Dive into the universe of Cuisineer, an innovative blend of roguelite dungeon-crawling and restaurant simulation, crafted by Marvelous, XSEED Games, and Battlebrew Productions, available on PlayStation 5. Here’s everything you need to know about this engaging game!
In Cuisineer, you step into the shoes of Pom, an adventurous soul who returns to her hometown of Paell after receiving an unexpected letter from her parents. Upon her return, she is shocked to find her parents have vanished, leaving their cherished restaurant in disarray. To make matters worse, they’ve drained the establishment’s assets to fund a journey around the globe, yet it wasn’t sufficient, leaving Pom to shoulder the burden of their debts. Fortunately, the kind locals are eager to savor your delectable culinary creations!
Before you can start cooking up a storm for the villagers, you’ll embark on treacherous dungeon explorations to gather the most elusive spices, premium meats, and prized vegetables for your dishes. Your quests don’t end there; you’ll accumulate resources vital for upgrading the restaurant and enhancing your adventures. With over 100 recipes to master, frequent dungeon dives become a staple to access the needed ingredients for your culinary experiments. Initially, these trips won’t be too daunting, as you’ll face weaker foes, letting you easily dispatch them as you collect your bounty.
Cuisineer offers four difficulty settings: Unseasoned, Bland, Mild, and Normal. On Unseasoned, you’ll face 80% less damage, making it a breeze to enjoy the story and focus on the cooking aspect. Bland reduces damage by 50%, Mild offers a 25% reduction, while Normal presents the game in its intended challenging balance. Additionally, you can choose whether to pause time while checking your inventory in town, adding a strategic layer to your gameplay.
Guiding Pom is intuitive and smooth. Traverse using the left analog stick, and dash with the X button for added agility. The R1 button allows you to interact with various elements in the game. Check your inventory by pressing the Touchpad on the DualSense controller. Combat is dynamic, performed with the Square button for the main weapon and Triangle for the alternate one. Special weapon attacks are executed using L2 and R2, while the D-Pad maps guide you through dungeons. Managing your health and stats is crucial, so utilize your potion belt accessed with L1 to apply boosts with directional buttons.
The game unfolds over a cycle of four seasons, each consisting of 20 flavorful days in the forms of Sweet, Sour, Umami, Salty, and Bitter. Staying on top of significant dates such as birthdays or special events is vital for maximizing your gameplay experience. Building relationships within Paell is crucial; townsfolk will appreciate your return and support you in your restaurant revival journey. Trading at the market helps collect necessary ingredients or equipment for dungeon expeditions, and quests offered by residents provide rewarding challenges.
A treasure trove of achievements awaits you in Cuisineer, boasting a Platinum trophy and a diverse set of Bronze, Silver, and Gold milestones. From earning substantial coinage, upgrading your equipment, unlocking a plethora of recipes, enhancing your restaurant’s prestige, to fulfilling numerous quests, you’ll find objectives are both engaging and satisfying.
Immerse yourself as Pom in this captivating roguelite adventure, full of culinary quests, as you tackle family debts and revitalize your parents’ beloved kitchen back to its former glory. Cuisineer is available on PlayStation 5, priced at $29.99. Get ready to stir up a storm and save the Potato Palace!
Cuisineer invites you back to Paell not just to adventure, but to create, explore, and restore a once-thriving hub of culinary delight. Enjoy this fascinating blend of two beloved genres with heart and strategy, and embark on Pom’s journey today!
_Disclaimer: This review was crafted based on a PlayStation 5 copy of Cuisineer provided by Marvelous._
