Sadly Microsoft didn’t release that many exclusives this year, but hopefully next year will be different. That said, Microsoft did release one of the best games on any platform this year and that’s Cuphead.
Unlike some other categories in our Game of the Year series, Cuphead was easily my favorite Xbox One/Win 10 exclusive in 2017. Halo Wars 2 was okay but nothing special while Super Lucky’s Tale was average.
As for Forza Motorsport 7, the game looks gorgeous on Xbox One X but the series has started to feel the same. Cuphead is the exact opposite as it’s a breath of fresh air and one of the best side scrollers of all time.
The reason this game is so unique is because of its art style. The developer tried its best to mimic the animation style of the ’30s and it looks perfect. Every character is hand drawn to perfection and the animation is smooth.
Even the music and audio is reminiscent of the ’30s era. You just don’t see this type of game anywhere else. Even Hollywood movies today lack 2D animation so it’s great to see this art form return in this game.
The other thing that makes this game so fun is that it’s so addictive. The game is harder (in my opinion) than Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Nioh. However, the difficulty is challenging enough to make you keep trying and trying again.
There are around four side scrolling levels while the majority of the game is littered with unorthodox and epic boss fights. This game has some of the most coolest boss fights you will ever see in any video game.
Cuphead isn’t just a normal shooter because you can also attain some new abilities to make your life easier. He can upgrade his powers so that his laser blasts are more powerful, plus you can get a really helpful dash ability too.
In some boss levels, Cuphead has to fly inside of a plane to take down larger enemies. The controls are smooth and very responsive. Sure it takes time to master, but trying and trying again will make you better at the game as you progress.
To make things even more fun, you can even call in a friend for some co-op action. They control Mugman and the two characters have to work together. C0-op can also be challenging since both gamers have to be good!
Anyway, Cuphead is a great game and is by far the best Xbox One/Win 10 exclusive. It’s on my top 5 best games of 2017 overall too. You should play it if you have the chance as it’s worth experiencing.
Cuphead isn’t an Xbox One/Windows 10 exclusive. The game is also on Steam. Just thought I’d let you know.