Almost two years ago, the long-awaited hardcore platformer, Cuphead, developed by Studio MDHR and published by Microsoft arrived to the delight of gamers everywhere. In a surprising move that few predicted, the game has made it’s way to the Nintendo Switch. Now that it’s here, it seems like such a natural choice of platform for the game.

Leo’s review two years ago praised the game by saying that after the long wait, “I’m equally glad and relieved that the game turned out to be even better than what I was expecting, which was already a lot. It’s gorgeous, unbelievably charming, challenging, and above all, fun to play. It might not exactly be the easiest game around, nor a very compelling title for casual audiences, but this is, without a shadow of a doubt, a mandatory title for any Xbox One owner. It’s just that good.” He scored the game a 9 out of 10. Does the Switch version hold up to the praise?

Well first of all, the art style holds up marvelously, especially on the smaller screen. The level of care that has been put into making Cuphead look and feel like an authentic classical animation is magnificent and feels right at home on the Switch. The animations are hand drawn frame-by-frame and it just shows. Top notch work here.

Much like the visuals, the sound also has been given the same level of attention. Enhancing the gameplay with great 1930’s inspired music that fits what’s happening on screen wonderfully.

Gameplay is exactly as you’d expect. Fast, responsive, and incredibly satisfying. I was skeptical that the Joycons would be a good fit for this type of game, but after playing a few hours I was perfectly fine with them. There are two main types of gameplay here consisting of boss fights and run and gun sections. Personally, I’m a bigger fan of the run and gun levels, but the boss fights were just so much fun that I didn’t mind that there was more of a focus on them.

Cuphead was an extremely difficult game when it first launched and the Switch version keeps everything intact. It maintains the brutal but fair difficulty with no adjustments whatsoever. This isn’t one for the casuals.

There is no Switch exclusive content and that’s perfectly fine. However, playing on the Switch does come with a number of advantages. First of all, it’s perfectly fine in handheld mode and one of my favourite ways to play. The game supports two player local play with a single player to each Joycon. A smart move that takes advantage of the Switch’s unique design even if it’s not the most comfortable gameplay experience, it’s always nice to have the option. The only issue I really noticed with the Switch release is the loading times feel much much longer. It’s not enough to ruin the game, but it’s definitely noticeable.

Cuphead makes the transition to Switch perfectly, matching up to the Xbox and PC counterparts with no compromise. If you liked Cuphead before, you will like it on the Switch. If not, then it’s still not for you. For newcomers however, it’s well worth checking out. Just be aware though, it’s a tough one.

 

Graphics: 10 The fantastic retro cartoon art style moves over to the Switch with no issues.	Gameplay: 9.0 Fast, fluid, responsive, and hell of a lot of fun to play.
Sound: 10 Brilliant soundtrack that matches the visuals perfectly.	Fun Factor: 8.5 Basically the same as the original release. A difficult but fair experience that is an absolute blast.
Final Verdict: 9.0

Cuphead is available now on Switch, Xbox One and PC.

Reviewed on Switch.

A copy of Cuphead was provided by the publisher.