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2017 marked the year Cuphead was released, and it became an instant hit thanks to its incredible hand-drawn art style, difficult yet engaging boss battles, and quality run-and-gun platformer segments. Its developer, Studio MDHR, truly made something special, as the game is made so well that it still holds up to this day and will likely continue to do so.
But no matter how good it is, fans still want more and expect a sequel in the future. There is a huge possibility that they'll get what they want, as Studio MDHR recently posted on its social media that it's looking for a Senior Unity Programmer with 2D game experience. This news certainly warrants attention, as it's a huge sign that Studio MDHR is likely already working on the follow-up to Cuphead.
While there's a good chance the developer will continue with the 2D route for the next game, especially given the job posting, it would be interesting if it made the bold move of going 3D instead. Such a move would be a radical shift, but I believe there are benefits to pushing through with the idea.
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One is that going 3D could lead to better hub worlds. Those from the original Cuphead were great to look at and offered some exploration, but they were relatively small, and players usually try to rush through them.
If the hub worlds were in 3D instead of 2D, they could be bigger, better detailed, and would likely be more appreciated due to the additional camera angle options to view them in. Also, it can go far in incentivizing players to explore them, as going 3D would allow Studio MDHR to create more paths to hidden goodies or shortcuts to boss fights.
Another benefit of going 3D is that it allows for even more engaging combat. Fights in the original Cuphead were fun, especially the difficult ones, like going up against Chef Saltbaker or the Devil. However, they could have been better if they weren't limited to an X and Y axis, as it prevented the bosses from having more interesting attack and movement patterns.
Introducing a Z axis removes that issue, allowing Studio MDHR to create major battles that are better tests of skill and bedazzling spectacles to enjoy. These changes can also lead to combat environments that wouldn't have been possible or as good in 2D, like a multi-directional ocean arena, further warranting the idea of going the 3D route.
I understand that many would still be against that happening, given how it makes sense for the sequel to retain the style that already works and is well-received. However, I believe Studio MDHR has already pushed the limits of what it can do with 2D hand-drawn gameplay, and trying to force it to go further will likely only lead to a game that suffers in quality. Hopefully, the developer is at least considering the idea of a 3D Cuphead sequel, as there's a good chance it's the right direction to go.
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