We’re now on the brink of a Cuphead DLC, The Delicious Last Course, which will launch on June 30.
Three years in preparation, and five years after the release of the original game, the DLC is set to add the biggest island yet to the game, a new character, and five new bosses, each with their own meticulously hand-drawn animations. The content is set to top an incredible series of title, which is often highlighted as one of the pinnacles of indie games.
Once launched, StudioMDHR will be working on its next project, very Joy. Here’s why.
Obviously, based on The Delicious Last Course’s timeframe, StudioMDHR’s next game is still a bit far away yet. The studio loves to spend its time with games to ensure near perfection. that’s good.
In our interview with Maja Moldenhauer, studio director and executive producer, it was clear that quality is key. Maja stated that “the schedule has never been a motivator for us” and that it is “about quality”. This bodes well for the future. Without the internal pressure to speed things up, you’re almost assuring, at least with a studio as talented as MDHR, that whatever they come up with will be well thought out and polished. In addition, it is a good working environment for the development team without a crisis.
Work has already begun on the next title from StudioMDHR, but Maja remained very silent when I questioned her about it. The main takeaway from this question is the fact that they “love 2D animation” and “love pencil drawing”. This is what “the team will continue to do,” Maja emphasized.
Part of what makes Cuphead so special is his totally unique style of art, animation, and music. Each frame is hand-drawn with love and attention, and the game’s 1930s aesthetic fits in well with whatever may happen in the future.
And while this remains a mystery, there is a lot of potential from this method. The Cuphead IP is now mainstream, with TV shows, merchandise, and appearances on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It’s hard to see that this isn’t being exploited further, but whether it’s in a direct sequel or something different, who knows?
These characters and this style would work perfectly in a range of different genres. The natural progression for me would be lateral swiping to pass. It’s been proven by Cuphead’s Run ‘n gun levels that these characters run in a side-scrolling environment, so the hit at all seems quite appropriate. Collaborating with friends who play like Cuphead, Mugman, Miss Chalice and any other side characters make cuts awesome. In addition to having such a depth of enemies to withdraw and adapting to this technique, I would dig it up.
You can still finish levels with a typical Cuphead, but getting there may involve melee (rather than shooting) your way through a set of exciting hand-drawn stages.
The side-scrolling ’em-up’ genre is also making a comeback to some extent, with the likes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge, Streets of Rage 4, and Battletoads doing very well – both critically and commercially. It would be great to see the MDHR strike while the iron is hot.
But the side scroller isn’t the only kind the Cuphead brand can offer. How about a platform game, a Mario + Rabbids style strategy game, or even a visual novel type game? The possibilities are truly endless. Cuphead Kart anyone?
In addition, you can not forget about the budget. Initially, the Cuphead team was running on a tight budget (albeit backed by Microsoft), but with the franchise’s success over the past few years, you have to imagine that whatever comes next can have a lot more money attached to it. Not that a bigger budget always helps, especially in terms of what the team was able to do with the original game, but it certainly won’t do any harm.
All of this keeps me excited about what’s coming out of StudioMDHR. Their first ride was so polished, so successful, and ultimately so good that whatever is in the works is bound to be great.
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