Intro:
The story of strangers coming together for a warm beverage creates a new core memory and already implanted nostalgia. The smell of coffee in the air, the sound of the espresso machine whirring as it froths the milk. Coffee talk is a memory yet to be unlocked by the player with its story that tells a very simple tale. One of humanity and a longing to belong.
A Tale of Caffeine:
Coffee Talk: Hibiscus and Butterfly was released April 20th 2023 and has the same structure as the previous instalment with a new mechanic added in. As the player we are listening to the stories of the wandering caffeinated traveler, listening to their hopes, dreams, sorrows even desperation for a hopeful tomorrow. The reason these games are so popular is because I can see myself in that world, it's like selling real-estate, making the owner see themselves in the house they potentially want to be in in crucial. Same concept applies here. The game and story sell itself in a way where the player can envision themselves in the universe of the game. A chill coffee shop experiencing other people's worlds and discussing your own. the story of this game is a minimal one, much like the first game there is a main story but the importance form what I’ve experienced doesn’t heavily pertain to the main story, but in the stories of each character you meet while serving them lattes. In this instalment of coffee talk, you go from hearing about a game developer who wants her game to be a success, to a young woman Riona who wants to be an opera singer to a guy named Lucas who is a full-time content creator. So, it's not just one story holding the game together but multiple intertwined.
The same but also different:
Both coffee talk games are heavily similar in both their structure and mechanics with only one change up in regard to the mechanics. There will be items that you will have in your inventory to give to customers in regard to the completion of their stories. Don’t worry if you forget, the items are integral to the completion of the game so you will be reminded as the game progresses. While you will be continuing off the stories off the previous games characters, you will be tasked with being a pseudo psychologist to a degree in a more intensive way this time around with new characters who need a listening ear. The mechanics coincide with the story in that everything is straightforward and to the point in its presentation and gameplay. I enjoyed the spontaneity of how each story felt connected in the grander scheme of things, but on the other hand felt disconnected in comparison to the first game. Freya only appears in the final part of the last chapter, and its only for a brief moment. I felt that without her constant presence, there was something missing throughout the game. Maybe that’s just a bit of nostalgia for her on my part. The coffee making and latte art was the thing I spent the most time on considering there are some drinks that are just impossible to make, and I knew I was bound to make Lucas or Hyde upset at some point, and the latte art bothered the perfectionist within. I felt like nothing I created looked pleasing at all, and for future Coffee Talk games I would LOVE to see more of a variance in the how the latte art section is done. Maybe adding cinnamon, I can sprinkle on top, caramel sauce, maybe even some whipped cream and strawberries.
A chat and a warm drink: The coffee talk games are like a warm hug, they greeted me in all their sincerity and made me feel at home in their chaotic conversations and empathic nods to the human condition. Sometimes all you need is a warm beverage and listening heart to make you feel at home.
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