Coffee Talk: Episode 2 - Hibiscus & Butterfly

Coffee Talk: Episode 2 - Hibiscus & Butterfly is a pixel art visuel novel and a next installment in the Coffee Talk series. It was developed by independent Toge Productions - the developer of the first game and the publisher of games such as She and the Light Bearer and A Space for the Unbound. The game was published by Chorus Worldwide, a company founded in 2014, dedicated to supporting independent developers.

Plot

The game is, once again, set in alternate Seattle, in a world where humans, orcs, elves and other fantasy species have coexisted for as long as anyone can remember. We play as a barista, still working at the same café from the first installment. Preparing various hot beverages, we listen to our customers' extraordinary stories and influence their further fates. We'll meet such characters as Baileys, an elven freelance graphic designer, Myrtle, an orcish game developer, and Lua, a succubus bisdev executive.

Mechanics

Just like in other visual novels, the game revolves around getting to know the characters and influencing their further fates. Unlike other such games, though, the plot of Coffee Talk: Episode 2 - Hibiscus & Butterfly is mostly influenced by our customer service - by how we treat them and serve them.

The way we prepare coffee or tea is very important. Thus, we have a lot of room to experiment and create different combinations using ingredients such as ginger, mint or chocolate. We can also get creative by making latte art on our drinks. Our commitment to good service can change the characters' attitudes and influence their decisions.

Technical aspects

The game's 2D visuals make use of pixel art, the backgrounds and character models animated in a simple way. The game's relaxing soundtrack is distinguishable due to its use of lo-fi tracks.