Why can’t they make games like Cuphead for everyone? – Reader’s Feature-GameCentral-Entertainment – Metro

Cuphead – unreasonably difficult? (pic: MDHR)

A reader is frustrated by the high difficulty of games like Cuphead and Elden Ring and refuses to spend his time getting good.

I love how Cuphead looks. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of the most amazing games ever in terms of visuals and even more so because apparently the developer taught themselves how to do the weird old timey animation from scratch. That’s crazy and explains why the game and the DLC has taken so long to come out. There is a problem though: I can’t play the game. I literally cannot get anywhere with it, and it really frustrates me.

I bought Cuphead when it first came out several years ago and while I’d read about the high difficultly that can mean just about anything in some reviews. Difficulty is much like comedy, I find, in that it’s very subjective and just saying a game is ‘hard’ or ‘easy’ doesn’t really mean much. Or at least not usually.

As much as I admire the graphics in Cuphead I found that it was well beyond my ability to play in terms of difficulty. I can just about beat the first three or four bosses and that’s it. I just can’t get any further and after hours and hours of trying I ended up very angry and with nothing to show for it. So you can imagine buying the DLC doesn’t sound like such a good idea, as much as it’s reminded me just what an amazing looking game it is.

For those that don’t know, Cuphead is basically a boss rush game where almost everything is boss battles except for about five run ‘n’ gun platform sections. I only know how many there are by watching walkthroughs on YouTube. I can only get to the first one and I can’t beat it, so I don’t entirely speak from personal experience.

There is no easy mode, as such, for Cuphead. There is an ‘easier’ option, but not only is it still incredibly hard but it cuts out about a third of the battle itself and doesn’t give you the proper ending. That is the one and only bit of help you get from the game, which clearly doesn’t care whether you beat it or not.

I’m sure you can guess how I get on with Dark Souls and co. so, no, I haven’t played Elden Ring. I checked to see if you were able to pause it or if it had an easy mode and when I found out it didn’t, I didn’t even bother wasting my time (or, more importantly, my money).

So basically, these and other ultra difficult games are completely inaccessible to me and anyone else of my skill level (which I’d say was merely below average, it’s not like I’m completely incapable).

I get that the developers want it that way and it’s not my place to tell them what to do. It’s not like Twin Peaks or 2001 comes with an appendix explaining everything, which of course they shouldn’t have to. But I can still watch them and get something out of it but I literally can’t play Cuphead and Elden Ring at all, even though I want to.

The closest I can get is watching somebody else and while some might say that having an easy mode isn’t really that different I don’t agree. I at least want to be able to feel what it’s like to play the game. All I can do at the moment is get beaten into the ground on the first 5% of it and never see anything else myself.

By reader Zowie

The reader’s feature does not necessary represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

MORE : First Sonic Frontiers Nintendo Switch footage shows linear Green Hill Zone

MORE : Sonic creator confirms Michael Jackson wrote music for Sonic 3

MORE : Sega won’t be copying Sonic movie for Sonic Frontiers (but there might be a cameo)

Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and email us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

Entertainment – MetroRead More