Overcooked: Gameplay

I recently played a co-op multiplayer game named 'Overcooked'. This game is a cooking simulation where players control a number of chefs in kitchens filled with various obstacles and hazards to rapidly prepare meals to specific orders under a time limit. 

Overcooked title screen

The menu is written in a cook book which is fits really well with the theme of this game.
It allows you to play the game in different modes. This includes a campaign mode (story mode) which can be played in single player or co-op player mode and a versus mode for multiplayer mode. Other modes are also available but need to be unlocked by playing more of campaign mode.

Menu

Options

When playing in campaign mode, at the start of every new stage you have to speak to the onion king 'quest giver' to continue the story and progress onto the next levels.

Story

This is the map which shows all of the levels, story points in the game which can be travelled to using the van. The van has the ability to drive all over the map and doesn't follow a specific static route. This game is level-based and therefore you need to play the previous level in order to unlock a new level. Some levels also require a number of stars to be played.

Map

While the game is loading, the controls are shown to the player(s). This includes: controlling the characters using the keyboard, and an Xbox controller. One controller has been split in two, so that either two players can play the game or if a single player wishes to control two characters and the other controller shows the controls for a single player. 

The controls include: moving the character(s), picking up objects, and interacting with objects (Cutting, slicing etc.)

Controls

The player(s) are given instructions at the beginning of the level on how to make a recipe they haven't cooked before. More instructions are given on the first few levels as a player may have never played the game before.

Instructions on making soup

Player chopping ingredients

Player handing in completed plate

I found this game interesting because it was actually created using unity and uses similar physics elements that have been used in our unity exercises. For example, in the 'creating a ball' exercise we added a script that added force to the ball. This physics enabled object is also used in overcooked when you drop an ingredient, plate etc as you can see these objects bounce in a similar way the balls do in the exercise.

Player dropping an ingredient

When a level is completed, you gain a star rating depending on your overall score. You gain points from tips and loose points for being slow handing in a plate. The amount of stars you gain allow you to progress through the levels and is a requirement when wanting to play some levels. This keeps the player(s) entertained and tempts you into repeatedly playing the same level to gain a higher amount of stars or a higher point score.

Completed level

Bibliography & Referencing

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overcooked