Cuphead Game Creators on How Netflix Shows Will Affect Future Games

Cuphead creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer found their worlds turned inside when they struck a deal with Netflix to produce The Cuphead Show!. Gone are the “head to hip style” they advocated for Cupheadboss fights, replaced by very structured scripting that accompanies the job a series of cartoons.

In the game, Cuphead square off against various bosses in an attempt to collect their soul contracts on behalf of the Devil. The Cuphead Show! allows more nuance for characters and plots to break away from each other in weird ways that only animation can allow. The different styles mean that neither of them see much of a change happening between the game and the new Netflix show – at least for now. “We’re working on the DLC right now, which is its own planned entity,” Jared said. “We’re not in a position to think, what exactly will happen in future games, but I guess we’ll have to decide when the time comes.”

But the Netflix series opens up the possibility for the new Cuphead to exist in a sort of parallel universe. Characters can be reimagined, taken out of their language and placed in new situations against the twin protagonists, Cuphead and Mugman.

“[We want] it’s very fast 80s style arcade game. We’re really thinking, What can we cut from the story? We can remove what from the dialogue to speed up the player according to the game parts? ‘ Chad said. “And on the show, it’s like, how do we build on these characters?”

While Chad and Jared only act as mentors for the Netflix show – hashing out what characters should or shouldn’t do – they are excited to see what their characters can be beyond the confines of the positioning. video game opponents.

Working with Netflix’s screenwriters, they found only a few areas that needed a lot of explanation. Hilda Berg is not actually a robot, as the Moldenhauers think she is; The audience doesn’t need to know why Mugman and Cuphead are living with Elder Kettle.

“I’m not a huge fan of plot – that doesn’t mean there isn’t a plot! But like, I like some things that still have an air of mystery,” Jared said.

“I always come back The Silence of the Lambs For some reason, Hannibal Lecter is much more interesting, when you’re not sure about every aspect of him. But the minute you make 20 more sequels […] It was like all of a sudden, this character disappeared.”

Image: Netflix

And so we get Cuphead, Mugman, and many of the game’s characters, all of whom dance together (sometimes literally) on the Inkwell Isles. It seems strange that The Cuphead Show! most reminiscent of a children’s cartoon – there are hardly any nods and winks at the adults in the room – when it is based on famous video games difficult.

But, if asked, the Moldenhauers will once again remind everyone that the entire Cuphead world has been based on their passion since they were kids – “It was easier than anything in the 80s!” – and they wanted the show to have the same feeling.

“We are always thinking about making our games for people,” says Chad. “It doesn’t have to be said that it’s hard or you know how many hours you have to put in is everyone’s fault. But the idea that themes work well for everyone. ”