Independent games have come a long way from the days of “Castle Crasher” and “The Dishwasher”, especially in a market dominated by “Triple A” or other high budgeted games. One game that showcases the brilliance of indie developers is “Cuphead.”

“Cuphead” is an independent run and gun game developed by Studio MDHR. The game’s premise revolves around Cuphead and his brother, Mugman, playing dice at a casino run by the devil.

The protagonists accumulate a winning streak which prompts the devil to personally play a game with them. However, the brothers then lose this game as well as their souls. Cuphead and Mughead go on a mission collecting contracts from the devil’s other victims in order to reclaim their own souls.

The animation in “Cuphead” is influenced by 1930s cartoons. There is film grain on the screen which gives the player the feeling they are playing off an actual film reel.

The gameplay mimics older run and gun games such as “Contra” and “Metal Slug” because the heroes are able to shoot from different angles and use different weapons such as a spread shot. The majority of the game consists of boss battles with a few platforming levels sprinkled in.

“Cuphead” has special abilities which build up as the player does damage to a boss. The first ability is shooting a long beam of energy that causes moderate damage. Players unlock new moves by completing mausoleum stages which consist of defeating ghosts. Additionally, players can buy different abilities and perks in the shop.

The boss battles are well designed but can be quite challenging. It takes time to learn the patterns of the bosses and how to dodge certain attacks. Players can practice beating the bosses by playing on simple mode. That said, they can only beat the actual game on regular mode. The game’s difficulty does not take away from its fun.

“Cuphead” is an amazing and addictive game. I believe it can bring casual gamers to appreciate indie games, which can be just as good and innovative as any “Triple A” game. Studio MDMR went through a lot throughout the development of “Cuphead,” and they deserve lots of revenue and recognition or making such a great game.