This past decade has seen some of the best games coming from both indie creators and AAA developers. There has been no shortage of creativity, and each new game has started numerous gameplay trends. One of its best titles, Cuphead, made its mark in the easiest way possible. All the game did was be unique and only stick to the most classic genres in the industry.
Cuphead, at its heart, is a mixture of platforming, run and gun and shoot 'em up. However, the game itself is a perfect example of these genres, especially the shoot 'em up. Because of its massive appeal, the game has managed to pull in players from different interests and backgrounds. A lot of that pull has to do with its gameplay relying on a style similar to Galaga. The major difference is this game adds much more challenge than Galaga ever could.
The challenges that emerge from Cuphead can be traced back to its visual style. The game itself emulates the lost art of rubberband animation. One of the earliest forms of animation, this Disneyesque art style gave a uniqueness that most other genre games didn't have. It also added a whole new layer of challenges as its uniform art style made it very difficult to see what could and couldn't be damaged.
Most shoot 'em up titles involve the player covering a large area and firing a weapon to defeat waves of enemies. Most games, in the past, would have the player only cover the area in front of them. However, Cuphead keeps the player on the move by having enemies coming from all directions. It gets even more intense during the select run and gun missions. In these levels, the player will now have to run a gauntlet and hopefully make it to the end. They have to be on the lookout for enemies in all directions.
The gameplay forces players to think on their feet in high-stress environments. This can be exemplified when players can fire at pink counter enemies to grant themselves a few precious to strategize their next steps. Boss levels will also include platforming levels that can either help or hinder the player depending on timing and what phase the enemy is in.
The creativity in the boss levels feels completely original. Enemies can come in all shapes and sizes and represent everything from flowers to a bi-plane. The creativity, while admirable, can also be incredibly frustrating. Cuphead is one of the most difficult games out, and rightfully so. Its bosses are incredibly punishing, and each defeat reveals how close the player was to winning. It creates an obsession to beat the enemy because they are "almost there," and nothing is more gratifying than finally beating that one boss.
Once a player hits start, it's increasingly difficult to stop snapping those fingers after every defeated enemy. It features challenges, fun and style that isn't seen in many games nowadays. Its simplicity offers more variety in modern gaming as most gamers also love more complex stories and gameplay. No matter what the future holds for similar games in the genre, Cuphead is a fantastic game, but it is also a great example of a perfect shoot 'em up.