Talk about a positive change in this one as Cuphead uses the style of 1930s cartoon but with color and sharper visuals thanks to modern technology. Don't expect any shiny shaders like you see in modern cartoons nowadays in which the character's body is having gradient fills everywhere as if those things are done in 3D and then converted into 2D. Not even the smoky and explosion effects will have those shaders as well. Music back then is mostly jazz-like and the cartoon shows back then are probably suited for everyone to watch. Not to mention that the way the cartoon shows are produced in the past is analog-ish so it's not all digital like you produce a modern cartoon with a modern computer. Imagine a modern cartoon produced at this present time with the style of the past, will there be whiny complaints or something?
The gameplay is said to be a run-and-gun shooter similar to Contra or something. You can shoot enemies, slide and even air-dash like in Hard Corps Uprising. Certain games are mentioned as official references by the developers in their blog to proof the inspiration. I guess that the only originality is the modernization of the past cartoon style without drifting away from what the game looks like in visual style. Be warned, like other run-and-gun shooter games, this one is really hard as if my hard times in playing Hard Corps Uprising weren't hard enough due to how harsh the games of this genre are. Perhaps, it's something to do with the level design part with a bunch of harsh platforming elements. Not to mention that there may be some kind of concept conflict in Hard Corps Uprising when I played it like no matter how modern the gameplay concept is with additional action techniques, the game is still hard.
The story of the game occurs because the two main characters had caused trouble at the casino or some kind in which they lost to the devil and had to pay a huge debt. In fact, they shouldn't have gone there in the first place and that the story should be completely something else.
As this is an indie game with the graphical style of a 1930s cartoon, the game could have been ported to other platforms besides Xbox One and Steam as it doesn't take up so much resources that way, not like those anima-tic games produced by Arc System Works that take up more than what Cuphead does. In fact, even Animal/Kemono Friends should have the same character style as Mickey Mouse franchise as I find it a serious mistake of this year over childish behavior influence coming from some of the human-personified animal characters which reduces one person's IQ and maturity according to the critic. Also, a talking penguin with white gloves and shoes should be worth looking at like it is a style of cartoon character suited for everyone instead.
