Cash Cow DX | Switch Review

From the makers of Donut Dodo comes another arcade classic in the making! This time around you control a normal or turbo speed cow miner with triple stats pertaining to performance who is out to collect all the moooney. Moooney are valuable diamonds of a gold and prism colored variety worth different cash values each. This cash count equating to score on the local leaderboards. By collecting large gemstones you can also briefly turn all the moooney in the stage into prisms for a set period of time. This done in tandem with a score multiplier that requires continuous collecting will further max out your payout. 

In total there are five uniquely themed stages filled with a kaleidoscope of color that harbor their own names, and gameplay gimmicks. Making complete moooney retrieval all the more difficult as you progress. This along with the three different difficulty settings will alter how enemies act in each stage. Leaving the hard mode to be the one with more aggressive enemy types while easy, and normal are your basic retro experiences without the hot pursuit. 

As the cow seeking cash you are a one hit wonder in this quest for currency, and in 'Cash Cow DX' one hit means one life lost. This can be done by running into enemies without having on hand the limited use pick axe power-up that allows for enemy killing/invincibility or by falling on a hazard or down a pitfall. You'll also find that there are secrets to uncover in each stage which open up a sort of boss fight for extra lives. This, of course, all plays out in the first of three modes, Arcade mode. 

Outside of Arcade mode there is a Marathon mode which has you repeating the five core stages, but with altered changes each following go around. Making it more challenging, and more varied by design the longer you play. Besides Marathon there also exists a speedrun mode for those looking to break timed records. That, and a practice mode with individual stage difficulty settings. It's your usual small packaged homage to arcade classics done up with style, a complimentary chiptune soundtrack, and a pixel art that would make even the veteran developers jealous. 

The Verdict ...

For $6 you can own yet another classic in the making from a developer who knows how to put their own unique spin on the retro arcade formulas of yesteryear. Cash Cow DX, in all it's glory, does exceptionally well what other indie devs selling their games at a similar price range struggle to do. While the game may be small in overall content it is so rich in replay value that it will test the the mettle of the most battle hardened retro veteran ever to play an arcade game. It gets my enthusiastic seal of approval for it's quality design, and it's inviting, but seriously challenging gameplay loop!!!