He’s solely weak from his tongue. Ms. Chalice’s parry sprint is sort of nugatory right here, because the Anteater will take turns doing three to 5 trusts along with his mouth on one aspect of the extent, finally sticking his tongue out throughout the display screen. The tongue might be parried, and when you’ve got the whetstone geared up, this battle goes quite a bit quicker. In concept, you possibly can time it with Ms. Chalice, however I by no means may.
Ultimately, he’ll retract his tongue and unleash a brawl between a cop and a hoodlum that bounces across the display screen just like the caterpillar from earlier, solely it takes A LOT extra bullets to kill. He’ll then swap to the opposite aspect and repeat the identical assault. After two hours, give or take, he’ll lastly die. This would be a enjoyable part, solely it takes FOREVER to lastly rating the knockout. Solely, it’s NOT the knockout.
PHASE FOUR – SUDDENLY SNAIL: A banner drops down and the Snail declares KNOCKOUT sounding like Edward G. Robinson. The Anteater collapses and the ultimate part begins with the Snail capturing comparatively rapidly at you, although lots of his pictures might be parried. That is the quickest part in all of Cuphead, and when the Snail dies after just some pictures, the actual announcer clears his throat earlier than declaring KNOCKOUT in a pleasant contact.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I believe that is just about it for the deleted content material that bought reworked into the sport. It’s good that they discovered a spot for the “The Mild” boss that was considered one of their earliest plans. What strikes me most about Moonshine Mob is how unimaginable Studio MDHR is on the massive ideas, superior set items, and even pitch-perfect timing of humor. Moonshine Mob has just a few points, particularly the Anteater part, but it surely’s so imaginative you could’t overlook it.
Boss #37: The Howling Aces in “Doggone Dogfight”
Obvious Inspiration: Avenue Fighter, the canine from Tom & Jerry
IGC Likes: Plenty of recent concepts that makes an in any other case ho-hum design unforgettable.
IGC Dislikes: Probably the most unreasonable situation for unlocking a secret part within the recreation.
Malice of the Chalice: Ms. Chalice is neither better off or drawback for this battle.
Oh, I get it.. they’re canine in a canine combat. As in airplanes. They’re not owned by Michael Vick. Proper earlier than I lastly began to sort this part of the assessment, I used to be knowledgeable there’s a secret part. I spent the following 4 hours attempting to get it, gave up, and had a tantrum. Then, a buddy’s child informed me “use the Lobber” and I bought it on my first strive. Grumble. In any case that effort, the DLC’s lone secret part wasn’t remotely well worth the effort. What a waste of time. Keep on with the principle path, the place an in any other case generic theme turns into an unforgettable encounter.
PHASE ONE – UNLEASH THE DOGS OF WAR: Hughes Canteen, the NPC that taught you concerning the airplane in Inkwell I, is your pilot. You stand on a aircraft that can go left and proper relying on how shut to every edge you stand. It’s truly very intuitive. There’s an alternate management scheme only for this stage, however follow the default as a result of it really works splendidly. Utilizing this setup, a bulldog pilot will hearth slow-moving heat-seeking hearth hydrants at you whereas different canine rain tennis balls down on you. Sometimes, the bulldog will bail to both shoot you with large yarn balls or throw boomerang bones at you, a few of which might be parried. A pleasant little part, although maintaining with the tennis balls is a ache within the butt, and typically the timing of them and the yarn assault conspire to screw you.
PHASE TWO – YANKEE YIPPERS: 4 canine circle round you and throw letters at you, lots of which might be parried. In case you take your time earlier than choosing them off, you possibly can simply cost your playing cards up throughout this part. The canine don’t take many hits in any respect, and the crackshot is very helpful right here. This entire part is over and carried out with in a matter of moments and you progress on to the ultra-memorable finale. That’s, except you wish to open the key part and destroy the perfect a part of this complete boss.
IF YOU WANT TO UNLOCK THE SECRET PHASE: Don’t. It sucks. There’s not even an achievement connected to it or something. However, if you happen to’re into finishing levels, you’ll wish to use the Lobber. The concept is to break the canine simply sufficient that the exhaust from their jetpacks turns gray. There’s an audio cue as properly. In case you kill even one, you’ve missed out on it. As soon as all 4 of them are on the gray smoke, their Mother or no matter she’s presupposed to be will acquire them and the key last part will start.
PHASE THREE – SHINOOK PILOT SALUKI: Top-of-the-line phases of Scrumptious Final Course, the battle in opposition to the Persian Greyhound (clearly the snootiest of all canine) is actually a spectacle. It begins with mad scentists sort of lasers that jogs my memory of one thing that may be used to combat Mighty Mouse. After a pair pictures of that, the display screen will rotate 90 levels, and the controls together with it, and the Saluki will drop canine dishes on you that it’s a must to leap over. The display screen will go the other way up after that. When you get the cling of it, it’s truly a reasonably easy battle, and it may even finish by capturing the lasers and never the canine itself. It’s not a lot of a boss, however the gravity results stand out and switch the mundane into one thing particular. In fact, you possibly can shirk all that and do the pathetic secret part.
SECRET PHASE – THE WORLD’S MOST BORING DOGS: After all of the onerous work I put in attempting to unlock this, all of the Secret Part was is a totally primary, generic, overly lengthy sequence of dodging shit. There’s nothing novel or difficult about it. It’s actually terrible and fairly lazy and I’m so disillusioned, particularly for the period of time I put into getting it. All of the gravity results that make this so memorable? They’re gone. The charming lasers? Gone. All you do is dodge pineapples (a few of which might be parried) and the fireplace hydrants from the primary part. What a crappy factor to cover.
DOG FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Just like the Rook battle, The Howling Aces take bland, primary assaults and make them thrilling by including distinctive methods of tackling them. The airplane following your motion works, and I’m a sucker for gravity results in video games. If not for these issues, this could be a really boring boss, as the key part proves. I’m not in love with the theme, and truthfully, I form of want what that they had carried out was merged the shump and platform sections. That’s the one factor Cuphead hasn’t carried out but with its personal system. It’s in all probability not possible on account of the way it hundreds, but it surely’s all that’s left.
Boss #38: Mortimer Freeze in “Snow Cult Scuffle”
Obvious Inspiration: The Snowman (1933), Lullaby Land (1933), Darkstalkers
IGC Likes: In all probability probably the most standard of all of the DLC bosses.
IGC Dislikes: My least favourite of the first DLC bosses
Malice of the Chalice: Ms. Chalice has a minor benefit within the second part, however in any other case this can be a combat extra suited to Cuphead/Mugman.
Of the six DLC bosses, Mortimer feels probably the most like he belonged within the unique recreation. He’s additionally in all probability probably the most middle-of-the-road of the 5 non-shmup bosses. It’s not a nasty combat by any means, and it has some fantastic sight gags, however that is additionally the battle that I discovered to be the dullest. Prepare for some temperature primarily based puns that may make the writers of Batman & Robin blush with disgrace.
PHASE ONE – CHRIST, WHAT AN ICEHOLE: Mortimer has 3 ways of attacking. Apparently he’s a flasher, as his most typical methodology of assault is pulling out is opening his cloak to unleash tiny little ice monsters that spike themselves into the bottom earlier than coming to life and giving chase. It’s actually robust to guage their trajectory whereas in flight, however as soon as they land they’re simple sufficient to take out. He’ll normally then simply slam a large whale into the bottom. If it hits the ice monsters, it’ll knock them out of the sport in an adorably hilarious gag. Lastly, he’ll shoot playing cards at you, which might typically be parried. Uninteresting part, actually.
PHASE TWO – SNOW MORE MR. ICE GUY: One of many hardest center phases in your complete recreation, the Snow Monster is quick, aggressive, and focuses on crowding you in. He has a variety of assaults, and between these he may flip right into a snowball and roll or leap forwards and backwards throughout the display screen. If the obstacles from his earlier assault are nonetheless lively, it’ll be tough to dodge. He’ll additionally slam the bottom and trigger ice blades to poke up from the bottom.
By far his most typical assault is popping right into a fridge and capturing ice cubes at you. When the cubes land, they break into smaller cubes. If the beginning dice is giant, it’ll have two break sequences. They’re simple sufficient dodge, but it surely’s when he rapidly transitions to the rolling assault that this part turns into a ache within the butt. He’ll additionally shut the fridge assault by launching evil popcicles at you, a few of which might be parried. While you do sufficient injury, a sequence of platforms seems that takes you to the finale. The Snow Monster took me longer to finish than nearly any second part and possibly ought to have been the final part.
PHASE THREE – OKAY, SNOWFLAKE: After climbing up the platforms, you attain a rotating set of 5 platforms for the ultimate type of Mortimer. The large snowflake finale has an assault that by no means as soon as hit me. He shoots out.. like.. a ghost that circles across the outdoors. I don’t even know if it may injury you or if it’s just some seconds of getting free assaults. His different assaults are extra harmful. He’ll launch buckets at you, a few of which might be parried. After they hit the wall, the buckets flip into three moons that it’s a must to dodge. He’ll additionally shoot ice cream cones from 4 instructions directly, or launch his eyeball at you. The eyeball has beams that you have to additionally keep away from. An honest finale to an in any other case ho-hum battle.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Mortimer is the one of the 4 conventional bosses that seems like he may solely belong in Inkwell III. The opposite three would slot in extra as Inkwell II battles, with Moonshine Mob being on the perimeter solely due to the Anteater part’s sponge. There’s one thing about this explicit combat that feels climatic or finish gamish. Then once more, lots of people insist to me that I’m loopy for considering Brineybeard belongs in Inkwell I so take that with a grain of salt.
Boss #39: Esther Winchester in “Excessive-Midday Hoopla”
Obvious Inspiration: Clarabelle Cow
IGC Likes: Hey, extra shmups is an effective factor! Probably the most jaw-dropping character transformations within the recreation.
IGC Dislikes: In all probability among the many weaker of the shmup battles.
Malice of the Chalice: Chalice has a big drawback right here.
I’m so disillusioned that there’s just one shmup part within the DLC. I need an all-shmup Cuphead sequel greater than I wish to reside into my 80s. Whereas Esther isn’t among the many better of the shmup encounters within the recreation, she’s nonetheless a ton of enjoyable to do battle with. Enjoyable reality: this was the boss that I wanted probably the most lives and time to defeat within the DLC, and by a large margin.
PHASE ONE – REAL C.O.W. GIRL OF SHMUP MESA: Within the first part, it’s a must to swap between and higher and decrease space. Esther’s main methodology of defeating you is by having one of the visually busy sections of the sport. She fires oil out of weapons that crosses midway throughout the display screen earlier than doubling again and coming again at you as snakes (wait, I get it.. snake oil! See, I believed it was ink). Her solely different direct assault is to lasso a cactus that can block your complete channel she’s on.
The actual problem comes from vultures that drop dynamite into the playfield. The dynamite explodes into 5 separate explosions of three, then two (4 after which three on Skilled). AND whereas all that’s occurring, a horse will fly throughout the display screen and spit cactus balls at you, a few of which might be parried. You’ll be able to shoot the horses down, however you surrender parry possibilities. There’s only a ton of stuff to maintain monitor of right here and it turns into overwhelming.
PHASE TWO – HEY NOW, THAT’S NOT THE CODE OF THE WEST: In a kind of reverse of considered one of Djimmi’s assaults, Esther pulls out a vacuum and beings sucking loot up, and also you together with it. After dodging all of the particles, she’ll then bend over and launch safes onto the playfield. When the safes hit the bottom, they explode into the loot she beforehand collected, a few of which might now be parried. It’s a primary dodging sort of stage that goes rapidly, and when you defeat it, this healthful boss immediately takes a flip on the nook of Darkish and Macabre.
PHASE THREE – 😶 : The cow will get sucked into the stress cooker and changed into sizzling canine.
HOLY CRAP, THAT’S TWISTED!
When you choose your jaw up off the ground, that is simply the best part of the entire stage. She begins working backwards and launching steaks at you (my god) that take a pointy round pathway, and a few of which might be parried. Whereas this is happening, it’s a must to dodge cans of beans which might lengthen outwards. You’ll be able to see which manner the cans face and try to dodge them. The problem comes from the sheer velocity, as this can be a fast paced space. Not unhealthy although, and an unforgettable visible.
PHASE FOUR – A REAL SAUSAGE FEST: The ultimate shmup part of Cuphead has you now combating a complete can of sizzling canine (do hotdogs are available in tins like that?) with two large arms extending from it. The arms scissor forwards and backwards, however there’s protected spots the place no canine is you could go safely by. Whereas this is happening, the can shoots waves of chili peppers at you, considered one of which might all the time be parried. Resist the temptation to chase one down if it’s not in entrance of you and give attention to dodging the arms. It’s fairly spongy however a beautiful ending to my shock favourite sort of Cuphead ranges.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Oh this meals isn’t considering anymore. I killed it.
Boss #40: Chef Saltbaker in “A Dish to Die For”
Obvious Inspiration: Pinocchio (1940)
IGC Likes: An incredible finale that’s extra epic than the Satan combat. The twisted assaults are stunning of their visceral violence. I really like ’em!
IGC Dislikes: That there’s no extra battles left.
Malice of the Chalice: Ms. Chalice has a main benefit on this battle.
My Dad when folks complain his chili is simply too spicy.
In what’s the least stunning twist ever, Chef Saltbaker was a nasty man all alongside, and the battle in opposition to him is so imply spirited and evil that the smile by no means left my face. This, girls and gents, is without doubt one of the most memorable final bosses in gaming historical past. Nicely, besides that it will get simpler because it goes alongside. Critically, the primary part is a frantic dodge-a-thon, however whereas the visuals stay placing all through, the precise battle will get form cinchy.
PHASE ONE – CASUAL CRUELTY: All of the objects are you’ve gathered from defeating the 5 main DLC bosses? Yea, the Chef murders them in chilly blood with a smile on his face. It’s violent and ugly and FUCKING AWESOME! Like all skilled cooks, this man is simply 100% pure evil. He has 4 assaults: capturing limes that hover over you, sugar cubes that bounce at you (a few of which might be parried), cookies that bounce at you, and strawberries that rain down upon you. None of them are onerous to dodge on their very own, however the assaults can and do stack. And, whereas this occurs, there’s a fireplace that jumps from the ground to the ceiling and is tremendous simple to lose monitor of. Probably the most intense and brutal phases within the recreation.
PHASE TWO – SALTED NUKES: Yea, that is probably the most visually superior sequence in your complete recreation. It’s so superior. Right here, you shoot 4 pepper shakers that crash into Chef Saltbaker and progressively crack him. The pepper shakers shoot projectiles, a few of which might be parried, and leafs rain down from the ceiling occasionally. The hearth from the earlier stage is again as properly. I extremely advocate the crackshot for this battle. While you’ve carried out sufficient injury, you’ve earned a break with one of many best and quickest phases in any boss combat.
PHASE THREE – WHAT SLUGS HAVE NIGHTMARES OF: This part severely lasts like ten seconds, if that. Two salt issues that look form of just like the Keep Puff Marshmallow Man dance up and down. It’s a simple sample you could sprint underneath. There’s a noticed blade on the bottom too however, yea, this can be a layup and a break between the actual finale of Cuphead. Take a breather, plug these guys with a pair pictures, and transfer on.
PHASE FOUR – TOO MUCH SALT IS KNOWN TO CAUSE HEART ATTACKS: That is it! After beating the salt dancers, the ground begins to interrupt aside and two lethal-to-the-touch columns of salt spring up. Most significantly, a sequence of platforms begin to seem. In case you don’t have Ms. Chalice’s double leap, this part is a lot more durable. After just a few seconds of leaping from platform to platform, the Chef’s coronary heart will seem. It’s important to shoot it, and apparently it may be parried too although it doesn’t appear essential to killing it. It’s a little bit of a letdown for a finale, particularly with how epic these first two phases had been. However, that’s it. Until there’s much more shock DLC or a sequel coming, this was the ultimate part of Cuphead.
Thanks, Elias!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Thanks, all people for following me on this bizarre little journey I’ve been on with Cuphead. From a recreation I believed I hated (it’s truly the alternatives made by the builders I disliked) to now being ranked #3 (as of this writing) on the Indie Gamer Chick Leaderboard. I didn’t suppose the DLC was ok to bump the rating forward of Lifeless Cells or Axiom Verge, however I nonetheless had a blast. To everybody who learn the over forty thousand phrases of this five-part assessment, I respect it. Go, play some Cuphead!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To all my readers, thanks for the help during the last eleven years.
Angela, you’re the gentle of my life.
Mother & Dad, thanks for all of the video video games you bought me as a child.
Leslie Meyers, Amanda Lange, Jim Bevan for his or her contributions to the trivia.
William, my finest buddy.
Brian, who bought me into this recreation reviewing stuff.
Dave Sanders, you’re the good man I do know.
Jordi, you’re unimaginable.
Sprint, you’re a dang cool man.
Everybody at Indie Gamer Group, you’re all my associates and I really like you a lot.
Aki, Mac, Andrew, Jon, Ryan, Elias, Michelle, Saud, & Dillen
Pals like Arlyeon, Bob, Dillen the Pickle man, too many guys named David, Chris, Kris, and Christopher. I’ve too many associates. I want to complete shopping for that island off the coast of Bermuda that I can stage loss of life tournaments and make you all compete for my love and affection.
Hunter, for serving to us unlock the Howling Aces secret part.
Studio MDHR, thanks for making a terrific recreation and being douchey sufficient to provide me tons of fabric.
The Cuphead Wiki, for all the assistance.
In case you’re actually learn this far, you’re bizarre.
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