Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly Nintendo Switch Review

Espresso Discuss Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is developer Toge Manufacturing’s sequel to its hit visible novel barrister simulator, Espresso Discuss. The sport follows you, the barrister of the Espresso Discuss cafe in Seattle, as you serve drinks whereas conversing along with your common and new prospects, who you flip to associates. All through the story, you’ll study their lives, present occasions, their struggles, desires, and extra throughout a sizzling beverage. The sport continues a number of character arcs established within the first recreation whereas beginning new ones, and provides a number of new components within the course of, however perhaps not sufficient.

The Story Continues

Espresso Discuss 2 continues your story because the mysterious however cool barista and follows a number of returning characters of various legendary and non legendary races. This consists of the couple of a business-oriented succubi and a freelancer elf who’re set to marry however should first overcome their household points, the friendship between an orc and a mermaid and the way it’s being examined by a videogame developer who presents them a questionable deal for his or her indie recreation, a vampire who’s considering a profession change, and a police officer who’s tasked to resolve some unusual occasions happening on the town, amongst others. The sport additionally introduces new characters like a banshee who’s going through difficulties believing in her desires and a boisterous influencer who tries his greatest to assist everybody whereas attempting to create distinctive content material.

As a narrative-focused recreation, Espresso Discuss Episode 2 does an amazing job of continuous a number of characters’ tales that began from the primary recreation, which rewards returning gamers, whereas additionally not isolating newcomers by making these tales easy sufficient to comply with. The brand new characters additionally breathe new life into the collection by offering new views and distinctive personalities. Whereas the sport doesn’t finish in a particular means, it was nonetheless entertaining and satisfying to see the tip of the narrative and watch the characters develop individually and collectively.

What’s New?

It’s additionally price mentioning that the sport sports activities a number of endings, a lot of which depend upon the brand new item-in-drawer mechanic. With out spoiling an excessive amount of, the function permits gamers to make selections that may have an effect on how characters and their tales will play out. For instance, you’ll be given gadgets from one character to present to a different or select what merchandise to present a personality at particular factors within the story. Failing to ship the gadgets, offering them too late, or choosing particular gadgets over others will have an effect on the story, the way it performs out, and what ending you’ll get. Nevertheless, whereas the brand new function is cool, I admittedly discovered it onerous to take it critically because it was used too loosely all through the sport, and a few selections didn’t matter as a lot as I assumed they might.

Other than that, the sport additionally provides two new espresso and tea components together with pre-existing components. These components add greater than six extremely colourful, tasty-looking, story-central drinks to the sport. Nevertheless, whereas their addition is sweet, simply two new components wasn’t sufficient to make the brewing expertise distinct from the earlier recreation. I really feel the builders additionally knew this, as gamers are pressured to relearn all recipes from earlier video games to compensate for the dearth of latest ones.

The Further Stuff

When not brewing teas and occasional and listening to prospects, gamers also can use the in-game Twitter-like social media app “Tomodachii,” which loosely ties into the story, as gamers use it to maintain up with the characters’ lives. Gamers also can choose background music, most of which is sadly carried over from the earlier recreation, and skim surprisingly well-written and thought-provoking poems and brief tales on the newspaper app.

Visually, as a result of a lot of the sport’s belongings are carried over from the earlier recreation, the sport seems to be principally unchanged from the final recreation, with little to touch upon. Nevertheless, the sport nonetheless sports activities very good, detailed, and extremely aesthetic pixel artwork, and the brand new characters have nice and distinctive character designs. Lastly, Espresso Discuss Episode 2 has a gallery with tons of artwork from gifted artists, some seen within the recreation’s story, others simply further. It additionally has artwork paying tribute to the sport’s creator Mohammad Fahmi, who sadly handed away final 12 months, which was extremely heartwarming.

Last Ideas

Total, whereas I really feel extra gameplay content material ought to’ve been added to the sequel, Espresso Discuss Episode 2 nonetheless managed to impress and entertain me as a fan of the collection, with its endearing characters and heartwarming story regardless of having a unique author from the primary recreation. In the event you take pleasure in visible novels, comfortable vibes, and an amazing story, then Espresso Discuss and its sequel are video games it’s best to try.

Do you frequent Cafes? Have you ever performed this recreation or are you interested by it? What do you concentrate on our overview? Tell us within the feedback part under.