Almost five years have passed since Cuphead finally came to the scene after years of development hell and delays.Cuphead swept the game world, followed by a wave of merchandise, cameo-like games. Super Smash Bros., Netflix series, and even kids meals at Arby’s. Now here, the DLC extension The Delicious Last Course begins after its own delay. Thankfully, this isn’t a half-baked DLC cash grab. The Studio MDHR team puts all their love and care into the Delicious Last Course as the main game, which shows.
In the Delicious Last Course, Cuphead and Mugman warn Legendary Chalice of an urgent message from a mysterious boatman. Paying attention to the wind, our beloved hero listens to his call and sets sail for the brand new Inkwell Isle IV. When they arrive, the legendary Charis will welcome you. Legendary Charis shows off a magical cookie that can bring her back to life as Ms. Charis. It’s her limited-time resurrection, and she needs another living soul to bring her back. Next, she introduces the boys to Jolly Chef’s Salt Baker, the “best chef of all time.” Jolly Chef’s Salt Baker can bring the astral world, Ms. Charis, back to the owner forever, although the cookies work very little. He then sends out the crew of the cup, finds the five ingredients needed to make the tart, each owning the island boss.
As with the full game, the Delicious Last Course show features a 1930s rubber horse-style animation of the game. Gorgeous in the main game and not upset at all in the DLC. Each boss battle has a vibrant and complex animation that definitely looks better than the main game boss. The style remains the same, but the design here stands out because the DLC is inspired by the animations of the late 30’s and early 40’s. We were in awe when we first turned to the anteaters at the Battle of Bootlegger Boogie. DLC will also experiment with 3D animations in segments such as King of Games Castle and DLC Secret Boss Battles.
The Delicious Last Course is packed with six major boss battles, each above and in detail above any of the base games. You can work on the expansion after defeating the first island mausoleum, but it is highly recommended to defeat the base game first as the DLC is packed with some of the most difficult bosses in the whole game. Almost all of the seven boss battles are incredibly overwhelming from the beginning, leaving a lot of things to come and track from all sides of the screen. For example, in the first phase of Gnome Way Out, you need to track the small gnomes on the ground, the bullets they fire, the pillars the light blue gnomes are about to hit with a hammer, and the projectiles of Glumstone the Giant. Once you understand things, the fight is still satisfying and doesn’t feel unfair in nature (High Noon Hoopla coins blend a bit too much into the background given their small size).
The extension also throws away the run-‘n’-gun stage, but offers some bonus fights other than those that require six stories. The main one is King Sleep Tournament. This is a series of 5 short boss battles where you can’t use weapons and charms and only have to rely on parry and platform prowess. These challenges are a means to earn coins in expansion to provide new weapons and charms and to provide a great supplemental experience for the main game. There is also a secret boss battle for those who solve the mystery of broken relics. But while it’s a visual treat, it’s arguably the most overwhelming battle in DLC.
The new playable character Ms Chalice is arguably the largest game changer in DLC. She can choose from charm slots as soon as she starts DLC, targeting the biggest criticisms of base games by offering an easier way to play thanks to her unique skills. Charis has additional hit points and can double jump. Her parry is done through her dash and she has an invincible evasion roll. Chalice makes things a little easier, but her double jumps and additional hit points were her lifesaver in points, but she never makes the game easier. Once she is selected through the charm slot, she will not be able to use other charms like the incredibly useful smoke grenade dash. Her move set also has her own drawbacks, such as short base jumps and invincible rolls that can only be used on the ground. If you are new to the game or have turned off the game due to difficulty, unlock it and you will be able to use MsChalice in the main game as well.
Kristofer Maddigan is back as a composer and brings a new selection of jazzy bangers to really liven up the experience. Songs like High Noon Hoopla and Bootlegger Boogie are one of the best songs in the game. Music is not exempt from DLC experiments, playing in other genres and playing vocals on several tracks.
Conclusion
Cuphead: The last delicious course is Cuphead — good or bad. Those who have been procrastinated by the difficulties of the original may find it easier to swallow the experience with the excellent inclusion of Ms Chalice. However, this game has the same brand of penal gameplay as the original. This enhancement adds some of the most original bosses Studio MDHR has ever come up with, backed up with amazing animations and music that looks and sounds like never before.
