Playtime:
1788 minutes
(Please note that I've sunk an additional 15 hours into this game for the Switch and iOS/Android versions, so some of my review is based on the game across all versions).
Version Differences:
-The iOS/Android version is cheaper, but requires more grinding as there is a premium currency available for purchase in this version (jewels, which are handed out much, much more freely in the Switch and PC versions, whereas they trickle in in the phone one. The game appears to be fully beatable without spending jewels, however, just like its predecessor.)
-The Switch and PC versions have higher resolution graphics, and the loading times are faster, although still present.
Review:
Overall, this game is worth getting if you want a laid-back RPG you can play to relax. It encourages experimentation, and critical thinking in the cooking portion of the game. (For example, if you know how to make Pickled Cucumber, using cucumbers and salt, you can easily apply that knowledge to make Pickled Eggplant etc.) The leveling system is also very charming and well done; you level up your skills by fighting monsters, but your actual overall level goes up by eating food. Therefore, you have to balance whether you put your dishes to work earning you gold, feeding the God of Poverty, or leveling your characters up. If you were a fan of the first game, you'll notice some cameos, but the story stands alone just fine on its own.
Overall, this game will appeal to fans of Recettear or the Atelier series, as it's a RPG with a shop and cooking simulation built in. (If I remember correctly, some people behind the Atelier series brought us this game, too.) While the game doesn't play quite the same as either of them, and isn't quite as in-depth as those in the shop simulation aspects, it's still a very fun and worthy addition to one's library.
There are a couple caveats though. If you dislike grinding and schedules, this may not be the game for you, as it requires you to adventure into the same dungeons to get ingredients; typically each in-game day will involve going into a dungeon in the morning, and then opening your tavern at night. The story is light-hearted and charming, but not something that is very in depth, so if you need a deep story to engross yourself in this won't be the game for you. The controls for PC are a little awkward, too, and would definitely benefit from the ability to remap them. (The game appears to have controller support, though.)
P.S. A tip for those new to the series: steal from every monster you meet, especially bosses!
👍 : 41 |
😃 : 0