About Cactus McCoy and the Curse of Thorns
Cactus McCoy and the Curse of Thorns is a action game developed by Flipline Studios (known for the Papa Louie series). Sponsored by Not Doppler, it’s the first entry in the Cactus McCoy series and offers ogameplay in a quirky Wild West setting filled with hidden treasures, bizarre enemies, and intense brawling combat.
In the story, McCoy is a rugged treasure hunter hired by the crime boss Hex Hatfield to retrieve the legendary Thorned Emerald. After succeeding, he unwittingly activates the emerald’s ancient Curse of Thorns, transforming him into a spiky, anthropomorphic saguaro cactus.
A ghostly figure named Popōca (the emerald’s previous thief) warns McCoy that he’ll petrify into a lifeless stone cactus if he doesn’t return the gem to its rightful shrine before time runs out. Misinterpreting McCoy’s quest as betrayal, Hatfield places a massive bounty on his head, unleashing hordes of outlaws known as “Enemigos.”
Now, as “Cactus McCoy,” you must navigate treacherous landscapes—from dusty deserts and dark caves to rickety trains and ancient ruins, fighting off enemies, collecting map pieces to guide your path, and uncovering secrets to break the curse.
How to play Cactus McCoy and the Curse of Thorns
Controls
- Left/Right arrow keys: Move McCoy left and right.
- A: Jump.
- S: Attack enemies.
- Down arrow key: Pick up a weapon.
- D: Drop a weapon.
- Down arrow key + A: Drop Down from platforms.
- Up arrow key + S: Throw or Shoot upwards.
Cactus McCoy blends side scrolling platforming with beat-’em-up combat, emphasizing exploration, combat variety, and puzzle-solving. You control McCoy in interconnected levels (often linked by tunnels), aiming to reach the exit while defeating enemies, grabbing treasures, and finding hidden map pieces that unlock the path to the Emerald Shrine.
Boss battles against powerful Enemigos add challenge, and the curse’s progression (tracked by a meter) ramps up the urgency—fail too slowly, and McCoy starts turning to stone, limiting mobility.
