Studio MDHR's debut game Cuphead, first teased back in 2013, finally got released after high anticipation on September 29 and boy, does it deliver. The game can be defined as an indie "run and gun" fashioned in a retro motif similar to Mega-man and Contra. The game's animation was inspired by 1930s American cartoons and truly captures its subversive and surrealist elements. Small additions such as water coloured backgrounds, smooth animation, and its captivating visuals make it a genuinely perfect experience.

The gameplay comes off as rather simple (at first) and purposefully punishing –kind of like the Souls series. The player controls Cuphead and, if playing with a friend, Mughead, as they battle one boss after another with a few on-foot traditional levels thrown into the mix. Each of the boss battles contains a lot of creative and unique variations with some of the levels taking place in the air in a bullet hell style of gameplay. With three lives, this is the kind of game where the player can be expected to fail very often due to its difficult but fair nature. While a "simple" mode is offered, it comes off as rather pointless as it does not help very much in progressing the game. The ranking/high score system adds to the games replayability along with its multiple endings but players in general can expect to replay a single level multiple times to the point where it often becomes very frustrating.

But the frustration is always towards the gamer themselves. Cuphead's controls are tight and responsive. Unlike certain sloppy games, the controls allow for some really tight maneuvers with a jump, shoot and dodge button assigned to the face buttons and the ability to change weapons using left bumper. I personally find it a lot easier to assign the shoot button to the bumpers or triggers as that allows the players to fire while dancing around the screen. The parrying seems somewhat impossible at first but it is a skill one must hone as it is vital to master the game. Cuphead can also fire a special attack which is charged from shooting the enemy and parrying attacks but players can choose to either charge up for a big special or fire it as it refills. Either of the specials makes the player temporarily vulnerable. The specials require one whole second to fire. Now that may not seem like a lot but in a game like this with all that's happening at once, one second can mean a lot.

The soundtrack is absolutely amazing too. An upbeat Jazz soundtrack recorded by a live orchestra not only compliments the animations but conveys the 30s feel. We're looking at the best video game original score of the year here. And a vinyl worth adding to the collection.

What makes this game truly stand out is its attention to detail. Small things such as showing the player their progression in a level before they had failed or how random lines and white spots show up like old black and white films render this a masterpiece. For anyone into nostalgia powered classics, Cuphead is worth buying.With all that polish and an amazing soundtrack to go with it, anaffordable price tag of 20$ is appreciable. If it makes you feel any better, the developers had to mortgage their house to deliver this game.