Cuphead phenomenon: the keys to Xbox One's success

Cuphead has become one of the most cherised games of the year. But what are the keys to its success? It's time to analyze them.

[Eonjay]

Phenomenon? I would like to play it on PC but I don't see this making anyone get an Xbox. I would like to try it though because the type of difficulty reminds me of some shumps which I really enjoy.

[KickSpinFilter]

I'm almost there between Gears 4/Quantum Break/Cuphead/4K Drive.
Just need a little more, and (if Crackdown 3 was a winner but based on game play I've seen not looking like it) I might just do it with a XB1X price reduction next year or whatever. But honestly I'm so buried in games right now, I just don't see how it's possible to add another console. "But, but you can game on your PC, ya not for me, need a separation from the PC since I'm on one all day.

[gbsrnctaln]

By the time the 1X gets a price cut, the PS5 will be right around the corner. Im tempted as well, but with Mario O making me get a Switch Ill prob skip the 1X

[nowitzki2004]

I love the game, but its no system mover.. No way in hell.

[BadElf]

Wait, so because YOU would like to play on PC....you dont see people getting an Xbox to play it? Just because YOU play on PC?? Classic.

[Eonjay]

No, not because of what I like, but in addition to it. My statement contained two seperate ideas.
The first one was that I would like to try this game.
The second idea is that there is no way someone who want to play this game is gonna get an Xbox One, to play it.

Once you understand this, we can go over some more complex idea structures. Play safe now.

[corroios]

Somosxbox...

[murderlo]

Do you want to say something?

[corroios]

Phenomenon? To achieve that it needs to sell millions and millions. The game is very cool for a indie studio, retro animations really nice and funny. Its something diferente and l like very much the style, but does anybody thinks this will sell big to be a phenomenon...

[murderlo]

And I wonder, what does that have to do with the name of the website?

[FallenAngel1984]

This article portrays why Cuphead itself is a success for the developers that made it rather than for Xbox One as a whole, which makes the headline completely misleading.

[Perjoss]

misleading headline? on N4G? you must be mistaken sir

[PhoenixUp]

"The game is original in its purest meaning; therep’s nothing we can find in the videogame industry similar to Cuphead."

There have been games with a similar art style such as Mickey Mania, Epic Mickey, Bendy and the Ink Machine, & Felix the Cat '92 as well as games with similar gameplay like Contra & Metal Slug.

[Soulst0rmer]

It's visual aesthetics are incredible. Truly flawless art style, but the game play is archaic and not a lot of fun.

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Archaic yes but fun factor is in the eye of the beholder. I am currently enjoying what I've played so far ( fought my way to Inkwell Isle 3) and it is my absolute favourite 2D shooter of all time next to Metal Slug 3 and Einhander.
Aesthetics aside, the gameplay itself is on point.

[Jayszen]

A misleading headline in the first place. The article itself suggests the game is a success for the DEVELOPERS (who are definitely not Microsoft).

A game has to sell many millions to be a 'phenomenon'. Yes, the game is very good, one of the best indie games released but that is all it is. Cuphead will become a phenomenon when it sells about the same as GTA V which is a genuine phenomenon. It would be nice to know what the ratio of sales on PC vs. Xbox One.

Xbox fanboys are acting like this game is the greatest thing - why? Because they have very few games on their console. THis game is only one of three exclusives this year for the Xbox One so far. It like when you are parched and in a desert and want a Carlsberg but will happily settle for just a glass of water.

Cuphead is a definite bonus and good for Xbox One but it should not be the band-aid for the lack of games on the console - demand more from Microsoft. A game here and there and now a third try at the console is not good enough.

[ONESHOTV2]

the games selling really well on steam and that's great money in MS pockets and games are happy

[Redemption-64]

It might actually do you some good to educate yourself. MS doesn't own the rights to the IP, in order words the money goes to the devs that owns the IP, you know, not MS.

[ONESHOTV2]

danoman64---- well excuse my french but I thought MS owns the IP well if they don't then it doesn't affect me I don't work for MS or the devs that created the game so plz find someone else to attack

[Redemption-64]

Me telling you to educate yourself isn't me attacking or insulting you. Well I guess it might depend on who reads it. Am just saying look this up, nothing more

[Cobra951]

MS backed the development of Cuphead. You don't think they did that as a charity, do you? You don't know the details of their investment in Cuphead. Clearly, they're going to expect returns, and those may very well include a cut of Steam and GOG sales, even if it has to come from the devs' slice of that pie. Don't know. Neither do you.

[Redemption-64]

@Cobra951
Ok, you really really really need to educate yourself, might i suggest google. I know enough of MS investment in Cuphead to know the devs had to remortgaged their homes in order to keep working on their game. MS investment in cuphead more than likely was just paying to keep the game off PS4. Investing in a game means, the devs making the game are paid enough to work on it, in order to release the game during a time period. If MS level of investment includes devs having to remortgaged their homes in order to keep working on the game, then MS investment was little, cheap and very poor. You are right in that i don't know, but you see, i know how to put 2 and 2 together. Ask yourself this, why would devs have to remortgaged their homes in order to keep working on a game of MS was giving them the funds to work on it?

https://www.rockpapershotgu...
http://www.gamesradar.com/w...

[guyman]

"Cuphead phenomenon: the keys to Xbox One's success"

That's just plain exaggeration

[Italiano1234567]

It seems most people are buying the game on steam and not the xbox

[SierraGuy]

This game would have done much better on PlayStation...but congrats to the dev and MS.

[sazselesbon]

Title is misleading. But the game is awesome.

[jjb1981]

Since I have a PC, this is not an XBOX seller to me. I'm sure there are millions more that feel the same way than there are people running out to buy an XBOX because of this game.

[Petebloodyonion]

How about the game is a breath of fresh compared to all the 3rd person/fps/ gta clones and is sold at a cheap price

[Father__Merrin]

Title says. "keys to Xbox ones success" preview says "keys to its(cup head) sucess"

Misleading from the start, cup head will not make anyone buy an Xbox one. Give it up micros often will have to try again next gen now

[Dragonscale]

That the first decent xbox game almost all year is an indie game speaks volumes tbh. LMFAO.

[BadElf]

Ahhh poor thing :(

[thelaughingwiseman]

Cuphead would actually be a cool mascot for X-Box to have. A way more child friendly and nostalgic-like mascot; compared to Master Chief or a Gears of War main character lol.
I know a lot of sony fans on here would have different opinions about this game's success if it were available on playstation. But like you guys say, right? There are tons of other exclusives that the PS4 has to offer.
I think this is a very good game. Love the challenge factor, the old-timey cartoon style and how it's set up like Mario World and Pokemon (how you choose the next location/level). Hopefully it is a turnaround for X-box and we start seeing more creative games out of them. Sony is making X-box up their game by making upgraded consoles and hopefully it leads to better games.
In the end, the gamers should be the ones to benefit from all this.

[DrShoe]

Lol, these kind of articles make me laugh!

[BadElf]

The game is a beauty. That's all I know. I would be upset if I couldnt purchase it

[Takwin]

This is on Steam. It is not an XBOX exclusive in any rational definition of the word.

[DELTABOY04]

sold more on steam....

[Tross]

So, let me get this straight. The XB1 has a worthwhile console exclusive for the first time since...ummm...Ori and the Blind Forest maybe...and the gaming media goes crazy. Where are all the articles about all the console exclusives in camp PlayStation? I'm guessing that's because there are so many of them that to spend this amount of time talking about each and every one of them would just crowd out everything else, especially if just console exclusivity is sufficient grounds for this kind of media attention. I guess an obviously Xbox-centric site would latch onto something like this though.