It took me several restarts to get into the mindset needed to appreciate Cuphead, but once I was able to find the fun in meeting its challenges, it became one of my favorite gaming experiences ever. I had very little prior experience of playing these types of precise platformers or 2D bullet hell games, so the learning curve was especially steep for me. It was certainly frustrating at first, but eventually the joyous jazz music, the beautiful animations, and the sheer creativity of the enemy and level designs motivated me to push through until I managed to beat a few bosses.

That’s when Cuphead finally clicked for me. I was no longer disheartened by repeated deaths because I had confidence that I would get better and meet the challenge. Each retry became another opportunity to enjoy the exhilarating gameplay and the lovingly crafted spectacle. The progress meter that displayed after each attempt was an excellent idea from the developers, because seeing my little cup going a bit farther each time gave me tangible feedback on my improving skills. I kept coming back thinking, “This time will be the one!” Then after each delicious “Knockout!” on a hard boss, I fell in love with Cuphead a little more.