Stylish, bizarre, ironic, quirky, and, in many ways, wonderfully surreal—these are, in our view, the most fitting attributes to describe the captivating creative project currently in development by Brazilian solo developer Rod3dArt.
Imagine a whimsical, cartoonish character resembling a treasure chest, complete with arms and legs, and sporting a cannon where its head should be. This peculiar feature serves a dual purpose: it acts both as a combat weapon and as a central nervous system, orchestrating every movement of our eccentric protagonist. No, this isn’t just one of those strange dreams that might haunt you after a particularly odd night’s sleep; rather, it’s the original and outlandish design of the main character in CannonHead, the upcoming creation by Brazilian indie developer Rod3dArt.
Inspired by Cuphead (you can find our review of the game and its DLC here) and the distinctive rubber hose animation style of the 1920—famously embraced by Studio MDHR in its original work and also influencing Mouse—CannonHead promises to be an exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping third-person action shooter that immerses us in the role of this quirky hero with a cannon for a head. But here’s the intriguing question: is the cannon truly his head, or does it merely obscure his true identity? A fascinating question indeed, but we’ll leave it to the developer to provide an answer.
Crafted with Blender3D and brought to life using Unreal Engine 5—the engine chosen by the developer for this ambitious project—CannonHead employs techniques that seamlessly translate the vintage effects of 2D animation into a captivating 3D environment, preserving all the charm and nostalgic joy of classic animations.
Populated by characters—how can I put this without offending anyone?—that are decidedly unconventional, CannonHead unfolds in a nautical-themed world literally strewn with chests and wooden barrels, showcasing unique environments and biomes just waiting to be explored. However, be cautious about which crates you choose to step on with your tiny feet or which barrels you decide to shatter with your cannon head; lurking behind them may be more than mere props—there could be a secret admirer concealed behind that wooden and iron exterior, harboring a hidden crush on you and your treasure chest-like form.
A defining feature that plays a central role in CannonHead is the vibrancy of its world. Beneath the seemingly inanimate facade of simple objects lies a hidden layer—animated items imbued with life and purpose. These small beings transcend their existence as ordinary objects, becoming genuine allies that can assist the protagonist on his still-unknown quest.
However, remember: appearances can be deceiving, and not all that glitters is gold. While it’s true that behind a pile of crates, one might discover friends, potential companions, or merely defenseless characters in need of protection, numerous dangers lurk in the shadows. A striking illustration of this can be found in one of the developer’s posts on X, which showcases a menacing sentient barrel armed with spinning blades in place of arms, ominously emerging from the wreckage of shattered wooden crates. Additional hints are provided by images on the game’s Steam page, portraying the protagonist locked in battle against three variants of these barrels and a towering turret that springs to life from a split crate.
However, among the elements showcased by the developer so far, it is undeniably the protagonist’s animations and unique character design that have captured our attention the most. These animations distinctly channel the playful rubber hose style, evident in the character’s fluid walking and running movements, as well as the delightful wisps of vapor resembling fluffy clouds that trail behind him as he navigates the game world.
Equally intriguing is the character’s hilariously exaggerated physics during animations. This is especially evident during shooting sequences, where his cannon-shaped head swings with comical exuberance, almost as if it were fashioned from rubber. Similarly, in falling animations, the protagonist’s chest-like form compresses and curls in on itself in a delightfully amusing manner.
Lastly, it is important to note an additional detail that is fully in keeping with the rubber hose style, similarly employed by Fumi Games in Mouse: the protagonist’s health bar. This feature is elegantly designed with an animated heart positioned alongside the health bar, which conveys a captivating range of moods and physical states based on the character’s health status. As the character’s health diminishes, the heart’s expression shifts dramatically, gradually deteriorating until it reaches a critical threshold, at which point it risks stopping entirely, leading to a game over.
There are undoubtedly many questions and intriguing details yet to be uncovered about this project, including its narrative structure, the unique features of its game world, and the depth of the combat system, to name just a few. Nonetheless, the project appears exceptionally captivating and promising, and the insights shared by Rod3dArt so far hint at a bright future ahead.
Therefore, we recommend keeping a close eye on CannonHead, especially if you’re seeking an original, unconventional, and delightfully quirky project brimming with original and entertaining ideas.
Currently, CannonHead does not have an official release date. For more information on the project, visit the developer’s account on X, and be sure to add the game to your wishlist to be among the first to know when it becomes available.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more!
