Review: Coffee Talk Episode 2: Nice tea, good to see you again
Our Verdict
Coffee Talk Episode 2 brings us back to our familiar haunt in stormy Seattle, where friends both old and new need an ear to hear out their problems and a warm drink to soothe their souls. There are new teas on the menu to compliment the changing tastes of your mythical mates.
Has anybody placed an order for Coffee Talk's second chapter? Yes, we did, and at last, it is available. Second episode of Coffee Talk: With a visual novel taste, Hibiscus and Butterfly continues our lives as baristas in a charming café via a talking simulator package. Enjoy hours of intense talk and drink-making minigames in Episode 2.
Despite taking place in Seattle in 2023, it's set in an alternative timeline where mythological creatures coexist with humans but have obstacles of their own to conquer in order to blend in. Three years have passed since the previous game, and there are many of the same pals back in Coffee Talk Episode 2, along with a tonne of new ones.
Our café, Coffee Talk, is the name of the place where we work every night and provide a sympathetic ear to tired people seeking solace. It's our responsibility as baristas to listen to them, assist in resolving their issues, and foster friendships while preparing delicious cups of each customer's favourite beverage.
When the game first launches, you're greeted with a familiar sight: a steaming hot cup of coffee to warm us up for the evening, along with a daily newspaper that summarises the news in Seattle. After that, you're in our customary seat behind the bar, facing a somewhat altered cafe area. The wall has various trinkets, and there's a new drawer feature where you may store any misplaced objects. This does come up later in the plot, so remember to check it sometimes (or else, as I discovered the hard way, you'll disappoint folks by not remembering to pass stuff on).
Notifications from the recently redesigned Tomodachill app, which functions as a mini-Twitter, are all over your phone. It now has a tales area where you can see what others are up to. There are fresh articles every day, and it's entertaining to read about the hobbies and interests of each character.
A warm and delicious menu makes every café complete, so let's have a look at the most recent offerings. As the name of the episode implies, the two new highlight products are Hibiscus and Butterfly Pea teas, which may be brewed with various flavours to suit a range of preferences. Toge Productions has also made some minor updates to the latte art screen, culminating in a whole new screen to showcase your masterpieces before presenting them to your clients.
In Hibiscus and Butterfly, the second episode of Coffee Talk, most of the characters are back. Though Riona, a new banshee, and Lucas, a satyr social media celebrity, are among the many individuals who will keep us busy, your first buddy Freya has sadly left for work. Their biographies highlight their individuality and demonstrate how problems affect individuals from all walks of life.
The difficulties Riona and Lucas face are related to their professions and legendary ancestry. Lucas is making every effort to set his work apart, but obstacles like audience acceptance are getting in the way. Riona, meanwhile, is only a few steps away from her desired job since she is a banshee and has experienced bullying and retaliation. Naturally, you will assist them to the best of your ability and inspire each person to pursue their own path and enjoy life to the fullest as a kind and willing to provide advice barista.
That being said, Amanda is the most compelling new character. She is one of the most expressive characters in Coffee Talk, even if she doesn't display any facial emotions when she appears in a space suit. In addition to researching us earthlings and enjoying some warm drinks, she is here to establish a connection with her brother Silver. "Earthlings have very busy feelings," she said. We do, Amanda, indeed.
In addition to making coffee and interacting with users, Coffee Talk 2 has an infinite mode where you may try out that recipe you've been putting off and figure out exactly what blend of tea, milk, and honey people truly want. This is quite useful to me since I always end up Google the recipes because I can't figure them out. There's also a challenge option to test your barista prowess if that wasn't quick enough! Just keep nothing from spilling.
It's interesting to note that Coffee Talk 2 has an accomplishments menu—something that, considering the lack of achievements on the Switch, more games need to have. I now make it my life's work to finish each and every one. Regarding the Switch, I really like playing Coffee Talk 2 in portable mode. The Joy-Cons aren't the greatest for delicate milk patterns, so it was simpler to create ridiculous latte art in the original game I played on the PC. However, having the conversations play automatically while curled up in bed is a wonderful bonus.
Coffee Talk's quality tea vibes are refilled in Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly. Perfect if that's what you're wanting; it continues seamlessly from the previous game and lets you keep brewing and teasing with the locals. It's just another chapter, however, so if you were hoping for anything really new, you may find this to be a little disappointing. However, like they say, don't repair what ain't broke! All in all, I had a great time playing the game and getting to know all the people, lending a hand to them, and designing my coffee shop's menu. Please pardon me while I go prepare a coffee.
Check out thesewildlife games and the toprestaurant games on Switch that we can suggest if you're searching for some more family-friendly gaming.