By GersPardoel April 2, 2023 - 10:00pm

Cuphead is a game that's been around for a while now, but people are still talking about it. That's because it's one of the most challenging games out there and also one of the best. The graphics alone are enough to make you stop in your tracks and see what all the fuss is about, but there's more to this game than meets the eye. As it turns out, it might be more horror than you realize!

It's a cartoony run and gun game, but it's also one of the most horrifying experiences we've had in recent memory.
You might be wondering why a run-and-gun game like Cuphead could be considered a horror game. After all, it's not exactly the kind of thing you'd expect to find on the same list as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard or Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Well, let me explain.

cuphead is challenging in a way that few other games are--it's extremely difficult and unforgiving, with boss fights that will have you screaming at your screen in frustration before eventually figuring out how to beat them (if you can). The platforming sections are also very tough; if you don't have quick reflexes or good timing, you'll fall into endless pits over and over again until finally giving up entirely because "this isn't working for me." And even though it's not technically scary in terms of gore or jump scares (although there are some creepy bosses), the overall tone makes it feel like something straight out of an old black-and-white horror film from the 1930s: dark colors dominate every aspect of gameplay design; enemies move slowly but relentlessly towards their goal; eerie music plays in each stage...

In the first few levels, you get the impression that Cuphead is a fairly standard run and gun adventure game with cartoony visuals.
The game is not just a run and gun.

It's not even just a platformer.

The levels are not just boss fights, but instead have their own unique challenges: you might be tasked with collecting coins in order to open up new paths or running away from lava as it rises behind you.

Like Sonic Mania, Cuphead is a throwback to an older style of gaming.
Cuphead is a throwback to an older style of gaming. It's a run and gun game with cartoony visuals, but it plays like something you might have seen on the NES or SNES back in the day. The challenge level can be daunting at times, but Cuphead is also fun to play and offers up some interesting ideas that make it worth checking out if you're looking for something different than what's currently available on modern consoles.

But this game doesn't just try to emulate an older style of gameplay, it takes you back to an earlier age in other ways as well.
But this game doesn't just try to emulate an older style of gameplay, it takes you back to an earlier age in other ways as well. The visuals are in black and white (like many cartoons from the 1930s), the gameplay is similar to older arcade games that were unforgiving and challenging, and even the characters' personalities would fit right into a silent film.

The pixelated visuals are pretty much exactly what you would have seen in an arcade 20 years ago.
For those who don't know, Cuphead is a game from Studio MDHR that looks like it was released in the 1930s. The graphics are very retro and pixelated, which is why it's often compared to games like Super Mario Bros. or Contra. However, there are some significant differences between Cuphead and these other titles.

The first thing you'll notice about Cuphead's visuals are their distinct lack of color--everything in this game is black-and-white (with some splashes of red). This might seem like an odd choice at first glance but when you consider that most arcade games from this era were black-and-white as well, it makes more sense: if you want players to see all the action clearly on screen then using fewer colors helps ensure they can follow along without being distracted by bright colors or complicated backgrounds

At first glance, it looks like something from the rubber hose animation era of Disney from the 1920s.
Cuphead is a game that looks like it came from the 1930s. Like, if you were to set your TV to static and then turn it on and watch for a while, Cuphead would look like one of those old cartoons that played on there. But it's not just an aesthetic choice; the game uses this visual style because it wants to transport players back in time--not just in terms of gameplay but also in terms of how they interact with their world through play.

The first thing you'll notice about Cuphead is its unique art style: hand-drawn characters with big eyes and small mouths; large blocks of color against black backgrounds; some sort of hybrid between claymation figures and paper dolls (at least what I imagine would be used for paper doll clothes). This is all part of creator Chad Moldenhauer's goal "to create something timeless" by drawing inspiration from 1930s animation masters like Max Fleischer (Popeye) and Walt Disney himself (Steamboat Willie). The result is an experience that feels very different than what we see today when playing video games or watching movies--even though we're still talking about modern technology being used here!

You might expect plot and dialogue along with these visuals.
You might expect a plot and dialogue along with these visuals, but Cuphead is just a run and gun game. The gameplay is the focus here, not some overwrought plot or dialogue that would take away from it. The difficulty of this game makes it feel like you're playing an old school arcade game--you get one life per level and if you die, it's back to the beginning for you!

Like a cartoon from that era, the plot and dialogue are kept to a minimum and there isn't any real story here at all.
Like a cartoon from that era, the plot and dialogue are kept to a minimum and there isn't any real story here at all. This is a game for kids.

It's not that Cuphead isn't scary in its own way--you'll be tense as you play through some of the bosses, but it's never going to make you scream or jump out of your seat like something like Resident Evil 7 might do. And while there are some creepy moments (like when an enemy jumps out at you), they don't last long enough for them to be truly terrifying or disturbing in any way.

This feels like a game that was designed for kids if you look at the graphics alone, but playing it quickly shows that this is definitely not something that children should be playing unless they're trying to develop their anger management skills.
This feels like a game that was designed for kids if you look at the graphics alone, but playing it quickly shows that this is definitely not something that children should be playing unless they're trying to develop their anger management skills.

It's not a game for kids because it's difficult, challenging and punishing in ways most other games aren't. It's frustrating in all the best ways possible, if you enjoy challenge-based gameplay and have patience enough to tackle its many challenges head-on (or with your brains).

Everything in this game feels hard, from movement to platforming to combat.
Everything in this game feels hard, from movement to platforming to combat.

The game is unforgiving and will test your reflexes and patience.

It's an incredibly tough game with brutally difficult boss fights and unforgiving platforming sections that can test your reflexes and patience.
The game is incredibly tough, with brutally difficult boss fights and unforgiving platforming sections that can test your reflexes and patience. You have to be very good at the game to beat it!