2. Cuphead-2017
• The game Cuphead was released in 2017 and is a 2D game with a side scrolling perspective. The
game was developed by StudioMDHR. Cuphead was released on Microsoft Windows and XBOX One
on September 29th 2017. It sold over 2 million copies by the end of 2017. The main characters in
the game are Cuphead and Mugman. They are fighting for their souls after being duped by a casino.
They have to collect the souls from various characters such as clowns. The game is styled like a
1930s game where the animations have been hand drawn which makes the game stand out as it is
unique and different.
• Cuphead features many cut scenes which explain the entire story and what the aim of the game is.
The story explains that Cuphead and Mugman where playing in a casino, however they lost a bet to
the devil therefore they lost their souls. To repay the debt they have to collect souls from various
enemies.
• The avatars in the game are Cuphead and Mugman. You can control the characters to retrieve souls
and defeat the enemies. The game type is single player or multi player. Whilst in the game mode
single player, you control the avatar Cuphead, however whilst playing in multi player you can play as
either avatar: Cuphead or Mugman.
• The narrative is shown at the beginning of the game told through a storybook, giving the game an
old fashioned tone. Along with the text, there are several hand drawn images to give a visual
representation. A short summary is that Cuphead and Mugman are playing in the casino where the
devil hands them an offer: they win all the money or they lose and they give the devil their souls.
They lose and their souls are taken. To reclaim them, they go on an adventure meeting several
villains and enemies along the way where the must take their souls to collect their own.
3. Cuphead-2017
• The game is set in a fantasy world with several monsters whom they have to defeat. The various
characters that the avatars meet along the way are unrealistic and unique such as a clown made
from balloons as well as the avatars themselves being cups and mugs. There are various different
settings in the game such as a forest, garden patch and a restaurant. Even though the settings are
realistic, they have unique fantasy elements to them which make the stand out and grab your
attention.
• The objective of the game is to collect the souls from various evil characters so that Cuphead’s and
Mugman’s souls can be retrieved from the devil. You can also collect coins from the game where
you can buy weapons and guns to help you defeat the enemies. In addition to this, you can unlock
achievements for your console.
• There are 3 levels of difficulty setting on Cuphead: simple, regular, expert. You can get to the next
level of difficulty by defeating the bosses. The inventory in a game is the in game items. For
example, you can purchase different objects from the pig to increase your chances of defeating the
bosses such as a smoke bomb to have an invisible dash. You can also collect an equipment card that
shows you what weapons and bonuses you have.
• Once you have defeated the bosses on the simple level, you can upgrade to the next level where
the challenges become harder. Once you had completed the level, you get your results which
includes your time, amount of gold coins and your skill level.
• Whilst playing Cuphead, the controller vibrates which provides a feedback interface. Even though,
the game is designed to look like a 1930 cartoon, it has modern technology advancements so that it
intrigues and interests todays modern players.
4. Cuphead-2017
• Cuphead has a very unique artistic style. The animation is hand drawn and is designed to look
like a 1930 cartoon. The specific artistic style is abstraction because this type of game is less
frequent due to technology and graphics moving forward. The game was invented by 2 indie
developers that later added many more members to the team of production. Cuphead could
also be classified as a cell shading style because it appears that 3D images look like cartoons.
However, I think that it is in the abstraction classification because the animation is so creative
and unique.
• The graphics for Cuphead are 2D sprites. The drawings/animations are simple but effective.
The avatars have very simple movements and they do not appear 3D: they are flat. Even
though, the graphics are simple, they have an old fashioned vintage feel to them due to the
colours used as well as how the characters and background has been drawn.
• There are lots of natural terrain in the game such as levels being set at the sea or in the
forest. In the game, there are barely any architecture except a castle where you have to save
the damsel in distress. There are lots of trees and rocks in the background. Cuphead is
carrying a peashooter which kills the enemies. Cuphead features a linear sequence where
you start by learning the about the casino and what happened to your soul where you then
try to retrieve it and then complete the mission by collecting your soul.
6. Cuphead- Sketches
Here are the start point
sketches for Cuphead.
Several different
character ideas were
drawn before the
creators finally decided
on Cupman and
Mugman.
The sketches are similar to
Walt Disney sketches which
increases the vintage tone
to the video game.
The sketches have
been drawn in black
and not in colour
which develops the old
fashioned feel.
In Cuphead, there are several
different characters in the
game therefore there are lots
of sketches of ideas from the
creators. The sketches were
used in animation in the
narrative at the beginning of
the game as well as the game
itself.
7. Cuphead- Background Graphics
Even though the game
and the concept is
extremely unrealistic,
the settings that are
featured are not so
unusual. For example,
there is a level where
you play Cuphead in
the forest, or in a
garden patch. There are
unique and creative
things happening in the
background such as
carrots growing out the
ground and shooting
baby carrots at
Cuphead.
The scenery changes
frequently on each game
therefore, there is always a
map-like page where you
choose to have your next
attack e.g. the garden patch.
The background graphics are
filled with different creatures
popping out and trying to
defeat you. There is constantly
something going on in the
background: it is not a simple
pass by from left to right.
There is lots of terrain
including trees, grass and
rocks. There is not much
architecture except in the
casino and castle.
8. Cuphead- Box Art
The Cuphead box art
on the XBOX ONE
case is very simple
and basic. Cuphead
and Mugman feature
on the front with
their arms around
each other
highlighting that they
are working together
as a team. There is a
prominent colour
scheme of red, blue
and yellow which are
bright and grab your
attention. The title is
in a distinctive font
which we
automatically link
with old fashioned
cartoons like Walt
Disney Animations.
At the top of the
page, it shows what
you can play the
game on: XBOX ONE
and Windows 10 PC.
There is also a bonus
art cell included
which could influence
the customer to
purchase the game.
On the following side
there is the bar code,
age restriction and an
explanation of what
the game is about.
Next to the age
restriction element
there is a list of some
things that are
featured in the game
that are not suitable
for younger viewers
such as mild
language.
Because of the drawing animations and the bright
colours, the game appears childish and suitable
for a younger audience. Although, the game is
very difficult and gets harder as you progress
which is not suitable for a younger audience.
9. Cuphead-Audio
• There are lots of sound effects throughout the entire game. For example, when Cuphead shoots the
creatures in the forest there is a quick gun sound. Also, every time Cuphead bounces there is the
iconic, typical cartoon jump sound that features in many old fashioned animations. This adds a
comical element to the game as well as a vintage feel which develops the tone that the creators
were aiming for. Encompassing the comical sound effects also highlights who the target audience
are: younger demographic. When Cuphead dies, there is a distinctive low sound which suggests
that you have failed the level.
• For each location, there is different background music. The music sounds like an upbeat theme
tune whilst you are on the map. Once you collect coins or unlock an achievement of a celebration
like party poppers and a trumpet: the sound of victory. The enemies also make sound effects. For
example, the potato in the garden patch levels makes a wind, blowing noise as a pile of mud is
blown towards Cuphead. As the mud flies out faster, the background music gets faster and more
tense. Absolutely every moment from Cuphead has a sound effect to go with it.
• In the game, some dialogue is featured. For example, every time you are introduced into a new
level someone shouts “begin!’. When Cuphead meets a new character, Legendary Chalice, she
speaks a language to him that sounds like sped up mumbles in a high pitched voice. This made up
language of mumbles is comical and once again adds a comedic element to the game and
influences it to be more enjoyable.
• The tone and mood created from the music and sound effects is tense at points, but generally light
hearted and fun.
10. Cuphead-Genre
• Cuphead is a run and gun game. This means that the screen moves from left to right where
the character does not actually move but appears to, and the avatar has a gun as their only
weapon. It does share some similarities to other games in this genre. For example, another
run and gun game is Metal Slug. In Metal Slug, the background moves as well as the avatar
having to shoot the enemies to win and complete the game. The setting of the game once
again is realistic with elements of abstraction just like Cuphead. However, the artistic styles
between the video games are very different. Cuphead is abstraction with indie developers
and extremely creative ideas, whereas Metal Slug is a photo realism style which reflect the
real world. However, the graphics for the video game are not the best quality. The terrain and
architecture between the video games is very similar as there are hills, trees and rocks.
• Cuphead is a 2D graphic video game that is side scrolling just like Metal Slug. Metal Slug was
created in 1996 therefore the technology was not that advanced to create a game with an
arial view or 3D graphics. Even though Cuphead was created in 2017, it does not feature
these game perspectives because it was designed to look like an older game from the 1930s.
• You can play both games on single player or multiplayer.
11. Cuphead-Graphics
• A similar style game to Cuphead is Metal Slug. Both games have similar graphics of 2D sprites
side scrolling. As well as this, both games are run and gun video games therefore the aim of
the games are the same except the storyline. Metal Slug was released well before Cuphead,
however the graphics appear from the same era as Cuphead has not used any modern
techniques to create the game. Comparing Cuphead to a video game released this year there
are many noticeable differences. Assassins Creed Origins was released in 2017 and the
graphics are extremely different. Assassins Creed has a photo realism artistic style as the
graphics reflect the real world. The game is clear and appears like a photograph. However,
Cuphead was also released in 2017 but has hand drawn animations in an abstraction artistic
style.
• The franchise that released Cuphead was StudioMDHR. The creators have only created this
game and it was supposed to be released in 2014, however production took longer than
expected. Currently, StudioMDHR have no other video games.
12. Cuphead-Engine & Console
• The engine that Cuphead is used on is Unity. Unity Technologies have developed ways to
create 3D and 2D video games as well as simulations for computer, console and mobile
devices.
• You can play Cuphead on Windows 10 PC and XBOX ONE.
• To play Cuphead you do not need a large graphic card as the graphics are hand drawn and do
not look photo realistic.
13. Video Game Addiction
• Video Game Addiction is excessive use of computer games or video games that disrupts everyday
life. The symptoms include social isolation, mood swings and compulsive gaming. It became
classified as a mental disorder in 2018.
• https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/feb/05/video-gaming-health-disorder-world-health-
organisation-addiction = Link to The Guardian News Article
• “We are very concerned about the inconclusive nature of the research and the evidence that WHO
is using to base this potential classification on,” says Ukie’s chief executive, Jo Twist.
• 'Dangerous gaming': is the WHO right to class excessive video game play as a health disorder?
• In China, there are clinics set up to help people with Video Game Disorder, however in the US there
is not enough research to conclude that it is a disorder and mental condition.
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5335353/Gamer-paralysed-waist-20-hour-binge.html =
Link to Daily Mail News Article
• “Gamer is PARALYSED from the waist down following a nonstop 20-hour internet cafe binge”
• “He begged his friends to keep on playing his unfinished game for him”
• “Last October, a 21-year-old woman in China became blind in one eye after playing video games on
her mobile phone non-stop for a day.”
• http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/video-game-addiction-who-gaming-
disorder-social-media-world-health-organisation-a8131166.html = Link to Independent News
Article
• ”The eleventh edition of the International Classification of Diseases is due to be published in 2018
and will include gaming disorder as a serious health condition.”
