Cookie Cutter | Xbox Review

Towards the end of each year, it seems as if I stumble across a new game that winds up being a last-minute favorite. 2023 was no different, as Subcult Joint‘s gear-gated game, Cookie Cutter, released on December 14th. As soon as I saw the incredible animation, over-the-top gore, and ripping soundtrack, I knew I had to play it. It’s not often that a game exceeds my expectations, but this title blew them all away. It took me back to my glory days of Super Metroid, and even games like Battletoads while taking a bold stance in terms of its tone. Publisher Rogue Games scored huge with this one, and I haven’t wanted more people to experience another game as much as this one in a long time.

Love at First Byte

Cookie Cutter‘s setting is one of dystopian ruin. A mega corporation called INFONET has taken over the world, promising a future paradise for its inhabitants. The promise included the help of androids called Denzels. In true scumbag fashion, this turned out to be a lie, and the leader of this organization takes advantage of everyone for personal gain. Doctor Shinji Fallon aims to thwart INFONET at all costs. She creates her own Denzel with artificial intelligence, a female named Cherry. In an unexpected twist, Shinji and Cherry fall in love.

Unfortunately, the good doctor is kidnapped by the corporation’s leader, and Cherry is beaten and smashed in an incredibly grotesque manner. A man named Raz discovers Cherry’s broken body and somehow brings her back online. She vows to rescue Shinji from the hands of INFONET, powered by sheer will and the love for her creator. She sets off on her quest.

The theme of Cookie Cutter stands out above everything else. Cherry is pissed off, and her punk rock attitude bleeds out of her whether she’s pummeling enemies or idly waiting for an elevator. She’s crass as hell, refuses to take anybody’s crap, and the game is all the better because of it. The violence meshes perfectly with Cherry’s demeanor. At the game’s climax, the story takes an unexpected turn, which was almost as bold as the game’s overall tone. I loved it all.

Not Your Father’s Metroidvania

Yes, I know I’m supposed to call this a gear-gated game now, right? But the Metroid is so strong with Cookie Cutter that I’m reverting back to old habits. What immediately stood out to me was the freedom given to me at the beginning of the game. Once you get through the tutorial section, you’re given the choice to take one of two paths. The only difference is which new gear/power that you get sooner than the other. From that point on, the progression is absolutely fantastic. Never once did I feel lost while exploring this 2D world. I always knew where I was supposed to go, and it never took a great deal of time to get there. It made every second of traversal a blast, and I never experienced the feeling of always pressing forward quite like I did with this title.

One of the most satisfying aspects of playing Cookie Cutter is the finishing moves, which are called “brutals” here. As you melee your way through enemies, you’re given the option to execute a finisher once their HP reaches a certain point. And what a sight these moments are. Each one only last a second or two, but are glorious to behold. Every single enemy type has their own specific animation, so it became a joy to come across new baddies just to see how you would take them out.

As for the gameplay itself, even the basic mechanics are quite unique. Yes, there’s a typical health meter, of course, and what is basically a mana gauge. The latter acts not only as your ability to perform special attacks, but also as a way to replenish your health. As expected, you’ll discover new abilities as you progress deeper into the game. But what sets these apart is that they not only unlock new paths, but they also are very useful in combat. The balancing act of health vs. skills is a fun one to play, especially since finishing off enemies with brutals rewards you by refilling both.

Cookie Cutter Final Verdict

There’s so much more I could praise in regards to Cookie Cutter, but some of them are fun surprises I don’t want to spoil for you. For instance, learning who your companion through your adventure actually is highly entertaining. Between that and the constant callbacks to retro games and hilarious names of enemies and bosses, it never lets off the gas. And I’m here for it.

It’s an absolute joy from start to finish, with only minor issues. I came across multiple glitches where I was teleported to random places off the map and had to restart the entire game. It also crashed on me several times. This was merely an inconvenience, however, as the checkpoints are quite frequent. I also wish that the fast travel mechanic included the fully-detailed map instead of what equates to a list of locations. I found myself leaving the fast travel stations to pull up my full map before going back in to select where I was going. Again, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the game and only inconvenienced me slightly.

If you’ve ever enjoyed a game in the gear-gated genre, you owe it to yourself to play Cookie Cutter. The stunning animations alone make this more than worth a visit, and the story, mechanics, and attitude will encourage you to stay for the rest. Subcult Joint are clearly as big of a fan of games as I am, as it oozes out of every frame. I’ve solidified this one as a personal favorite of the year, and I can’t wait to see more from this developer.

To hear me talk more about Cookie Cutter, be sure to listen to our November 29th episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 55:57 time stamp. You can also hear my interview with the Director and Artist of the game here.

This review is based on an Xbox copy of Cookie Cutter provided by Reverb Inc. for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.