Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition is a single-player 2D Metroidvania action-adventure game that blends platforming, exploration, and intense combat in a dystopian sci-fi setting. Players control Cherry, a chainsaw-wielding android on a revenge-driven quest through the massive Megastructure to rescue her creator, Shinji Fallon, from the forces of Infonet. The experience emphasizes hand-drawn visuals, responsive movement, and a progression system built around ability unlocks and weapon upgrades.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on side-scrolling traversal across interconnected zones filled with environmental hazards, hidden paths, and gated areas that require new abilities to access. Cherry starts with basic attacks and mobility options before expanding her toolkit through exploration. Light attacks build a VOID meter that powers heavy strikes or special abilities, while heavy attacks consume it. Combat rewards precise timing for counters and brutal finishers that deliver gory animations unique to each enemy type.
Players equip secondary weapons such as a chainsaw for close-range devastation or other tools for ranged and crowd control options. Upgrades come from components scattered throughout the world, improving health, VOID capacity, or adding passive effects. Cherry also unlocks a powerful mecha form for tougher encounters. Platforming incorporates double jumps, air dashes, and other mobility tools that open previously inaccessible sections, encouraging backtracking in classic Metroidvania fashion. Boss fights demand pattern recognition and aggressive play, with large, memorable encounters that test upgraded abilities.
The Overkill Edition refines these systems with additional special moves, tighter hitboxes, improved cancel timing, and better progression balancing. Fully voiced dialogue enhances character interactions, while new cinematics provide extra story context. Map tools now display completion percentages to guide thorough exploration without spoiling secrets.
Game Modes
The game offers a single-player campaign focused on story progression, combat challenges, and world discovery. There are no multiplayer modes or separate competitive or cooperative options. The experience unfolds across a linear yet non-linear structure of zones that players revisit with expanded capabilities. Completionists can pursue hidden items, full map coverage, and upgraded builds within this single mode.
Story and World
Set in a decaying far-future society ruled by the Infonet corporation, the narrative follows Cherry's blood-soaked path through the Megastructure. Quirky allies and irreverent enemies populate the environments, adding personality to the dystopian backdrop. The story balances violence with emotional beats centered on Cherry's relationships and motivations. Overkill Edition additions like voiced lines and new cinematics deepen these elements without altering the core plot.
Visuals and Presentation
Hand-drawn 2D art defines the look, with detailed animations for attacks, finishers, and character movements that stand out in every zone. The style mixes neon cyberpunk influences with grotesque enemy designs and vibrant backgrounds. The Overkill Edition supports smooth performance, including 60 frames per second on supported platforms, along with quality-of-life map improvements.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player feedback on Steam rates the Overkill Edition as Mostly Positive based on over 1,400 reviews. Reviewers highlight the satisfying combat loop, distinctive art direction, and strong Metroidvania fundamentals as standout features. The edition's additions make it the most polished version available, with refinements that address earlier pacing and polish concerns. It suits fans of exploration-driven action games who enjoy challenging boss encounters and gore-heavy combat systems. Those seeking a focused single-player experience with meaningful ability progression will find substantial value in its 15-plus hour campaign and optional completionist content. The game remains actively supported with the Overkill features integrated into the current release.
