There’s a bit close to the tip of one of many new phases in Cuphead’s DLC that made us shout a four-letter phrase on the display screen extraordinarily loudly, and that phrase wasn’t ‘cups’. Being the level-headed varieties we’re, it’s very uncommon for a sport to make us resort to such outbursts, however there we have been, bellowing the type of language that may flip the air bluer than Mugman’s nostril. And but, regardless of this, we weren’t gnawing our fists in rage or spiking the controller off the wall. We have been laughing.
We will’t go into far more element as a result of it’s the type of factor you must uncover for your self, nevertheless it’s the type of low cost trick that may doubtless assure you’ll die the primary time, which in every other case could be totally infuriating given what number of lives will doubtless be misplaced to achieve that time. And but, one thing about Cuphead makes its cheeky trick endearing relatively than enraging.
It’s one in every of numerous moments in The Scrumptious Final Course [geddit!? – Ed], the (very) long-awaited DLC enlargement for Cuphead which was introduced approach again in June 2018, a yr earlier than the bottom sport had even come to Swap. Followers will virtually unanimously agree that it’s been well worth the wait, even when it’s a little on the quick facet.
The Scrumptious Final Course consists of between 5 and 7 new phases, relying on the way you play (one is hidden and the opposite can’t be accessed if you happen to play on the better Easy issue), in addition to 5 problem phases. Every important stage consists of a wholly new boss battle, and every is equally epic in comparison with the boss fights encountered in the principle sport. From a prolonged scrap with an ice wizard who can flip right into a snowman and a fridge, to the Moonshine Mob – a gang of prison bugs led by a devious snail – every boss is brimming with simply as a lot character as these already encountered by Cuphead followers.
It must be famous, although, that if you happen to’re a fan of the run ‘n’ gun sections from the principle sport, your wants received’t actually be catered for right here. Of the seven important phases on this DLC, six of them begin immediately with a boss battle and the remaining one is an aeroplane shoot ‘em up stage. This does additionally imply gamers can’t collect cash within the traditional methodology – in the principle sport, many of the cash are present in these run ‘n’ gun phases – however there’s a sequence of 5 new problem battles with a brand new character known as the King of Video games which can be utilized to earn cash for the brand new power-ups out there (such because the oddly highly effective Crackshot weapon).
That is all properly and good, however the obvious new addition in The Scrumptious Final Course is Ms. Chalice, a brand new third character who could be summoned to take the place of Cuphead or Mugman if you happen to apply the Astral Cookie attraction. What this implies, in fact, is which you could’t apply any of the opposite charms, like Coronary heart or Smoke Bomb, when you’re enjoying as Ms. Chalice, which on paper sounds prefer it ought to make enjoying as her a bit of more durable. Quite the opposite – Ms. Chalice is packing her personal set of buffs that really make her the character of selection for anybody who needs a barely simpler time with out straight-up dropping the issue.
Proper off the bat, she begins every battle with 4 well being factors as an alternative of three, making the Coronary heart attraction ineffective anyway. She additionally has a double-jump transfer – whereas Cuphead and Mugman can solely get a second bounce in the event that they parry a pink object in mid-air, Ms. Chalice can double-jump at any time when she feels prefer it. Her parry, then, is tied to the sprint transfer as an alternative, that means she will be able to parry pink objects by merely dashing into them, requiring much less exact timing. Add to that her roll transfer, which makes her briefly invincible, and also you’ve bought a brand new character who can get out of any tight squeeze with out getting a lot as a chip on her porcelain. Assuming you may get porcelain chalices. We dunno.
Ms. Chalice, then, gives an fascinating midway home between gamers who could also be battling the Common issue however don’t need to resort to dropping right down to the Easy issue stage, which regularly leads to entire phases being missed out throughout boss fights (to not point out the truth that you could beat each DLC stage in Common to entry the final one). The additional advantages she brings ought to make issues a bit of simpler for gamers who need to follow Common, however let’s be clear right here, it doesn’t immediately make issues a walkover or something.
The bosses featured in The Scrumptious Final Course are simply as fiendishly tough (if not a bit of extra so at occasions) than these in the principle sport, so if you happen to’re involved that the addition of this ‘simpler’ character is a part of an general lessening of the sport’s issue, then don’t fear — that isn’t the case. And naturally, you may tackle all the brand new phases as Cuphead or Mugman as an alternative if you happen to don’t need Ms. Chalice’s boosts. In the meantime, for many who don’t essentially need to play as Ms. Chalice however may fancy one other little little bit of assist, the DLC additionally provides a brand new attraction known as Coronary heart Ring to the in-game store, which provides you a well being level again whenever you carry out your first, third and sixth parries throughout a battle.
The sum of all these components is an excellent closing hurrah for a sport that continues to face as top-of-the-line of its era. It’s not the world’s longest enlargement, coming in at a few quarter of the scale of the principle sport (seven bosses in comparison with 28), however at solely $8.99 / £6.79, it’s completely moderately priced for what you get. Simply be sure you don’t have any youngsters round when you’re enjoying, in case you find yourself joyfully shouting the identical phrase we did.
Conclusion
Cuphead – The Scrumptious Final Course is a good little enlargement that provides new life to one of many Swap’s most entertaining video games. It could be a tad on the quick facet however what’s right here is completely improbable and it is moderately priced to take its size under consideration. If in case you have the unique, that is important. When you do not, they each are.
