Cuphead & The Delicious Last Course

First Bite: What Is This Game?

Cuphead & The Delicious Last Course for Windows is a punishingly beautiful run-and-gun platformer that feels like a playable 1930s cartoon—where every frame is hand-drawn, every note is live-recorded jazz, and every boss fight will test your patience like a toddler with a loaded water pistol. Developed by the small Canadian indie team Studio MDHR, the package combines the original 2017 masterpiece with the 2022 expansion The Delicious Last Course. Its key features include a hand-animated art style that took over a dozen artists years to complete, a full orchestra soundtrack composed by Kristofer Maddigan, brutally difficult boss gauntlets that demand pixel-perfect reflexes, and a new playable character—Ms. Chalice—who brings a completely different moveset to the table. This game is made for players who enjoy mechanical challenge, appreciate classic animation, and don't mind dying dozens of times to learn a single pattern—think "Dark Souls meets Disney's early shorts" and you're halfway there.

A Drink of Ink and Soul: Visuals and Sound

The moment you press start, you're not playing a game—you're stepping into a museum of hand-drawn animation that has been painstakingly painted on paper, scanned, coloured, and composited with the same techniques used by Fleischer Studios in the 1930s. Every character has that rubber-hose wiggle, every facial expression is exaggerated to the point of absurdity, and the backgrounds look like they were pulled from a Technicolor cartoon reel. The Delicious Last Course cranks this up even further: the new island is bursting with pastel skies, creepy popcorn farms, and a giant moon that literally sings to you. The soundtrack—performed by a live big band—is so authentically period that you half expect to hear a crackling vinyl pop. This isn't just a visual gimmick; it's the core identity of the game. Unlike other platformers that use retro filters or pixel art to evoke nostalgia, Cuphead delivers genuine craftsmanship that makes each level a joy to watch—even when you're about to chuck your keyboard out the window.

The Dance of Death: Boss Battles and the Expansion

Cuphead's bread and butter is its relentless boss rush design. Every stage is a choreographed ballet of bullets, spikes, and environmental hazards that demand you learn attack patterns like a choreographer learns a routine. The twist? You cannot tank hits, you cannot grind for levels, and there is no easy mode (unless you count the "Simple" difficulty, which skips the final phase—still not easy). What makes The Delicious Last Course stand out is the addition of Ms. Chalice, a second playable character with a double-jump, a parry-dash that works differently from Cuphead or Mugman, and a super meter that recharges by dodging. She changes the entire rhythm of fights, offering a more defensive, aerial style that makes certain bosses feel nearly fresh. Beyond that, the expansion adds a handful of new run-and-gun levels and a secret boss that rivals the original's toughest challenges. The game's most surprising feature is how the new character doesn't just feel like a reskin—she rewires how you approach the game, giving veteran players a reason to replay everything from scratch.

Sweet, Sweet Suffering: The Learning Curve

Let's not sugarcoat it: Cuphead is hard. Not "I-need-to-learn-the-pattern" hard, but "I've died 47 times on the same dragon and my cat is judging me" hard. The controls are incredibly responsive—no input lag, no sticky movement—which means every death is entirely your fault. The learning curve is steep, but it's fair. You'll spend the first hour mastering the basic jump-and-shoot rhythm, then another ten hours internalising the parry mechanic (pressing jump when you see a pink object). The Delicious Last Course introduces a new level of complexity with Ms. Chalice's dodge roll, which can phase through attacks but has a brief recovery window. The interface is clean: health bar, super meter, weapon selection (you can equip up to two different shots and charms) are all minimally intrusive. On a Windows PC, the game runs buttery smooth at 60 fps on modest hardware (think GTX 1050 or better), and the high-refresh-rate support makes the animations even silkier. The only complaint is that there is no built-in guide for beginners—you're thrown right into the inkwell and expected to sink or swim.

Not Just Another Platformer: What Sets It Apart

Compared to contemporaries like Hollow Knight or Celeste, Cuphead doesn't rely on exploration or narrative depth. Instead, it's laser-focused on boss fights and arcade-style precision. Its biggest differentiator is the art and audio pipeline: no other modern platformer spends years painting every frame by hand and recording a live 20-piece orchestra. The difficulty is also distinct—where Celeste offers an assist mode for accessibility, Cuphead sticks to its guns with no mercy. That's a deliberate design choice that respects the player's intelligence but can alienate casual audiences. The Delicious Last Course adds a tiny bit of variety with the new character, but the core loop remains the same: learn, die, repeat, and eventually triumph with a sigh of relief.

Should You Take the Bite? Final Thoughts

If you relish a challenge, adore hand-crafted art, and have the patience of a saint, Cuphead & The Delicious Last Course is an essential purchase for your Windows library. It's also a fantastic game to play in short bursts (the longest boss fight rarely exceeds three minutes once you know the patterns). However, if you're prone to frustration, dislike replaying levels, or want a more forgiving experience, look elsewhere. The price tag (around $30 for the bundle) is fair given the sheer amount of animation labour packed into it. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Super Meat Boy or classic Contra games, and especially to fans of animation history. Just keep a stress ball nearby—you'll need it.

FAQ

What platforms is Cuphead & The Delicious Last Course available on?

It's available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and GOG. Check your platform's store for exact availability. No special settings needed.

Do I need to finish the original Cuphead before playing the DLC?

No, you can access The Delicious Last Course shortly after starting the original game, just after the first boss. We recommend playing the original first for story context, but it's not required.

Can I play Cuphead with a friend online?

No, Cuphead supports only local co-op. You'll need to share a screen and use separate controllers. There is no online multiplayer mode. Path: Main Menu > Select Player > Co-op.

How do I unlock Ms. Chalice as a playable character?

Defeat the first boss in The Delicious Last Course (e.g., Gnome Way Out), then speak to Chef Saltbaker. She becomes available in all stages. Path: Main Menu > Equipment > Character Select.

What new abilities does Ms. Chalice bring?

Ms. Chalice has a double jump, a dodge roll, and a unique super move. She also wields different weapons and charms, offering a fresh playstyle compared to Cuphead or Mugman.

How do I access The Delicious Last Course content?

After defeating the first boss of the original Cuphead (The Root Pack), look for a boat icon on the map. Interact with it to sail to the new island. No additional settings required.