Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly | Recensione PC | Nostalgia canaglia

As it happens, yours truly has a strong link with the now Coffee Talk saga. In fact, a few months ago, right here on Player.it, I talked about how a game as simple as emotionally intense. The title has based its success on being able to create a strong combination of nostalgia and empathy between player and non-player characters; a combination that was well coupled with the self-conclusive nature of the finale and that would never have led to think of a sequel arriving on the shelves.

So when Toge Productions released on April 20, 2023 Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly (henceforth CTE2 for simplicity) I was not only surprised but felt a particular hype for the game. The same you feel when you are about to meet old friends again after a long time in one reunion with flakes.

And what a reunion it was!

Ten characters looking for bars

The plot of CTE2 follows that of the previous title. In fact, we will return to the role of the bartender of the Coffee Talk bar, a local open every day only at night offering refuge to anyone seeking it and non-alcoholic beverages instagrammable. All in a Seattle urban fantasy dotted with diversity and the most disparate species, in a social context that is finally moving towards greater representation and protection of its diversity thanks to the new laws.

As usual, the silence of the bartender and his servility will make the characters talk, almost recalling a group therapy with the leader as the protagonist.

So Coffee Talk (the Bar) becomes a meeting point, a safe place to enjoy a hot drink, make friends and be protected from the evil of the outside world.

The topics touched by CTE2 are different but not completely disconnected from the first one. The title takes up some of the character arcs in common between the two games and introduces others, pushing the themes a little further by creating even more current ones.

If the last chapter had a narrative that often broke the fourth wall – for example with Aqua and her arc as an indie game developer – and focused on difficult interpersonal relationships, the second chapter has more of a more intimate and emotional focus on the characters. The practical problems are cut to the bone and each character goes through a arc of personal growth to overcome one’s fears and traumas resulting from a less tolerant society.

From the influencer in crisis, to the broken dreams or unreachable until Vampire midlife crisisCTE2 covers a multitude of topics all via character dialogue and their reflections.

CTE2 has ben 10 characters and introduces two new species, satyrs and banshees with their visual peculiarities and their very personal cultures.

The art style is still high resolution pixel art and it does not differ almost at all from that of the first chapter, partially revisiting characters and updating the bar by adding references to the previous chapter. The only real addition is the introduction of more comic scenes with black barsbeautiful and fitting but rare.

The soundtrack of CTE2 instead makes a full step forward, adding more variety to the sound sector and variegating the themes of the various characters. The sound coordinates remain those of lo-figiving almost a sweet wink to everything a video macrocosm which you will surely know well. The soundtrack is of such quality that it is also perfect for listening separately, as you can see independently with the songs that we put below.

Fifty shades of coffee

The gameplay structure of CTE2 remains unchanged from the previous chapter. We are therefore talking about a visual novel in which the protagonist will take on the role of the bartender, in charge of listening and interpreting the requests, or needs, of the characters while offering them the right drink. This must be suitably mixed by creating a combination of the basic substances (to which Hibiscus and Butterfly teas are added) and the additional ingredients, such as ginger, honey, cinnamon, etc.

If we have to prepare the right drink, the arc of the character in question will advance, otherwise it will remain the same or it will get worse.

In addition to the preparation of drinks, in CTE2 we will also have to manage the delivery of some lost items by customers or data to be delivered. When to deliver them is not very simple and requires active thinking. Getting the right items to the right people at the right time is also critical to advancing character arcs.

The entire plot of the game evolves in about fifteen days, each with different characters and drinks, but like the previous chapter, CTE2 allows you to replay individual daysthus allowing you to adjust the shot and try again as many times as you want, without excessive effort.

A coffee talk run can last around 6-7 ore if approached calmly.

Conclusion

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is a surprise sequel that perfectly manages to continue the legacy of the previous chapter. The new characters and new themes are effective and memorable, and they all manage to give a sense of renewed nostalgia for a place and non-existent characters.