Intro
It is hard in the cozy gaming realm to get enough of the visual novel gameplay that comes with games like Coffee Talk. Many indie developers have absolutely nailed the genre by mixing together soothing gameplay, interesting character, and intriguing stories.
Coffee Talk is no different as its retro art style and ability to uniquely tackle social issues has drawn many gamers to explore this well-developed game. After obtaining some popularity in the indie gaming space the developers decided to add another chapter that expands on the original narrative of the game.
The premise of Coffee Talk Chapter 2 is the same as the original. You are a faceless nocturnal coffee shop owner living in a fictionalized version of Seattle, Washington. However, the game jumps a few years into the future to show the development of the original characters while also adding in new ones.
This sequel reflects the same gameplay and story type as the original Coffee Talk with some added intrigue thrown in for good measure. If you liked the first chapter but are still on the fence about playing the next installment, then keep on reading to see if you should play Coffee Talk 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly.
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Story
Right out the gate it is safe to say that the many character narratives have evolved from the original game. Though chapter 2 takes place in the same setting with roughly the same characters the game devs added in new features and new story lines.
You start off with your coffee shop again as you open your business late into the night on the day of September 19, 2023. The game brings back old characters and refreshes their stories while also bringing in new patrons who will start frequenting your coffee shop. While the narrative part of the game often been done through directly speaking with the characters during business hours Coffee Talk has a habit of incorporating social media into the mix in a way that adds to each NPC’s overall plot.
Through the game’s social media platform known as Tomodachill you can now view many of the character’s posts on their social media accounts to keep up with their storylines even when they’re not at the coffee shop. Before all you could do was just unlock different parts of their social media page as you got to know them better.
This develops the game and adds more to the game in chapter 2 by allowing you to like certain social media posts as they appear on your timeline. Unfortunately, also like certain other social media platforms in real life you must view posts the day of or else they will disappear forever.
Though this is a slight change it does ground the game in a more realistic way by developing an aspect of the story that is more familiar. The story telling of chapter 2 is a more developed version of the one from the original. If you liked chapter 1 of Coffee Talk then you will most likely enjoy the addition of Hibiscus and Butterflies.
Gameplay
The gameplay is largely the same as it was in chapter 1 in that mainly you pick three ingredients in a certain order to create a drink that will satisfy each NPC that comes into your humble caffeine dispensary. The game gives you all the original ingredients with the addition of pea flower and hibiscus tea to jazz things up a bit.
This is the base line mechanic of the game is has the same consequences as serving each NPC the right drinks will determine how far your relationship will develop with them. You do not need to stress about this too much but just bear in mind that the way you prepare a drink will still have an effect in the long run.
You will also find yourself in situations where you acquire certain items and must decid on when and where to give them to NPCs to further the plot. A lucky lighter, a secret agent’s ID card, and even a fidget spinner with a social media handle can all be effective when given to the right NPC at the right time.
This can become tricky as finding the right drink and delivering certain items to different people can impact the story even more than it already was. The game function as more of a puzzle game rather than a social simulator. This adds more to the choose your own adventure element of the game but if you’re not sure how or when to complete something there is also Google search. Just be wary of spoilers if you do.
Pros
- Engaging story.
- Intriguing character development.
- Aesthetically designed gameplay.
- Lo fi beats so fresh they were caught this morning.
Cons
- Can be difficult to know how to create drinks or give people items without the help of the internet.
- The latte art mechanic leaves a lot to be desired (or I could just be really bad at latte art).
Conclusion
Getting a sequel to a film can be a 50/50 chance in terms of quality depending on the direction the developers decide to go. Coffee Talk has done a good job of using the next chapter in the series to build on the base game in very subtle but meaningful ways.
If you’re someone who loved the first installment of the game then there’s a good chance you’ll like the development happening in this new chapter of Coffee Talk.
Snag Coffee Talk Chapter 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly below.
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