First introduced all the best way again in 2018, Cuphead: The Scrumptious Final Course is a long-anticipated DLC. There’s a complete new island to discover, alongside a brand new playable character, new objects, new bosses, and extra.
The setup is fittingly easy. Cuphead and Mugman journey to a far off-island the place they be taught that Ms. Chalice is making an attempt to recuperate her physique and depart the Astral Airplane. She will achieve this briefly — permitting her to interchange Cuphead or Mugman as a playable character — however to take action ceaselessly, she wants a particular deal with being cooked up by Chef Saltbaker.
The components wanted for this cosmic-culling culinary confection are held by a menagerie of recent bosses scattered throughout this fourth island. Beating them isn’t any straightforward job, so you may want each little bit of ability you have received.
Whereas it has been a lengthy await this DLC, it was properly price it. Studio MDHR has pulled out each trick in its sleeves to be able to create a visible and auditory feast. The animation right here is someway improved from the already-impressive model within the authentic sport, with each single body of a boss struggle completely full of element.
Every struggle has quite a bit happening, from supplementary enemies aiding the titans you are making an attempt to topple, to the animated backgrounds and foregrounds. In a single early struggle, gamers should weave between mob-themed foes being pursued by cops, dodging throughout bridges, and narrowly avoiding bombs.
I can not reward the animation sufficient. That is Studio MDHR at its greatest, pulling from every little thing that already labored and cranking the dials as excessive as they will go. It may be nearly overwhelming making an attempt to take all of it in, including to the general issue degree. The music is equally stellar, full of frenetic scores that match the snug old-timey Nineteen Thirties cartoon aesthetic, but nonetheless sound new and stuffed with power.
All of this comes collectively for the ultimate boss struggle, which is barely accessible after you have collected the 5 components. With out spoilers, it is becoming in issue and scale because the final boss to be skilled in Cuphead, and the creativeness of Studio MDHR is clearly nowhere close to exhausted with regards to entertaining concepts and matching anthropomorphic foes with meticulous sport design.
Even exterior of the dimensions, the sport design right here is a number of the greatest throughout all of Cuphead. A number of bosses have sudden, gnarly methods up their sleeves, and the sport even performs round with participant expectations based mostly on sure “commonplace” parts of the expertise up to now. Twice I used to be left placing down my controller and yelling “Oh COME ON!” however I can not be mad. I might solely clap on the method a number of the foes in The Scrumptious Final Course took benefit of how I anticipated issues to play out.
That is Studio MDHR at its greatest, pulling from every little thing that already labored and cranking the dials as excessive as they will go.
This brings me to the one shining caveat for every little thing I’ve mentioned up to now: Even by the requirements of the unique sport, these boss fights are exhausting. Private expertise will all the time fluctuate and completely different gamers will discover completely different parts difficult, however bar the potential of one or two exceptions, I genuinely consider each single struggle on this DLC is tougher than something discovered within the mainline sport.
If it has been some time because you performed Cuphead otherwise you’re a newcomer, I like to recommend going by way of not less than a number of of the primary sport’s bosses earlier than making an attempt out this DLC. You’ll be able to technically entry this DLC early on after beating simply a few bosses within the authentic expertise, nevertheless it is perhaps a greater thought to carry off and wait till you have gotten a bit extra snug enjoying once more.
Whereas the main target is understandably on the spectacle of the brand new bosses, it is price noting that with the addition of Ms. Chalice and several other new objects, the primary sport will also be skilled in a complete new method.
Ms. Chalice brings a complete host of recent talents to the walloping fest, including a double-jump, sprint parry, further well being, and invincibility whereas rolling to a participant’s arsenal. Regardless of that spectacular checklist, she’s not overpowered in comparison with the titular hero and his brother since she would not have the bounce parry and may’t equip any Charms for bonuses.
Exterior of the boss fights, there are not any new Run and Gun segments. You as a substitute get a number of recent challenges that share a typical theme, disabling your weapons and charms. This implies it’s important to consider carefully about tips on how to proceed. These present extra distinctive boss fights whereas testing gamers in sudden methods.
Whereas I do not wish to give too many particulars, there’s additionally a wide range of new Charms for Cuphead and Mugman, opening up new avenues for combating foes you are in any other case skilled with already. Mixed with the flexibility to play as Ms. Chalice in already-existing fights, Cuphead: The Scrumptious Final Course would not simply present new areas to discover and managers to struggle; it lets you re-experience the primary sport in new methods.
Because of this, in case you’re a newcomer, every little thing added works completely for a first-time expertise. This is not only for longtime followers of Cuphead; it makes the whole bundle extra engaging to anyone.
Cuphead had already earned its place as one of many greatest Xbox video games ever, however this seals it in and serves up further delights on the aspect. At solely $8, there is a ton of worth right here at an extremely low price.
Cuphead: The Scrumptious Final Course is a refreshing deal with in a yr that has seen quite a few sport delays. It would not overstay its welcome, and the issue right here isn’t any joke. Every thing about this DLC signifies that Studio MDHR is not content material simply to ship a top quality sport however as a substitute needs to hone its experiences to perfection, regardless of how lengthy it must take.
Cuphead: The Scrumptious Final Course is at the moment obtainable on Xbox Collection X, Xbox Collection S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, and Nintendo Swap.
