I’ve always enjoyed a good cup of coffee. Either espresso, cappuccino, latte, or pretty much any of the well-known kinds. I usually start the day with a strong one, drink another after dinner and relax during the afternoons with another one. For me, coffee helps me both relax and stay active during the day, depending on the moment. For others, perhaps tea will help them relieve from the stress and disconnect, even for a mere moment. There’s nothing that I enjoy more – aside from playing video games and writing – than going to my favorite coffee shop and drinking a hot cup of coffee while talking to my family or friends. That helps me relax, and simply enjoy the moment.
Speaking of video games and relaxing… One genre of video games that helps me with that, are visual novels. From time to time, I really enjoy digging my way through a visual novel. Getting comfy, all warm, and enjoying a good reading. I’ll admit that since my childhood, I haven’t read many books. However, as of late, I’ve enjoyed many visual novels. From all kinds of publishers, developers, genres, stories… a lot of them. And color me surprised when I discovered the game that I want to cover today: Coffee Talk. A visual novel with minor gameplay elements that makes us work as a barista at a coffee shop. Now that’s something that caters to my interests! Well; brew yourself a hot cup of coffee, tea, or your favorite drink. I hope you enjoy this review of Coffee Talk in cloud gaming services!
Cleaning the cups
Launched in 2020, Coffee Talk was developed by a small indie game development studio called Toge Productions. Founded in 2008 by a group of friends who shared a passion for developing games, Toge Productions is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. The team is known for creating a number of other indie games such as Infectonator, Diner Dash, and many other classics. They started out making Flash games and gradually transitioned to making games for PC and mobile platforms.
One of the things that sets Toge Productions apart from other game development studios is its focus on creating games with a positive message. Many of the studio’s games, including Coffee Talk, are designed to promote empathy, kindness, and understanding. The studio is also known for its diverse and inclusive approach to game development, which is reflected in the diverse cast of characters in its games. Coffee Talks is a perfect example of that thanks to its characters and stories.
Heating the water
The gameplay of Coffee Talk primarily revolves around making drinks for customers and listening to their stories. The game takes place in a coffee shop, where customers come in to share their stories and problems with you, the barista. The game is structured as a series of days, with each day representing one shift at the coffee shop. During each shift, customers will come in and order drinks, and you will have to make the drinks correctly by following the recipe and using the right ingredients. Once the drink is made, the customer will sit down and start telling you their story. These stories range from heartwarming to heartbreaking, and they are all well-written and thought-provoking.
In addition to the main gameplay of making drinks and listening to stories, the game also has a journal where you can read about the different customers, the drinks you have made, and many other things. This journal is a nice touch that allows you to keep track of the game’s story and the characters. Some story details can be missed if you serve the incorrect drink, so it’s better to take notes and even do your own research in case you don’t want to mess up an order. Aside from the main story mode, there’s also an Endless Mode, where costumers will keep asking you for random drinks. Try to get everything correct and don’t waste any time, or it’ll be game over. Even though some requests can be quite hard to figure out, it’s a great addition to the game.
Brewing the coffee
Coffee Talk has a pixel art style, with simple yet effective visuals, and a warm and inviting color palette. The game’s art style captures the cozy and intimate atmosphere of a coffee shop, and it’s a pleasure to look at. The characters are well-designed, and the animations are both smooth and expressive. The game’s presentation is also noteworthy, with a menu that is easy to navigate and a user-friendly interface. The game’s UI is minimalistic and clean, and it fits the theme of the game perfectly. Composed by Andrew Jeremy, the game’s soundtrack is also great, with a relaxing and mellow soundtrack that fits the game’s theme perfectly. The game’s sound effects, especially when serving costumers, are also well done, adding to the immersion of the game. Rainy days are an exquisite detail.
Another highlight of the game are its characters. The customers that come into the shop are all unique and memorable, and they all have their own distinct personalities and backgrounds. The game also has a diverse cast of characters, including people of different races, genders, and sexual orientations, which is great to see in a game. This plays into the story, with conflicts and social commentary when needed. Coffee Talk is a short game, and it can be completed in around 2 to 3 hours. But despite its short length, it is a game that will stay with you long after you finish it. The stories and characters are memorable and thought-provoking.
Like enjoying a warm drink
Overall, Coffee Talk received generally positive reviews upon its release. Both critics and players praised the game’s unique and charming premise, its well-written stories, and diverse cast of characters. The game’s art style and music were also well-received, and it’s quite easy to understand why. Being mainly a visual novel with some light gameplay elements, Coffee Talk is an excellent game to pick up and play now and then thanks to the cloud. Personally, I’ve enjoyed it a lot, thanks to Utomik Cloud via mobile, while relaxing on the couch or bed.
Coffee Talk is a perfect fit for cloud gaming. Its simple yet gorgeous graphics lend well to cloud services, just as its relaxed gameplay. It doesn’t matter if you chose to play Coffee Talk via Utomik Cloud or Xbox Cloud, you’ll have a great time with both services. A great, warm and cozy time.
Coffee Talk
Summary
Developed by Toge Productions, Coffee Talk is a charming game that takes place in a coffee shop where customers come in to share their stories. Combining the visual novel gameplay with a charming and warm presentation and characters, Coffee Talk is a joy to play on the cloud via Xbox Cloud or Utomik Cloud.
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