Chapter 67: First Gameplay Experience
On the third day of the winter holidays, in a video game group.
"What good games do you recommend?"
"Overcooked! It's out today! I had my eye on it. It's a buy-one-get-one-free offer on Alex's Nebula platform. Looking for a gaming partner. Anyone? I'll provide the game, you provide the players!"
"Isn't it a couples' game?"
"Who says couples' games have to be played by couples? Can't two adult men play?" "That's true."
"How much does this game cost?"
"$11 isn't expensive, and there's a buy-one-get-one-free offer on Alex's Nebula platform."
"By the way, where's Mike? Let's play!"
A group of video game enthusiasts were discussing the available games.
Then, someone named Mike spoke: "Well... I'd love to play with you guys, but... I'm in a relationship."
The group burst into a flurry of dotted symbols, followed by various emojis.
Ignoring the discussion, Mike got up from the sofa, stretched his legs, and sat down in front of his computer.
Seeing a group of people discussing the game Overcooked, Mike, sitting in front of his computer, felt curious. "Let's see, this game seems pretty good! Wait a minute... is it from the same designer who created Outlast? He's suddenly disappeared!"
Upon seeing Overcooked's adorable store interface, Mike was surprised. A huge poster displayed the game's title, Overcooked, written with various ingredients. Below it, there was a giant food truck. On top of the truck was a group of cartoon characters wearing chef hats: a small crocodile, a small squirrel, a dog, and animated versions of a boy and a girl. With knives, rolling pins, and frying pans in hand, these characters looked incredibly adorable.
Upon seeing Overcooked's cover poster, Mike couldn't help but sigh in admiration. With its cartoon style, Overcooked's characters are incredibly adorable.
"What game is this? How cute!"
As Mike looked at the Overcooked interface, his girlfriend, Sarah, who had just come out of her room, noticed what he was looking at and asked curiously. She played video games frequently, though she certainly wasn't as enthusiastic a gamer. The game's art style on the monitor in front of her was truly captivating. The cute cartoon characters looked like they were straight out of a fairy tale, which gave her a particularly touching feeling.
"Overcooked is the new game from the same designer who created Outlast and it was released just for Valentine's Day," Mike said.
They had already played Outlast together. Of course, like most players, they didn't pay much attention to them. Only after seeing Overcooked did she realize that this designer, Alex, had developed and played numerous games.
"It was designed by the same designer who created Outlast?" Like Mike, Sarah was also surprised.
"Yes, and this designer also worked on To the Moon and Undertale. It's completely different, right?" Mike smiled.
"He also worked on To the Moon and Undertale?" Sarah asked in surprise.
"So why don't we buy it and try it out? It seems quite interesting," Sarah said.
"Hehe, that's what I mean." Mike chuckled, searched for the Nebula gaming platform in his browser, downloaded it, registered two accounts, added each other as friends, scanned the QR code to pay, and then sent the game to the other account. Unlike other players, the platform didn't matter much to him. It's the same game, as long as the content isn't censored.
He simply bought games on the platform that offered the lowest prices. He had previously bought Outlast on the Nebula Games platform, and with the buy-one-get-one-free offer, there was no reason not to try it.
Although it could be played on a single computer, since they lived together and loved video games, they had two computers at home. After downloading and logging in, the game wasn't very big and installed quickly.
Upon entering, the Nebula Games logo popped up and a subtitle appeared on a black screen: "[The following content is based on real events; only names, places, and vegetables have been modified...]" Then a scene played showing thunder rumbling in the night sky over the castle and giant raindrops falling from the sky.
[After tea time...]
"Finally, this moment I've been waiting for! We've overcome so many obstacles to win the culinary award!"
"Wait, Kevin! The legendary Necronomicon of Delight!"
As Onion King mumbled to himself, his research into necromancy began. A terrifying cooking spell has created a huge horde of zombie bread, and these zombies are swarming the castle! To defend against them, players must cook enough food to satiate the monsters.
"Of course, the plot isn't important in this kind of game!" Mike exclaimed.
"Onion King perfectly demonstrates what it means to be suicidal!" Sarah echoed, standing beside him.
Both exchanged some kind words before smiling at each other.
After the brief plot, the game entered the initial tutorial level. It was incredibly simple: WASD to move, spacebar to interact, and Ctrl/Chop to chop. These are standard keys in most games. Although neither Sarah nor Mike were video game experts, they had played quite a few and understood it right away. They understood the game's controls.
In short, it's about cooking: selecting ingredients, chopping them (some may require frying), plating them, and finally, serving them. Some dishes require combining different ingredients. The victory conditions are also simple. Campaign mode has a maximum rating of three stars. Each dish served within a limited time generates a certain amount of tips. Once you reach a revenue goal, you will receive the corresponding rating. The rules are incredibly easy to understand.
Of course, completing all levels with a three-star rating unlocks a hidden four-star rating, but this is not something the average player can achieve.
"I've figured it out! It's super easy!"
"It feels really good!"
"I wish cooking in real life was this easy."
"I think multiplayer would be even more fun. Let's complete the campaign first and then challenge other players online!"
Mike and Sarah, one responsible for serving and plating dishes, the other for chopping them, quickly completed the game's first tutorial level. Upon seeing the perfect three-star rating, both looked delighted and satisfied.
Before playing, the game had a rather hellish feel, thanks to the game Outlast and the Death Bread plot. But now, after playing for a while, it's hilarious! Especially cooking and serving together. It's like playing house as a child. And with this evocation of childhood memories, the gaming experience becomes even more touching and interesting!
Upon seeing the game completion score screen, Mike and Sarah smiled happily.
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