By now, it’s well-known that Cuphead is a fairly challenging game. The sidescrolling boss rush bonanza with a beautiful 1930s cartoons style made waves when it launched in 2017 on Xbox One and PC. Now the stylish platformer starring Cuphead and his brother Mugman is available on Nintendo Switch. Right from the start, Cuphead is pretty unforgiving. One of, if not the first, boss you square off against is proof of that. Good old Goopy Le Grande definitely fits the level title “Ruse of an Ooze.” If you’re having trouble putting the final nail in Goopy’s coffin, our guide will help you get to know this forest creature who most certainly is not a Slime from Dragon Quest.
Right when you cross the bridge in Inkwell Isle One, head north to the odd, multi-colored tree where Goopy dwells. Despite being a cute blob we’d like to use as a pillow, Goopy wants to smash Cuphead’s face in.
Goopy’s first phase
Like all Cuphead bosses, Goopy has multiple phases to contend with. In the first phase, Goopy is merely a small blob who hops around the screen. Watch carefully to get a feel for how far he jumps before crashing back down. Sometimes Goopy jumps high with short range, and other times he jumps lower with a longer range. This is key to avoiding damage from above. Generally, you can stick near the sides of the screen without fear of getting hit. You will, however, have to dash from time to time if you can tell Goopy will land on the side of the screen.
The other move Goopy has in his first phase is that he turns himself into a giant boxing glove. This move is heavily choreographed, as you’ll see Goopy stretch backwards before ballooning out. This move covers about half the screen. Depending on where you’re at in relation to Goopy, you may just have to move to the side of the screen and keep wailing on him. But if there’s no room to get out of the attack’s reach, you have to dash over him before he lunges forward.
After a few rounds of alternating between jumping and swinging at you, Goopy will become enraged.
Goopy’s second phase
In Goopy’s second phase, he does pretty much the same thing. Except this time, you cannot hang around the sides of the screen. Goopy is very large now. Stick to the ground and make ample use of your dash. You’ll need to in order to avoid getting hit.
Goopy’s other attack in his second phase is much easier to avoid than in his first phase. He’ll conjure a red boxing glove and wind up with authority. All you need to do to avoid it is duck. Goopy cannot hit you while crouched, and you can keep firing bullets into him as he takes his shot.
Following a few rounds of this, Goopy is destroyed by a tombstone with Goopy’s face on it (it’s all very meta).
Goopy’s third phase
Even with Goopy dead and gone, the fight goes on. You have to destroy the tombstone now, even though it’s etched on it that Goopy is already resting in peace. The third phase is all about quick reflexes. You have to shoot upwards at Goopy’s face on the tombstone. This means it helps to try and stick with it as it shuffles about the background.
When the tombstone stops in its tracks, it’s time to dash. The tombstone’s lone attack is to crash down on the screen face first. If you don’t dash right when the tombstone stops, it’s hard to avoid simply because of the size of the tombstone.
Best weapons and charms for Goopy
As it’s early in the game, you won’t have a ton of coins to purchase items from Porkrind’s Emporium (the caravan shop on the map). But if you’re having trouble defeating Goopy with the Peashooter (the default shot), the Chaser will help you out a lot. With the Chaser, you don’t need to worry about aiming. It automatically sends projectiles at your target for the cost of decreased damage. The Chaser makes the third phase, in particular, much easier as you don’t have to remain in harm’s way under the tombstone while shooting. You’ll have enough coins out of the gate to buy the Chaser, too.
If you play one of the two run and gun levels in Isle One, you can find enough coins to purchase a Charm, too. If staying alive is a problem, you can get the Heart charm, which adds one hit point to your health while only slightly weakening your damage. But the best charm for Goopy is the Smoke Bomb, which makes Cuphead or Mugman invincible while dodging. Essentially you can be more aggressive when fighting Goopy with Smoke Bomb, allowing you to breeze through all three of the creature’s phases without worrying so much about perfect dodges.
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