Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly

Genre: Visual Novel

Players: 1

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Review:

(Note: This game is included in a physical-only European-release bundle, Coffee Talk 1 + 2 (Double Pack), along with the original Coffee Talk. It is also in the pricier Coffee Talk Episode 1 + 2: Double Shot Bundle along with the original Coffee Talk, as well as numerous other physical items.)

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly, released in 2023 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, is a Visual Novel that directly follows the story seen in the original Coffee Talk, bringing back many of the familiar characters from that game while introducing multiple new ones.

As with the first game, Coffee Talk Episode 2 is set in a modern-day alternate reality version of Seattle peopled by all manner of fantasy and sci-fi races living together in harmony (more or less), where a nighttime-only coffee shop welcomes in various denizens going through their own individual day-to-day struggles, with these denizens discussing with you and with their fellow patrons the issues they’re facing, such as a banshee frustrated at the online hate she received when trying to start a singing career, or a satyr media influencer trying to decide what direction to take as his followers start to wane.

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A Familiar Aroma

Players who enjoyed the first game will be delighted to find this to be a direct continuation of the “slice of life” stories seen in the first game, with returning characters picking up their stories with a bit of time having passed, but in a natural way that flows very well from the first game. The new characters also fit right in, interacting with established characters in a way that’s natural. And what’s more, you get the delightful opportunity to see characters who never interacted in the first game finally meeting, such as the succubus Lua and the space alien Silver (formerly Neil).

Those who haven’t played the first game aren’t completely left out in the cold here – returning characters are reintroduced in a way that feels natural and more or less gets new players up to speed with who these people are. However, I would highly recommend that anyone considering this game play the original Coffee Talk first, as I think you’ll get far more out of this story if you’ve seen what these characters went through in the first game.

Returning players will no doubt be happy to hear that the story this time around is just as warm and inviting, not to mention wonderfully well-written, as the previous game. As with before, the stakes are relatively low here, and while there is some conflict, it never breaks the cozy atmosphere of the coffee shop for more than a brief moment as two characters have an argument or someone momentarily loses their temper, only for things to calm down a moment later.

I should also mention that some of the new characters this time around are absolutely delightful. Satyr Lucas is positive and friendly, but also somewhat insensitive and a bit oblivious, and space alien Amanda, Silver’s “sister”, gives us a delightful and different perspective on their species’ discovery of life on Earth, as she now has the benefit of learning from her brother while also helping him in his own struggles to find love.

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New Ingredients, Similar Flavors

Of course, the story is only part of the game here, and Coffee Talk Episode 2 once again has players brewing coffee, tea, and other warm drinks for customers, with their success at deducing customers’ desires having an influence on the story. This time around some new ingredients are added to the mix – namely the titular hibiscus tea and butterfly pea tea (the latter otherwise known as blue pea tea, for its bright blue color). This makes for more variety in potential drinks to serve, but doesn’t drastically change the gameplay introduced in the first game.

Another new mechanic allows players to hand over an item to customers when they order, such as returning a lost trinket, or handing over a business card left by another customer. It’s a small addition, but a nice one that opens up more potential story options.

Beyond this, there are other small but subtle changes to the apps on your in-game smartphone, such as new “stories” on the Tomodachill Life” app that give you more insight into the lives of your patrons, and a music player that lets you select the songs you want to listen to.

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Chilled and Relaxing

This brings me to the game’s soundtrack, which is once again a lovely selection of calming synthesized lo-fi beats from the first game’s composer Jeremy Andrew (or rather, his in-game alias, Aremy Jendrew). Some of the highlights here include The Way I See, Colorfully Painted Skies, Sunny Day of Cold Winter, Dance in the Shower, and Never Fade Away. This once again makes for a lovely relaxed mood throughout the game that fits the tone of the game beautifully.

The visuals also bring a familiar look, with the coffee shop and many of the characters looking only slightly different than they did in the first game. Still, I suppose if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and the detailed, anime-styled 2D visuals are still just as bit as lovely now as they were in the prior game. And of course, the drinks themselves, both new and old, all look lovely and likely to tempt players to try to recreate some of these beverages for themselves.

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Worth Getting a Refill?

Whether you’re a new or returning player, Coffee Talk Episode 2 is a Visual Novel absolutely worth playing. Having said that, I definitely think returning players are going to get the most out of this game, since it’s so much more poignant to see these continuing stories when you know where many of them started. I highly recommend that new players get the original game first. However, once you’ve done so, I absolutely think this is a coffee shop you’ll want to return to in this sequel.

tl;dr – Coffee Talk Episode 2 is a Visual Novel that directly follows its predecessor, bringing players into a nighttime coffee shop in an alternate version of modern-day Seattle where various fantasy and sci-fi creatures live together in harmony (mostly). This game does a superb job continuing the great relaxed atmosphere of the first game and mixing returning characters with wonderful new ones to make for an engrossing low-stakes story, with gameplay that only adds a few minor new elements. New players are welcome, but I highly encourage you to check out the original game first – returning players will get far more out of this story than newcomers.

Grade: B+

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2023 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Best Graphic Adventure / Visual Novel

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