Cuphead is the game right now. Its aesthetic, gameplay and charm have made Studio MDHR’s modest proposal a viral phenomenon. Websites, social media and forums just talk about Cuphead and Mugman adventures. So today we’re going to unveil Cuphead’s keys to success. Because one thing’s clear: Studio MDHR has made history and has created one of 2017 best games.
Studio MDHR has a huge talent
Even if we didn’t know them a while ago, Studio MDHR is now synonymous to success. This little studio was created by brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer. Who have had to overcome great difficulties to create Cuphead.
Cuphead development had serious financial issues. Both brothers had to remortgaged their homes to raising money for Cuphead and paying the team. Finally they had to leave their jobs too.
Cuphead was officially announced on E3 2015 and quickly became a fan favourite. However, its continous delays started to raise a lot doubts. With its development issues, many fans started to distrust the game. What if it wasn’t so good? What if Cuphead was finally so different it lacked its essence?
But in the end there was just one ‘what if’: what if all of us were wrong? And that’s just what happened.
Cuphead keys to success
1. Charisma
One of the most important virtues we see in Cuphead is its charm. Something really important, because it’s not just something many games have. Cuphead shows attitude and affection. Developers gave its best and the final result couldn’t be better.
Cuphead spills charisma and care. Its aesthetic, characters and history are incredibly attractive. They catch us with just a few minutes of playing it.
Its design is inspired in 1930s cartoons and manages to make Cuphead shine. It was Studio MDHR wisest decision. The game is original in its purest meaning; therep’s nothing we can find in the videogame industry similar to Cuphead.
Cuphead mixes nostalgia and challenge perfectly. We can’t stop liking all of its characters, including bosses. Studio MDHR has created unforgivable characters; from Cuphead and Mugman to the Devil and supporting characters we meet over our adventure.
The game shows care and a pure essence. Things that lack in a lot of games.
2. Addictive gameplay
A good design is nothing without an even better gameplay. But Cuphead shines in both sides. Studio MDHR brings us a really defying, exciting, original and well done game.
Cuphead won’t make things easy for us. The well that shows us how many times we’ve died proves it. However it won’t become desperate either. Challenges are so dynamic, so assorted and so quick at the same time, we’ll be repeating them without even noticing it and having extreme fun.
Just as happened with great titles as Ori and The Blind Forest o Rayman Legends, when we fail in Cuphead we can just blame ourselves. Gameplay and difficulty are really well executed. So Cuphead offers us fun and challenges without being desperate. Just offering what it has best.
Bosses are really charismatic and original. All of them are memorable and each level offers us different challenges. Cuphead is not just nostalgic because of its design, but because what it brings us: enjoying a game for hours and hours, forgetting completely how quick time goes by.
3. Wide range of audience
Cuphead is a game that, once we’ve noticed it, we can’t forget it. Its impossible for it not to standing out. And that’s a very smart move from Studio MDHR.
Videogame market is a trully competitive one and it’s difficult to stading out. It’s complicated offering new and original things too. But what’s most difficult for those games is becoming a success. Right now offering something new is a risk. Ven though most of times indie games are the ones trying new things, there’s no guarantee of them becoming a bestseller.
However, Cuphead has made it. Its has given us the nostalgia we didn’t know missed it and has made everyone falling in love with it. Even we don’t know for certain, it’s quite probable Cuphead has become a success in a wide range of users; from youngers to older gamers.
Cuphead has brought back that feeling we had from when we were kids. That feeling of spending hours enjoying a videogame, without caring about anything else. That feeling of melting with a game and enjoying it like just kids can enjoy. That feeling of getting to the next level and beating the boss so we could talk about it next day at school. To me Cuphead is that kind of feeling and I’m sure for some of you too.
We don’t know either if Studio MDHR wanted to make Cuphead a fan favourite among so different public. But anyway it’s something to be proud of.
4. Virality
From the wide range of audience we come to virality. Cuphead has become a viral phenomenon on the Internet. Websites, social media, streamings and YouTube have surrendered to this game. Because right now Cuphead is THE videogame.
Any news about Cuphead stands out in views and feedback. Funko annouced, few hours after Cuphead was released, a special series dedicated to the game. Son we’ll be able to buy Cuphead, Mugman and the Devil figures. Even a pair of sneakers inspired by Cuphead will be auctioned at #Game4Paul, a charity event dedicated to Paul Walker.
Tune in to #Game4Paul (https://t.co/RzL1SkCn9t) and donate at https://t.co/gf5qwoJlBD for a chance to win these custom #Cuphead dunks. pic.twitter.com/nbnUorfz7e
— Stephen Perona (@mammothnamedjim) October 1, 2017
Even though Cuphead has become viral mostly because of mout-to-mouth, we can’t focused just on that. Because Cuphead wouldn’t have made it, wouldn’t have so many fans if it wasn’t for itself. For what Studio MDHR have made. If it wasn’t so perfect in so many sesnses it wouldn’t have become what it is.
Cuphead is a success because of the work, perfection and dedication it shows.
5. Studio MDHR care and dedidation
Cuphead last key is the true care and dedication Studio MDHR has brought to the game. Which have made of Cuphead a memorable and brilliant adventure. Moldenhauer brothers have given-literally- all they had: their homes, their jobs and their time. They have worked on Cuphead day after day since 2010, because they trusted it and wanted us to enjoy it.
Us as gamers we can feel that care and love. From handmade designs to Cuphead’s awesome characters. The minimun detail has been taken care of and we can sense it.
Gamers know and feel exactly when a videogame is made with passion, love and affection. We can’t explain it; we just know it. And that has nothing to do with development or financial issues; it’s something that goes further.
Cuphead has a soul. Putting aside its aesthetic elements, the truth is the game has a heart. And I’m sure Studio MDHR wanted us getting to that heart, that soul and feeling the same passion playing it Chad and Jared had making it.
You're #1! Congrats @StudioMDHR! pic.twitter.com/Ms5o4URy9e
— 🇺🇦 Chris 🇺🇦 Charla 🇺🇦 (@iocat) September 30, 2017
In short, Cuphead has managed to get where most of videogames can just dream about: gamers hearts. And thanks to that care, that dedication,maybe even hunger, Cuphead is what it is: one of the most successful games of the year.
