Cuphead is a popular run-and-gun game that was released in 2017. It is available on PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. Cuphead gained its popularity because of its incredibly challenging bosses and its charming art style, which takes inspiration from cartoons in the 1920s and 1930s. Because of how successful the game was, a Netflix adaptation was recently released titled The Cuphead Show!.
12 episodes have been released so far and Studio MDHR has confirmed season 2 is already in production. Much like with any adaptation, fans have pitted the animated series and the video game against each other to decide which medium is better for Cuphead and Mugman to tell their story. The Cuphead Show! managed to improve on some elements from Cuphead, but some elements are far better in the game.
6 Better: The Show Is Better For Its Comedy
The Cuphead Show! features plenty of great jokes that both children and adults can find hilarious, especially when the main antagonist, the Devil, is on screen. A lot of the funniest quotes throughout the series are things that the Devil says, whether it be him praising himself or getting infuriated that he has been outsmarted by a cup.
Most of The Cuphead Shows!’s episodes are goofy. For example, Baby Bottle sees Cuphead and Mugman attacked by a baby. Dirt Nap shows Elder Kettle preparing to fight the brothers because he thinks they want to kill him. Besides the dialogue, The Cuphead Show! gets its humor in its sound effects and the characters’ facial reactions, which are quite charming.
5 Worse: The Game Is Better For Its Darker Plot
The Cuphead Show! altered Cuphead’s plot to better fit a TV series. In Cuphead, the titular character and Mugman lost a bet against the Devil and owed him their souls. However, the Devil made them a deal: if they brought him the souls of those who got away from him, he would let them go. In the original story, Cuphead and Mugman could be considered as villains for helping the Devil get the souls of people that may have been just as innocent as they were.
The Cuphead Show! went for a lighter story, in which Cuphead owed his soul to the Devil. Each time the Devil tried to take it from him, Cuphead and Mugman would find a way to stop him. The Cuphead Show! also has many filler episodes, which, while fun to watch, don’t add anything to the overall story.
4 Better: The Characters Are Well-Developed
Though Cuphead had a darker and more intriguing plot, the characters weren’t nearly as fun or interesting as they are in The Cuphead Show!. Besides the occasional cutscene, none of them interact with each other in Cuphead. In the series, the main characters are well developed. Whether it be the bond between Cuphead, Mugman, and Elder Kettle or the times that the Devil fights the brothers, the characters’ interactions really stand out compared to the game.
Some characters also get good development, such as Mugman, who became a lot more confident after Dangerous Mugman. The side characters may have only been in one episode, but they made a lasting impression. Most notable are King Dice and Ms. Chalice, who fans hope to see a lot more of in the future.
3 Worse: The Game Is Better Because Of Its Bosses
Besides the Devil and King Dice, none of the antagonists in The Cuphead Show! were really a threat. Ribby and Croaks had an ugly confrontation with the brothers early on in the series, but they forgave each other very quickly and haven’t been seen since.
Sal, Ollie, and Chauncey manipulated the brothers in Root Packed and threw a party on their property, which they refused to leave. Since Root Packed, the trio hasn’t been seen since. In Cuphead, these characters fought in thrilling battles. Cuphead and Mugman were able to fight back by shooting bullets out of their fingers, which was very fun.
2 Better: The Show Has Better Music
While Cuphead had great music, the Netflix show’s soundtrack was better. The Cuphead Show! used a lot of the iconic songs that were featured in the game, but also had some that the characters sang. The Devil had a great introduction song in Carn-Evil, where he lets the audience know how good he is at being bad and his desire to collect people’s souls.
In the episode Ghosts Ain’t Real, a group of ghosts sing to Cuphead and Mugman as they get chased through a cemetery. The best song in The Cuphead Show! is sung by Ms. Chalice in the episode In Charm’s Way, when she teaches the brothers how to be charming. Welcome To The Cuphead Show!, the theme song, is also very catchy.
1 Worse: The Game Has Better Settings
In The Cuphead Show! there are a few great locations that really stand out, such as the amusement park or the set of Roll the Dice. Most of the show’s settings are quite forgettable, with the exception of those that were in Cuphead and the brothers’ home, which is the main setting of most episodes.
On the other hand, the video game allows players to explore an entire world through its map, run and gun levels, and boss battle arenas. These settings make the world of Cuphead come alive in a way that the series has failed to do so far. However, with many more episodes on the way, this will hopefully change soon.
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