Cuphead ended up being one of the best platformer games of the 2010s. It had addictive gameplay that blended well with the rubber-hose 1930s style animation and was surprisingly a tough-as-nails game.
But not everyone's looking for a challenge. Some people aren't going to play a blisteringly difficult game just to experience the animation. But Netflix has recently announced and previewed an animated series based on the game's art style. And fans on Reddit are giddy in their excitement and discussion of what could be in it.
Collecting Souls
Redditor Presitgious-Skill-26 comments "Ok so there's no Devil's Casino like in the video game but at least the story should follow the whole journey of them collecting the soul contracts." This is commenting on the game's original plot. In it, the Cup brothers must collect contracts for the souls of every boss in the game. They do this across every world besides the final one.
It's not the most in-depth plot, but it gets the job done. It's also a little dark, which combined with the difficulty, had the boss-themed Cuphead compared to the similarly boss-heavy Dark Souls. Fans are hoping to see this aspect of the game, which was downplayed, get a little more focus in the Netflix show.
Finger Guns
Redditor Accomplished-Bit-270 is complaining a little bit about game accurracy. "The bros are never shown using their trademark finger guns against the devil or grim," they say, referencing the means of attack in Cuphead. In the game, Cuphead snaps his fingers to fire pellets from the tip of his index, which can take various forms.
Despite the cup ghost from the game appearing briefly in the trailer, the leads don't appear to have their powers. The show may be a prequel, so it's possible that they may gain these powers during the show. The attack from the game is iconic, so it would be a shame not to see it at all. Hopefully the cup bros will get their finger guns and other power-ups on screen.
The Devil's Casino
Redditor Gix_GamingMC is speculating on the direction of the show in relation to the franchise and its potential as a prequel to the games. "So maybe they are going to flesh out the characters of Cuphead before we get the Casino and everything else that happens," they guess. The Devil's Casino is a major location in the games, so its absence in the trailer is striking.
This is perhaps because the show is apparently not directly adapting the events of the game. But the Casino is a very important location in the game, bookending the beginning and end of the tough adventure. It would be a crime to miss it entirely.
Sally Stageplay
Redditor barqandhelix wants to know what characters should be brought back for the show. They say "Honestly, I’m hoping Sally appears in the show. It just makes sense to have her appear in an episode!" The Sally in question here is Sally Stageplay, a boss from the game based on classic Golden Age of Hollywood tropes, movies, and theater.
She's definitely one of the most creative bosses in the game. She attacks with props carried by stage hands that somehow still deal damage. She even "dies" partway through the fight and returns as an angel with special effects. She would bring an element of grace to the show if she were to appear.
Beppi the Clown
Reddit user Skywalkerking27 says "I really want to See Beppi the Clown(My favorite boss) pull pranks against/and/ or with Cuphead and Mugman because it seems like something he' do." Beppi the Clown is one of the bosses from the second world. As the name suggests he is a clown character and has plenty of mischievous attacks.
The show has shown off a carnival. In the game, the carnival is where Beppi finds his home. It seems inevitable that Beppi would show up to prank and perhaps even battle the Cup Brothers in the show. Plus Beppi comes with plenty of other cartoon features, like transformation.
Werner
In a thread about what characters should be included in the show, The_Meme_Lady_69 has an opinion. They say "I wish Werner gets in. He is my favorite character (aside of Grim and Dice, who had their apperiances confirmed)" [sic] Werner Werman is a rat character who uses machines to attack Cuphead.
During the fight, a large cat will interrupt trying to get at Werner. It turns out that Werner has already beaten the cat, making him seem like a ruthless Jerry from Tom and Jerry cartoon fame. He also has a World War 1 Germany vibe as well, meaning he would probably get an accent if he appeared in the show.
Baroness Von Bon Bon
"Baroness Von Bon Bon bc she would be the funniest, angriest character if the cup bros mess with her," says Redditor mydollishauntedhelp. Baroness Von Bon Bon is a candy-themed boss from the second world in the game.
Her boss fight is one of the earliest in the game to have random phases. Her summons don't come out in a preset order. These all could be characters that could also appear alongside her if she were to appear in the show. And considering she also packs heat, she would bring a lot of character to the show.
Cagney Carnation
Reddit user eebbeebreal comments about one of their favorite bosses, Cagney Carnation. They say "i hope cagney's in the show he's my favorite." He's an early boss in the game and owner of the boss theme Floral Fury, which is one of the game's most popular songs.
Cagney is a deceptive boss because despite looking like a cute flower initially, he's truly fearsome. He belts out wild faces and roars during his fight. He even transforms into a monstrous form that overgrows the floor and makes it dangerous. He's truly much more fearsome than he initially appears, and would be a great fit for the show.
Big Fight Scenes
Redditor Accomplished-Bit-270 appears again with more concerns. They were hoping to see larger-scale fight scenes in the show. They elaborate: "I'm scared they’re going to cut the fights entirely, which considering cuphead is a boss rush game, would feel weird and for me, a bit disappointing. I was excited to see how they would adapt the boss fights into fight scenes."
Classic animation absolutely can do great fight scenes, as Disney can prove. Cuphead is full of tough levels and chaotic fights, so fans hope to see that carry over. Surely antics are welcome, but to not include at least some action scenes would stray far from the game's concept. It won't truly be Cuphead unless the screen is full of projectiles, after all.
More Adult Content
Snizzletuff on Reddit has mixed feelings and one thing they want to see on the show above all else. "Since it's a game based on older cartoons before so much regulation I was hoping it would be a more adult-themed show." Old cartoons were no stranger to more adult references. It would be decades until cartoons would be branded the domain of children, after all.
Cartoons didn't become the fair of children until around the 1960s. In the heyday that Cuphead represents, cartoons were for all audiences and could touch on some darker subject matter or include adult material. But yet the show doesn't even have a mug of alcohol with "XXX" to be seen in the trailers. Fans are hoping to see some more mature humor, even if the show is aiming for a younger audience.