Confetti’s Cozy Corner: Coffee Talk Tokyo Review
Coffee Talk is back and officially open for business in Tokyo. Tokyo based developers, Chorus Worldwide, in collaboration with Toge Productions have released Coffee Talk Tokyo and it is everything that fans of the Coffee Talk series will know and love with some fun twists and an incredible story.Â
Starting off with selecting your barista name, we open Coffee Talk and are greeted with a soothing environment of great music, neutral decor, plants and clientele who hold great conversation. Provide them a comforting drink while listening to their stories and problems.
Coffee Talk Tokyo nails the vibe once again of a comforting communal atmosphere based on great conversation, boundary reinforcement, peaceful work environment and genuinely caring for others. As someone who frequents vinyl record store cafes, stepping into Coffee Talk Tokyo, brought back the familiar vibe experienced IRL in my local community.
The pixel art style of Coffee Talk Tokyo is consistent to the other Coffee Talk titles with improvements in the small details that makes the environment, beverages and characters feel alive. The beverage making animation is beautiful and engaging; which extends to the latte art mechanics players can make when a customer requests it. The latte art stencil mechanics are fun and leaves room for player creativity. Personally, I spent some time creating fun art when the opportunity presented itself, and the process of cozy and relaxing.
Right from the start the story dives straight into your feelings as players get to know staff and customers alike. Immediately we are introduced to Vin whose looks are whimsical and bright. However, despite outward appearances, life has not been kind to Vin but they decide to still face life trying to be optimistic; but tends to overwork themselves. We meet Jun, a musician who is in the middle of getting a review bombed for their music, and Hendry who is looking to collaborate with Jun.
Throughout Coffee Talk Tokyo, we will experience customer’s stories, many of which are relatable to real life struggles, offering comfort and reminders no matter what; we are not alone and there is comfort in community. Enjoy the pacing of the game, as it is a part of maximizing player experience. The more players focus on connecting with the characters, the more they will get out of their play throughs.Â
The music shines in Coffee Talk Tokyo, and immediately made me hopeful for an eventual vinyl record release in the future. Music is experienced not only through sound but feels like the heartbeat of Coffee Talk Tokyo. Vinyl records decorate the coffee shop, the barista is offered music by customers, players can favorite the songs they listen to and create custom playlists.
The deluxe version of Coffee Talk Tokyo includes a 10-track City Pop Album, which bundled with the base game plus the Seattle Prologue Chapter, which I recommend playing, will cost $17.99 USD. I reached out to developers to ask about an official vinyl record release for Coffee Talk Tokyo but have not received a response just yet!Â
Coffee Talk Tokyo is a cozy, low pressure game centered on great character development, storylines while serving warm drinks. This is a title that was much anticipated and did not disappoint.
Coffee Talk Tokyo is available today on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Box Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.Â
About The Author
