Gamer’s Guide - Overcooked 2
I’ve been on a roll with video game reviews lately. So much so that one might wonder if CJ is exclusively writing a gaming blog at this point. But this particular game is a bit out of character for me.
Why is that, CJ?
I’m so glad you asked, fiends. Overcooked 2 is a multi-player game. Dun dun dun duuuuuuun.
For some a multi-player game is old hat. But not for this gamer. When I was young, the first gaming console I can recall is our little SEGA. I remember playing Crystal’s Pony Tale (that snake on a pole was scary, fiends!) and Echo the Dolphin. I would also sit on the arm of our computer chair and ‘help’ my brothers play Red Alert when I was little. Littler, at least.
But the games I really remember were the ones I played together and competed over with my brothers. There was the multi-player Crash Bandicoot Racing which was our family’s version of the more popular Mario Kart. Then we’d take turns playing single player games with everything from Spyro and Jak and Daxter to Final Fantasy X and the original Kingdom Hearts. I was the youngest by several years so I usually lost these competitions, but I also had more free time on my hands so I got in more practice the older my brothers became. Towards the end of my childhood, I was usually playing by myself as their interests changed from video games to other hobbies.
If your brothers were busy why not play online with other people, CJ?
Honestly? I couldn’t. We didn’t have internet in my house until I was in college (what a different time that was). Plus, as an introvert I never felt like I missed out playing in groups with others. I haven’t even paid for the online co-play option on either any of the three game systems I own. In fact, I haven’t done any co-playing since I cajoled Beach Mermaid into playing Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon with me for my birthday years ago.
I write all that to say my experience with multi-player games is few and far between. However, all of that changed when my Twin and I drove down to her sister’s house this past October. Her sister and husband are avid online gamers, and they have quite a collection of games. Overcooked 2 happened to be among them, and they tossed us into a random level one day, insisting it would be fun.
What ensued was madd chaos, screaming...and lots of fun. When we returned home, my Twin insisted on buying the game for us three to play together.
Overcooked 2 is based on the premise of the Unbread rising from the Undead due to the unsupervised use of the Necronomicon. You can understand why I was already hooked by this premise, dear fiends. Puns aside, the chefs of the Onion Kingdom must work together to assemble food to subdue the Unbread’s ravenous appetites. The players go from point to point on the map to unlock new recipes, learn new skills, and most of all work on your teamwork!
*Please be aware that the following review contains game play spoilers*
Overcooked 2
Likes:
Crazy Locations - Part of the appeal is the insanity of each location in Overcooked 2. Your first meal starts out, naturally enough, inside a kitchen. But then it starts to get weird. Your chefs prepare dishes on top of a hot air balloon, inside mine shafts, inside wizard houses, and even on alien planets! Ingredients change places. Pieces of the map drop in and out of existence. You can lose whole plates of successfully made dishes with one tiny misstep! Is it insanity? Yes. Is it fun? Hell yes!
Teamwork – It’s a lot of fun to work out the best way to beat a level. You get to learn the location really well, the rate of orders, and even where obstacles will land! And you also get to know your teammates’ peculiarities and strengths. For instance – Gamer is really good at reading the recipes and keeping all of them straight in his head as he crafts them. My Twin is great at grabbing ingredients and keeping an eye on the dishes. I’m good at seeing what areas need help and jumping in to assist.
Satisfaction – There’s really nothing better than the satisfied feeling of defeating a really hard level and earning all the stars possible. It’s a bit like checking something off a to-do list. Except the list has sushi, and you’re surrounded by lava.
Dislikes:
Anxiety - Do you have anxiety? Do you want more anxiety? Then Overcooked 2 is the perfect game for you!
Level 6-2 – It’s insane and I loathe it. You’ll understand when you play it.
Ending Comments:
In all seriousness, it’s insane how addicting this game is. I have never been one for timed events nor do I play lots of co-play games. Yet, somehow, I’m always the one cajoling the others at the end of the day for ‘one more game, please?’
Now, you’ll have to excuse me. It’s getting late and I have lots to do. Namely, a game to play and friends to scream at.