On the surface Overcooked appears to be a simple cooking game, not unlike any of the other multitude of cooking games that have come to market hoping to grab part of that casual game market. But Overcooked is a cooking game only at face value. Its actually an extremely addictive co-op action/puzzle game that will test both your dexterity and composure.

Story

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Overcooked has an absurd story, which is simply there to tie together the wacky sets of stages you're presented. It begins as you're introduced to the gameplay basics as you try to feed a ravished giant spaghetti and meatball monster who's is destroying the city (or the world for all we know). Its impossible to defeat it, so you're whisked away through a time portal by an onion man who sets you on a course through recent history to hone your cooking skills so you can eventually satiate this monster and save the world. Yes, its completely bonkers, but it fits.

Gameplay

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When you begin each stage you're given a choice of chefs to pick from, though they only seem to be cosmetically different. Scoring well will unlock more chefs and other goodies. The basic gameplay consists of cooking dishes that customers have ordered, which sit in the top left of the screen as your tickets. These tickets display the ingredients each dish requires. You simply need to grab the proper ingredients, cook them (if necessary) and add them to the dish. Once a dish is complete, you need to run it over to the serving area to complete that ticket.

Sounds simple, but it quickly becomes maddeningly challenging. Not only do you have to juggle chopping and cooking ingredients, you also have to monitor your burners to avoid starting your dishes on fire, wash dishes so you have somewhere to serve completed dishes and contend with each level's quirk. From earthquakes that break the stage in half (and cutting you off from things you need) to kitchens infested with rats who steal your food, each level adds a unique challenge that you have to contend with.

Levels are scored on a star system, with one star being easy to achieve, two stars being more difficult and three stars requiring nearly perfect strategy and a flawless performance.

While you can tackle the game solo, it really shines in co-op multiplayer. You have to work as a team to coordinate what you're doing and it's a unique experience that requires you to talk to the other players so you all work together.

Presentation

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The game has a colorful and cartoony look that's very appropriate. Elements are well drawn, though some of the ingredients can be a bit hard to discern if you have a smaller television. Sound is perfectly adequate, though some of the music sounds strangely melancholy and out of place in this game.

The biggest gripe I have would be the framerate and performance. I don't know if other versions of this game have similar issues, but on the Switch it can interfere with gameplay when the gameplay gets intense. There were many times where it seemed to miss my commands and it completely interfered with the flow of the game.

Score

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8.5

An extremely fun and unique co-op gameplay experience that's biggest fault is a handful of performance issues. If you're not hardcore enough to pursue three stars on every level, its a solid buy for anyone who loves playing games with friends. Solo or hardcore gamers may want to wait for a sale before picking it up.

$19.99 (eShop download only)

Nintendo Switch (also available on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One)

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