Game: Cash Cow DX
Genre: Action, Platformer, Arcade
System: Nintendo Switch (also on available Steam (Windows))
Developer|Publisher: pixel games SARL-S | Flynns Arcade
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone
Price: US $5.99 | UK £5.99 | EU € 5,99
Release Date: September 26th, 2024
A review code was provided with many thanks to Flynns Arcade
Cash Cow DX – A New Arcade Hit
Flynn’s Arcade continues its pursuit of new and original titles that invoke nostalgia for the arcade days while offering fresh gameplay on modern platforms. Today’s review spotlights Cash Cow DX, a charming arcade game where you play as a determined cow seeking to reclaim stolen money from a thieving pig. This is another delightful arcade experience offered at an affordable price.
Insert Coin
Cash Cow DX feels like a blend of Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Mario Bros., offering a simple yet challenging experience. The game spans five levels, each designed with its own distinct style. Your objective is to collect all the golden cash scattered around various platforms while avoiding enemies and hazards such as spike traps. Each level introduces different mechanics to keep things fresh, like rocking boats or speeding minecarts.
Once you’ve cleared all five levels, the game concludes with a satisfying boss battle against the villainous pig, bringing the cow’s short but sweet quest to a close. Along the way, you can collect crystals to boost your score multiplier. You’ll also find a pickaxe that grants temporary invulnerability, allowing you to permanently remove enemies from the level, making navigation easier and enhancing your score.
However, it’s important to note that one hit from an enemy sends your cow tumbling back to the start of the level at the cost of a life. Lose all your lives, and it’s game over – no continues or checkpoints. You’ll have to start again from the very beginning, which is reminiscent of the challenging design philosophy of classic 80s arcade games.
Difficulty
While the controls are simple (limited to movement and jumping), the gameplay is tough to master. Learning the layouts of each level and studying enemy patterns is essential to reach the end of the five-level run. Retro gaming enthusiasts will likely appreciate the challenge, but newcomers or casual players might find the difficulty curve intimidating. Enemies can often surprise you just off-screen, leading to some frustratingly cheap deaths. It took me quite a few attempts just to conquer the first level.
Other Modes
After mastering the game’s “easy” mode (a term that feels a bit exaggerated given the difficulty), you’ll unlock higher difficulty settings, including a “hard” mode and an endless mode. In endless mode, the game continues cycling through the levels until all your lives are depleted. There’s also a practice mode that allows you to revisit any of the five levels, which is a great way to familiarize yourself with the level layouts and enemy behaviours before tackling the full game.
Arcade Feels
The presentation of Cash Cow DX is intentionally retro, complete with pixel graphics and a simple, catchy soundtrack. The game also mimics the look and feel of classic arcade machines with borders on the sides of the screen displaying score multipliers and other details, just like a real arcade cabinet. Performance is smooth on both handheld and TV modes on the Nintendo Switch, ensuring that the experience remains stable regardless of how you choose to play.
Conclusion: Worth the Cash
Cash Cow DX is a solid arcade game that channels the spirit of 80s classics. As I’ve said about many of Flynn’s Arcade’s releases, if they ever opened a real arcade filled with the games they’ve published, I’d happily visit and spend a few coins. For the price of entry, Cash Cow DX offers a fun and challenging arcade experience that’s particularly suited for retro gaming fans.
That said, the game’s difficulty might prove to be a bit too much for casual players or those unfamiliar with the punishing mechanics of old-school arcade games. While it’s not the best arcade game I’ve ever played, it’s certainly worth the cost for fans of quick, nostalgic action.
Final Verdict: I Like It
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