Overview

Overcooked Special Edition is a simple game. Originally released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, the hectic co-op cooking game became a hit for those looking for simple two player gameplay. DLC was later launched, and is bundled into the Special Edition.

The game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay

Overcooked Special Edition is meant to be played cooperatively with up to four players. The game is top down, utilizing the left stick to move and two face buttons to interact with pots, pans, vegetables, and meats. In the game you and a friend control two chefs, trying to prepare meals as quickly as possible to serve a never-ending horde of diners. To do this players hand off ingredients to each other, which have to be prepared before they are combined and cooked. Each meal served rewards points based on the speed it was delivered, and after a timer expires you’ll be awarded up to three stars depending on your performance. Stars are needed to unlock later levels and progress the game. You can get through the game by achieving a two star rating on most levels, but going for three will take some serious teamwork. However, each level is fairly short and encourages replaying to achieve high scores.

It sounds simple, and at first it is, but as the game progresses, levels increase in difficulty. Hazards are added to the bizarre architecture or the kitchen, including slippery ice, deadly fire balls, and pitfalls. The menu also becomes more diverse, adding pizzas and burritos to the simple soups and burgers from the first stages. Trying to work out a strategy for each level and then executing it feels very rewarding, though some levels can feel a bit busy for my taste. The later levels will really test the communication between you and your friend as you race against the clock trying to become as efficient as possible.

The game can also be played in single player, but you are forced to control both chefs at once. While the goals for each level are lowered accordingly, the game was clearly made with co-op in mind. Unlike many games boasting cooperative multiplayer, having a second chef in Overcooked actually makes a difference. It’s not simply two people playing on the same screen-you’re really playing the same game. Though if co-op isn’t your cup of tea, there’s also a competitive multiplayer mode, the object being to score more total points than your partner.

Unfortunately, the fresh gameplay is somewhat undercut by fairly poor controls. Moving your character feels very heavy, and they often slide around a little bit after stopping. Nothing is more frustrating than accidentally placing something where you aren’t trying to, as this can often be the difference between two and three stars. Your character can also slip off of ledges when it feels like they shouldn’t, which makes some of the later levels more frustrating than fun. Some way of highlighting what the player was about to interact with could eliminate some of these issues.

The Special Edition also comes with all the previous downloadable content for free, adding a variety of new and challenging levels and more varied player characters. The new levels are fun, and for the most part meet the standards set by the base game. The new chefs look cool, but are purely a cosmetic change.

Story

Overcooked narrative is amusing, and serves for a good reason to travel through deserts, tundras, volcanoes, and even outer space. The game starts with a giant spaghetti monster destroying the world, as you try to fend it off by cooking. After your inevitable failure, you are sent back in time to hone your skills and prepare for your encounter. It’s as silly as it sounds, and while it’s not particularly memorable, it still achieves its goal of light-hearted fun.

The game also features a final boss level, which doesn’t live up to the standards set by previous kitchens. The fight is much longer than the standard levels, making it far more tedious, and even more frustrating due to the afore-mentioned control issues. Overall, the boss level contains interesting and enjoyable mechanics, despite its relative length.

Graphics and Sound

The game’s graphics are simple, and get the job done without feeling ugly. They do a good job of clearly communicating whether food is prepared or cooked, as well as whether plates are clean or dirty.

The soundtrack is fine, but it was often drowned out by frantic shouting as my friend and I tried to achieve a three star rating on levels. This game clearly had more time spent on map designs and gameplay than its sound effects and music. I think this was for the best, as visual appeal is really what makes or breaks a game like this, at least much more than the auditory experience.

The Port

The port is where this game really falters. The frame rate frequently drops below 30 frames per second, which when coupled with heavy controls and inaccurate interactions really takes away from the fluidity of the game. It’s really a shame because the concept is rock solid, and the other versions of the game have shipped in a more playable state. The low frame rate leaves this edition feeling far from special, and makes what should be an easy recommendation a hard one. Another less severe issue is that the rumble feature in both players’ remotes activates when either one begins preparing food. This can be confusing when you’re not the cause, but it’s not a huge problem and doesn’t have much effect on playability. A patch is has been announced, but there is currently no official date.

It’s not all bad, though. Overcooked does make good use of the Switches unique features. Playing on the big screen with two pairs of JoyCons feels great, but because the game isn’t split screen the smaller screen in tabletop mode with split JoyCons is also a fine way to play, especially because of the simple controls.

Summary

Overcooked Special Edition should be a great game. But clever level design and a unique co-op premise can only take you so far, and the poor controls combined with low frame rate make for gameplay that’s fairly lackluster as far as Switch games go. If you’re looking for a unique co-op experience, and know you can tolerate low frame rate, this might be for you. You can still complete the game with two to three stars on most levels, even with the clunky controls and low FPS. For anyone else, wait for the patch. There are other co-op games available that are less frustrating.