Review: Cooking Simulator 2 Better Together
- Guilherme Ribeiro
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Cooking with friends is always better. And more fun.
THE GAME
Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together is a search game developed and distributed by Big Cheese Studio. Cooking Simulator is back, with more improvements and encouraging cooperation. Manage a restaurant, fulfilling customer orders according to your menu. You can also create your own recipes and have fun as a team, whether working in harmony or in total chaos.
MY IMPRESSIONS
For those who have played Cooking Simulator, the mechanics remain the same. You'll have to cook the recipes step-by-step, as if you were cooking for real, with exact measurements, timed intervals, and plating. With a fully equipped kitchen, you'll only have to worry about keeping the pantry stocked, a very important factor because if you need to buy ingredients at the last minute, you'll either pay more for fast delivery or have to wait for the delivery time. That said, your shift will always begin with a preparation phase, which consists of putting together the day's menu and having some ingredients ready, such as salads and meats. This moment is crucial to the progress of your day, and I learned this the hard way. Studying the recipe is very important, but if you can't memorize it, you can always pin recipes to your screen. Customers are hungry, so as soon as you take their orders, you'll have time to prepare the dishes, and that's why the preparation phase is so important. Cook, assemble, and deliver—that will be your mantra. If you do everything right, upon delivering the dish, you'll receive customer feedback, with customers rating your dish and even giving you a tip if they really liked it. The game is in Brazilian Portuguese, making it easier for players to find ingredients and follow recipes.
Although the gameplay may seem repetitive, there are many ways to play, such as creating your own recipes or completing the missions that the chefs challenge you to do. In addition, there's a skill system to unlock and make your life as a cook easier. The culinary processes are well done, with plenty of detail, such as slicing in specific ways, seasoning with the correct amount, and keeping food warm for the correct amount of time. You can customize your character and also improve your kitchen and equipment. I believe much of the fun of the game comes from playing with friends, so that the work is divided and unexpected situations can occur. Some mechanics can be complicated due to the high level of fidelity the game aims for in its culinary processes, which can be frustrating at times. If you played Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together, the predecessor to the original game, and were hoping for a cooperative mode, your prayers have been answered. Call your friends and let loose in the kitchen.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Despite not having a large number of achievements, Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together will require you to be a dedicated chef. Many achievements can be earned simply by playing normally, creating perfect dishes and serving all types of customers who visit your restaurant. Reaching high levels, unlocking perks, and upgrading your kitchen to the maximum level are also examples of how achievements will make you sweat in the kitchen. Finally, completing all the chef missions will add another layer of challenge to help you achieve 100% of the achievements.
CONCLUSION
The experience of playing Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together in cooperative mode is chaotic, as it should be. I played with just one friend and it already generated funny situations; I can only imagine what could happen with the maximum number of people. The precision the game demands for the dishes is a double-edged sword because, on the one hand, it's nice to have a certain level of "realism" in the preparation, but at times it's frustrating and even buggy, like when I tried to cut lettuce and the cut wouldn't happen even with the knife exactly on the guide marked by the game. Even though its predecessor didn't have a cooperative mode, this type of game is made to be played in a team because it makes everything more fun and, theoretically, less work. With a few adjustments, Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together will win over the audience that loves to play with friends and have a good laugh.
Comments