Although one can play as a lone individual, using the shoulder buttons to switch between the cooks, it's incredibly difficult and overwhelming in the wrong way. More importantly, the ability to play online with others rebalances the single player experience, which is something of a sticking point. It makes it that much easier to sneak a session in, as sometimes getting together is difficult to arrange. However, it's a huge advantage to be able to link-up with friends in an online space. There's absolutely no doubt that Overcooked 2, once again, is best absorbed with up to four friends through its local multiplayer. How else does Overcooked 2 distinguish itself? Ironically, the most meaningful way it achieves this end is simply by adding online multiplayer, something fans were bitterly disappointed not to see in the original. Not only would this have been quite funny, it might have added an extra layer of risk-reward, as failing to make the catch would (presumably) result in a wasted meal. If only it was also possible to launch a prepared meal across the kitchen. When used thoughtfully, throwing ingredients saves a heap of precious seconds, allowing for greater efficiency.
In the original, there was nothing worse than frantically mustering up that one last order, only for time to be called when the player is two-steps from the serving counter. It also enhances the flow of things, especially during the inevitably chaotic final countdown. While this might not be a major addition, it does allow for new types of stages, which are frequently more intricate. They can also end up on the floor, should the player have a poor aim. These can be chucked directly into pans, blenders and whatever else, or directly into other cooks' hands. The main new feature in the way of core gameplay mechanics is the ability to throw ingredients. The initial first world of the story-mode starts off with simpler courses, to get players accustomed to its mechanics, but it ups the ante rather rapidly. For example, a restaurant situated by a mine, where the central kitchen is a platform suspended above a chasm, which is moved around by the player via a crane, to reach the pots, pans, fryers and ingredients that line the outside periphery. Soon enough, however, it passes through a thunderstorm and crash-lands inside a sushi restaurant! Other stages evolve less, but feature unique challenges that will test the patience of you and your friends. The cooking process might start on a relaxed note, like onboard a hot air balloon on a calm day. Levels are even more unpredictable and dynamic, featuring a lot more transitions.
It's mostly a case of doubling down on the chaos in terms of actual gameplay. So, what new territory does Overcooked 2 explore? Perhaps not that much. Considering how under-powered the Switch is by comparison, not to mention the original's performance issues, it's wise for Ghost Town Games to have prioritised a consistent and reliable experience. However, nothing is lost due to this lower benchmark, and that's important. This may leave a sour taste for some, since all other platforms target an extra fluid sixty frames-per-second, which would have been a nice luxury for docked mode. While there is an occasional stutter during some of the more grandiose level transitions, it provides a solid-enough thirty frames-per-second at large, whether playing handheld or docked. Thankfully, Overcooked 2 is a far more stable experience across the chopping board.
OVERCOOKED 2 NINTENDO SWITCH PATCH
Overcooked suffered from some very disappointing frame-rate issues on the Switch at launch, languishing as low as 20 frames-per-second at certain moments, until a patch improved the situation. That's also true for performance reasons, something that Switch owners will be anxious to hear about. The title certainly highlights the strengths of the Unity engine far better than the original in this regard.
OVERCOOKED 2 NINTENDO SWITCH UPGRADE
So, while there's no major visual upgrade to speak of, certain nuances elevate Overcooked 2 just a tad over the first instalment in terms of its polish. It does, however, make use of more taxing effects, features a much more elaborate navigable world-map, and the story-mode cut-scenes push the boat out in terms of detail. Sensibly, the distinct aesthetic the original had has come to be known for has not been tampered with for the sequel. It utilises the same charming mix of cartoonish qualities, juxtaposed with more grounded textures, environments, and visual elements, like rain, thunderstorms, and fire. Certainly, at a glance, there's not much separating Overcooked! 2 from the original instalment.