Cookie Cutter

  • December 14, 2023
73%
Game Brain Score Based on 295 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Cookie Cutter Game Cover
Despite some minor missteps, Cookie Cutter is easily one of the best Metroidvania games of this year, and an absolute must-play.
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"Cookie Cutter" is a single-player Sci-Fi Platformer with an intriguing story and ingenious game mechanics. As the badass android Cherry, players will embark on a rage-filled quest for revenge against the armies of INFONET in a massive Megastructure. The game is visually compelling with plenty of humor, but beware of bugs. Fueled by love and powered by rage, uncover the secrets of the universe and fight for justice in this unforgettable 2D platformer.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 295 reviews
graphics62 positive mentions
stability9 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning hand-drawn art and animations that create a unique and captivating visual experience.
  • Combat is fast-paced and satisfying, with a variety of weapons and brutal finishers that keep gameplay engaging.
  • The game has a strong punk aesthetic and humor, making it a fun and entertaining experience overall.
  • The parry system is poorly implemented, making it frustrating and inconsistent to use during combat.
  • Some areas of the game can feel repetitive and lack distinctiveness, leading to confusion during exploration.
  • The leveling system is stingy, with players spending a significant portion of the game without many abilities, which can be annoying.
  • graphics116 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and vibrant art style, characterized by a punk aesthetic and detailed animations that enhance the overall experience. While many players find the visuals stunning and reminiscent of comic art, some note that the environments can feel somewhat repetitive. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal within the metroidvania genre.

    • “I am in love with the painstakingly crafted animations and stylized artwork.”
    • “The stunning hand-drawn visuals are pure eye candy, and I find myself slowing down just to bask in their beauty.”
    • “The art style and animation is superb and something to marvel at.”
    • “Graphical errors (targeting overlay for various powers disappears at random times with no real reason present).”
    • “There's no graphics options to try anything like that though.”
    • “I didn't want to give a 'no' because, to the developers, the art style, animations, and graphics are phenomenal, it's the gameplay that falls short.”
  • gameplay82 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cookie Cutter" is generally described as fun and engaging, with a solid metroidvania structure that includes enjoyable combat mechanics and exploration. However, players have noted issues with the parry system, weapon switching, and some janky mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While the art style and animations are praised, the gameplay can feel inconsistent and at times lacks the polish expected from the genre, leading to mixed feelings about its execution.

    • “The gameplay itself is crisp and seriously enjoyable.”
    • “The mechanics and character powers are top notch.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and the combat is super rewarding.”
    • “The gameplay is a little janky and could probably have benefited from more frames with key movements and states as well as a lot more attention paid towards the sound as effects do bug.”
    • “The story starts out interesting enough but the gameplay feels so bad, the parry is excessively tight and when you're in your hit recovery the attacks won't hit your parry, that combines with light attacks staggering arbitrarily makes for a very sluggish and inconsistent experience.”
    • “Ignoring the glaring flaws with the gameplay, it's just not very fun to look at, or attempt to interact with.”
  • story82 mentions

    The story in "Cookie Cutter" is a mix of engaging cyberpunk themes, humor, and character-driven narratives, though it often feels incomplete or reliant on potential sequels. While some players appreciate the unique art style and character interactions, others express disappointment with the lack of resolution and depth in the plot. Overall, the game offers a fun experience, but the storytelling leaves many wanting more closure and development.

    • “Cookie Cutter is a solid metroidvania with a strong story (a cyberpunk tale of revenge, a revolution, and the friends you meet along the way), a fun combat system, and some truly spectacular finishers.”
    • “The beautiful art and cute (and gay) storyline with this punk dystopian world is just perfect.”
    • “The story is good with fun NPCs and a solid (if a bit cliché) villain.”
    • “I 100% completed hoping there would be additional story to make it feel less like they are just leaving you hanging, but to no avail.”
    • “Conclusion time: as I gazed at the end credits (unskippable, natch) I was mostly left with a profound sense of anticlimax. The story doesn't really conclude; this is more of an 'end of act one' situation.”
    • “The story is too dependent on the prospect for a sequel, but I had enough fun playing; I would buy it anyway if they get to make it...”
  • humor27 mentions

    The humor in the game is a divisive aspect, with many praising its edgy, raunchy, and over-the-top style that adds charm and character to the experience. While some players find the humor refreshing and entertaining, others criticize it as immature or unfunny, suggesting that it may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game balances its comedic elements with engaging gameplay and unique art, though opinions on the effectiveness of its humor vary widely.

    • “The animation is just amazing and the humor was right up my alley.”
    • “It sticks with the tried and true formula, but it does it with a style and sense of adult humor sorely lacking in most games today.”
    • “The game is just dripping with style and humor: it’s something that is sorely lacking in today’s video game landscape that is littered with souls-like and rogue-lite games.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the visuals. While some find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, others feel it lacks standout tracks and may not be memorable enough to warrant a purchase. Overall, the music is described as decent to great, contributing positively to the game's experience despite some mixed opinions.

    • “Overall, the game is visually gorgeous, the story unique, and even the music is pretty great (I love the reward box song), but sullying all of this positivity is the flawed combat system.”
    • “Literally the only reason that I decided to buy this game was because I think the art/visual designs look great plus they're backed by thumping music that fits an aesthetic I've always liked.”
    • “Amazing animations, artistically exceptional, ultraviolent combat, dynamic music always on point and a captivating plot.”
    • “Not sure I'd get the soundtrack, even if it was available, but it's far from bad.”
    • “Music is decent, sound effects in this game are great.”
    • “Music is not great, and maybe not even always good, but most of the time it's good, that's for sure.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, including visual glitches, audio issues, and frequent freezes that require restarts. Despite enjoying the gameplay and art, many users feel that the persistent technical problems significantly detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the game shows promise, its stability issues remain a major concern.

    • “Inexcusably buggy for a game that's been out for 5 months now.”
    • “Audio glitches happening (ride the nitro bunny bike from one zone to the next; hope you enjoy motorcycle engine revving permanently until you shut the game off!).”
    • “Also the game freezes all the time and the only option is to restart again and again.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is inconsistent, with many players experiencing significant stuttering and frame drops, particularly in late-game scenarios and on the Steam Deck, despite its "verified" status. While some users report smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, the frequent performance issues, especially with multiple enemies on screen, detract from the experience for many.

    • “Performance has been wonderful for me, controls are tight and punchy, visuals are incredible, audio is spot on, and overall this is well worth the current price.”
    • “Don't know if I am the only one, but when I was somewhere in the middle of the game, the frame drops and stuttering on Steam Deck were unbearable, and we are speaking of a game that was classified as 'verified' on Steam Deck.”
    • “While I did have a fun time with this game and recommend it, I'll definitely say to not play this on Steam Deck like I did, as I experienced stuttering and framerate issues throughout almost the whole game that made playing very difficult at some points.”
    • “It runs poorly on Steam Deck despite being 'verified'. I played a large chunk of it on the deck and lost count of how many times I died due to it stuttering.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is marked by tedious backtracking and a lack of fast travel options, making exploration feel repetitive and dull. Players note that while the game features appealing animations, the limited enemy variety and sluggish controls contribute to a frustrating experience, especially as the game progresses. Overall, many find the grinding to be a significant drawback, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Without fast travel (warp room, teleporter, etc), the backtracking would be very tedious. Cookie cutter is no different, but it has a small number of fast travel points compared with the best metroidvanias I have played.”
    • “Great looking animation, but a staggering lack of variety among enemies and extremely sluggish controls make this a tedious Hollow Knight wannabe.”
    • “I've fully completed this game, did 100% achievements, and still cannot recommend it to anyone because it turns into tedious and extremely repetitive gameplay closer to the end of the game.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its vibrant graphics, detailed animations, and a strong punk aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. While the humor and chaotic combat may appeal to some, they could alienate more conservative players. The soundtrack effectively complements the atmosphere, though it lacks standout tracks.

    • “The punk atmosphere is great, and the combat feels messy in a good way.”
    • “The aesthetics, especially the detailed and wild animation, are obviously the main draw, but the game looks great elsewhere too with some subtle lighting and varied, atmospheric environments and background detail.”
    • “Really funny game, great graphics, atmosphere, animations, and music.”
  • character development5 mentions

    The character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning hand-drawn animations and vibrant visuals, which contribute to a unique aesthetic that feels reminiscent of a comic series. While opinions on character designs vary, many reviewers appreciate the distinct personalities conveyed through the animations, enhancing the overall immersion and connection to the characters.

    • “The visuals are stunning; I love the character designs. The whole game feels like a comic series.”
    • “In a genre stuffed with pixel art, Dark Souls-inspired settings, or cute anime girls, Cookie Cutter is refreshing with its hand-drawn animation, bright colors, and a wide variety of character designs.”
    • “I wasn't a huge fan of the character design either, to be honest.”
    • “The character designs have so much personality that I feel like I know what they'd sound like just from their animations.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    While some users find the game fun and stylish with high replayability, others rate it poorly, indicating a significant divide in opinions on its replay value. Overall, the consensus suggests that replayability may vary greatly among players.

    • “Fun, stylish, and highly replayable.”
    • “The game lacks any meaningful choices, making replaying it feel pointless.”
    • “Once you've completed the story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive, and there are no new challenges or content to explore on subsequent playthroughs.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect is generally well-received, particularly for players who have realistic expectations and appreciate the game's advertised style.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I was disappointed by how many features are locked behind paywalls; it really detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating that you can't progress without constantly being prompted to buy in-game currency.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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