Coffee Talk Vs Coffee Talk 2

If you’re as enthusiastic about lofi aesthetics as you are about latte art, then there’s no doubt it — Coffee Talk is hands down the best thing you could possibly get your hands on. And as luck would have it, Toge Productions has just released a second chapter, aptly titled Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly. Question is, what does the latest iteration of the visual novel series bring to the counter? More importantly, does it one-up its debut chapter visually, aurally, and mechanically?

Safe to say that, regardless of the game’s individual story arcs and supernatural characters, both games offer a lot of the same content. This applies to the gameplay, too, which mostly consists of brewing hot drinks from behind the counter, and engaging in wholesome conversations with strangers in a pixelated version of modern Seattle. However, for the sake of giving you a more detailed opinion, we’ll go ahead and break down its components, piece by piece.

What Is Coffee Talk?

To set the record straight, Coffee Talk is a visual novel—a collection of episodes, of sorts, that depict the events surrounding a slew of late-night shifts at a fantasy-like coffee shop based around Seattle. As its regular barista, your goal is to interact with the customers, brew award-winning drinks using a selection of ingredients, and establish a tighter bond with the locals. It’s warm, cosy, and absolutely loaded to the brim with fascinating lore to unravel.

Mechanically, neither of the two Coffee Talk episodes are overly complex. On the contrary, tasks involve little more than combining ingredients to make drinks that are one of four types: warm, cool, sweet, or bitter. An example here would be receiving a request to have something sweet, in which case you’d add a dash of lemon to the mixture. This is all remarkably self-explanatory, and at no point does it expect you to know the ins and outs of the industry to be able to brew good coffee.

There are consequences, however, for mixing the wrong drinks; a swift change in compatibility with your customer, for example. Having said that, other than having to read through a few different pieces of dialogue, nothing really alters the course that you’re put on. And that’s great, as at no point whatsoever are you led to believe that you’re doing something wrong.

Outside of the brewing process, Coffee Talk invites you to engage with the shop’s regulars. Again, being a visual novel, this mostly revolves around listening to others vent about their issues, and on occasion, asking the right questions and lending your advice to help usher in new scenarios. It’s all entirely text-based, with the exception of its lofi soundtrack, which alone makes the experience one of the most pleasant in modern gaming.

What’s New in Coffee Talk 2?

Granted, Coffee Talk 2 doesn’t go entirely overboard with new features and functions. Not that it has to, mind you, as the first chapter had already lay the foundations for a clean-cut, warm and cosy visual novel. But what it does bring, really, is a few additional ingredients—Hibiscus and Butterfly—to the table. Oh, and not to mention a series of returning characters to reconnect with and few new faces to befriend.

As far as its story goes, Hibiscus & Butterfly picks up a few years after the events of the first chapter. To this end, the opportunity for you to catch up with old friends knocks, which means, if you did see their arcs through to the bitter (or sweet) end, then you’ll have the chance to see what happened during the three-year hiatus. And providing that you enjoyed their weird and wonderful tales of love, woe, and ambition, then this really isn’t something you should sweep under the rug.

And the Gameplay?

Just to echo the fact that, gameplay-wise, Coffee Talk isn’t the most demanding. In fact, the most difficult thing you’ll have to do in either of the two chapters is design latte art; doodles on the froth of a good cup of coffee. That’s really all there is to it, though, which means you needn’t worry about intricate puzzles or mechanics at any point along the way.

As far as finessing the brewing process goes, speaking with your customers can essentially provide you with better recipes and superior ingredients. Again, this doesn’t spiral into a slew of absurdly difficult mini-games, nor does it ask that you spend countless hours understudying a local barista. There are meters, all of which assist you as you mix and pour each brew, so that you can serve it to the customer and match their requirements. So, hardly anything to get worked up about.

There is a new feature in Hibiscus & Butterfly, which is the lost and found compartment. This item drawer, as small a feature as it is, gives you something else to consider when serving up your drinks. And while it doesn’t add a great deal as far as mechanics go, it certainly opens the door for a few more topical conversations and pathways to pursue. For this reason, we can’t help but say that the second episode is a much stronger, more finessed brew.

Verdict

Let it be said that, if you enjoy a classic visual novel with hearty aesthetics and good, wholesome characters with genuinely likeable personality traits, then you’re in safe hands with Coffee Talk. And not just in the arms of one of its episodes — but the entire series. For the sake of establishing context, however, it is recommended that you start with the first episode and see it through to its conclusion, preferably before booting up Hibiscus & Butterfly.

As far as the question of which game is better goes, it’s hard to call. That said, based on the characters and their story arcs, it’s fair to say that the sequel is, all things considered, the better of the two. Why? Well, because it takes everything that made the first game the charming thing that it is, and in turn made it more appealing—heartier and a lot more relatable, even. But without the first chapter, none of these story arcs would’ve been anywhere near as intriguing.

Given the fact that both episodes only comprise a four or five-hour story, it isn’t all that much to ask to experience what the first has to offer before delving into the latter. On that note, we’ll just settle for the conclusion that neither of the two hold the title. If anything, they’re both filled to an equal measure.

So, what’s your take? Have you had the chance to play through Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly yet? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.