Method again at PAX East 2023, I sat down with writer Xseed Video games to check out this little upcoming sport referred to as Cuisineer, all a few lady named Pom who got here again from adventuring the world over to open her dad and mom’ restaurant. Loving the demo, I eagerly awaited being about to play the total launch and was capable of persuade my editor to let me write the Cuisineer evaluation. However does the entire sport dwell as much as its promise?
Cuisineer Evaluation – Again to Fundamentals
Cuisineer tells the story of Pom, a younger catgirl(?) who returns to her hometown of Paell (named after the dish Paella) to run Potato Palace, her dad and mom’ restaurant, after they’ve determined to make a journey all over the world. She then has to contend along with her dad and mom’ money owed, the enterprise of operating a restaurant, and gathering all her elements, in addition to a plethora of sidequests for villagers so as to unlock extra recipes.
![cuisineer review omelette](https://techraptor.net/sites/default/files/styles/content_inline_mobile/public/images/cuisineer-review-omelette.jpg?itok=04I0TnBM)
The setup of Cusineer is cute, and operating a café whereas gathering elements is a stable idea that’s been executed effectively earlier than (see Little Dragon’s Café). Sadly, whereas Cuisineer places a whole lot of consideration into small particulars just like the proliferation of pan-Asian delicacies, the theming of weapons and results, and character design, it fails to nail the large stuff.
Working the café is tedious, however you should be there to serve clients as there isn’t a option to run it on autopilot, sadly. There’s no ability wanted for cooking, however you’re continuously operating across the café taking suggestions from clients and cooking dishes, a lot in order that it began to really feel like Diner Sprint at one level.
![pom in potato palace cafe](https://techraptor.net/sites/default/files/styles/content_inline_mobile/public/images/cuisineer-review-pom-in-potato-palace.jpg?itok=Fi6W7Skf)
The café can also be oddly formed, which simply throws an extra wrench in if you’re making an attempt to arrange cooking stations and tables. And, if you happen to’re making an attempt to avoid wasting sure elements to the aspect since you’re seeking to fulfill a sidequest, powerful nuggets. There’s no option to actually refuse a buyer’s request, however if you happen to don’t serve them they get offended and go away, after taking over desk house for somebody who would possibly truly be paying.
Dungeon Delving Issue
Combating within the dungeons is how Pom gathers meals elements to serve on the café. For instance, hen enemies will drop eggs and pale meat. Sadly, enemy proliferation is unbalanced and it turns into a case of simply grinding dungeons for days on finish to get uncommon elements from uncommon enemies.
![pom in the mala fire caverns to fight](https://techraptor.net/sites/default/files/styles/content_inline_mobile/public/images/cuisineer-review-fire-caverns.jpg?itok=x-A_DORe)
Combating can also be oddly within the favour of the enemies, moderately than Pom. Your weapon begins off with 10 assault and after you place important cash and sources into it, you get… a weapon with 11 assault. Equipment like gloves and boots solely offer you a further 5HP apiece, and once more it takes an inordinate sum of money and sources to stage any of those up, which means it’s straightforward to get overwhelmed if you’re going through a horde of enemies, armed solely with a spatula and 110HP.
You can also’t stage up Pom herself, and her stock storage is extraordinarily restricted. You’ll be able to carry three therapeutic gadgets with you within the dungeon at most, and also you begin solely having the ability to carry one. Therapeutic gadgets are literally Boba tea, which is a cute gimmick and a nod to the meals theme, however as soon as once more you want a very great amount of sources to unlock teas that heal greater than 35HP at a time.
You’ll have to ship sure cooked dishes to unlock totally different teas, however that necessitates upgrading your store a number of instances to have the house to your cooking tools, to not point out grinding for elements, in addition to occurring sidequests to unlock recipes. All of this additionally requires the cash put in to unlock house for extra therapeutic gadgets in addition to extra backpack house for elements. It’s a ache within the butt to even unlock ONE extra Boba tea, by no means thoughts all of them.
![cuisineer at hojicha's rug shop greeting](https://techraptor.net/sites/default/files/styles/content_inline_mobile/public/images/cuisineer-review-hojicha-shop.jpg?itok=wLj4OuoS)
On the constructive aspect, Cusineer is a really cute sport. The paintings is lovable, the character designs are contemporary and the monsters are numerous. There are many adorning choices to your restaurant, however there’s probably not any level to them. The varied townsfolk that Pom meets and interacts with all have their very own designs, however they lack any type of verdant personalities.
Actually, Cuisineer is a examine in wasted potential. From the food-themed villagers to naming the battle system results after flavors like Candy and Spicy, there’s rather a lot that Cuisineer may have taken and run inside its design and setup. Sadly, the tedious Diner Sprint-esque café operating, unbalanced battle system, and intense drain of sources that upgrading nearly something requires places a fast dampener on even essentially the most hardcore foodie’s enthusiasm. Whereas I might hesitate to name Cuisineer an out-and-out “dangerous” sport, I used to be left with the bitter style of disappointment in my mouth.
Cuisineer was reviewed on PC with a duplicate offered by the writer over the course of 8 hours of gameplay – all screenshots have been taken throughout the strategy of evaluation.