Gametraders Live September Magazine

Local multiplayer was a blast in my
experience, and felt as much a couch co-op
game as an exercise in communication. My
matches were filled with people shouting
commands and recipes at eachother, frantic
moments of exhilaration, and plenty of
laughter-beckoning blunders. The online
play doesn’t quite offer this same charm,
nor the ability to talk directly with one
another on the Switch version, despite being
enjoyable in its own right. Thus, despite this
newly included online multiplayer feature,
couch co-op still stands out as the highlight
of the game and the best way to experience
Overcooked! 2.
Aside from the lack of communication
options (basic emotes notwithstanding), I
had a surprisingly smooth and endlessly
enjoyable experience playing online. Players
usually were on the money with tasks and
there was a fair degree of working around
the lack of communication through quick
wits, improvisation, and multi-tasking. I
was usually matched up quite quickly, and
only got an occasional bit of lag stutter.
The head-to-head mode is ideal for the
competitive types, but for my money, the
more simplistic Arcade co-op portion
proves a perfect blend of action-packed
intensity and mindless cooking fun. Playing
with 3 others can occasionally get chaotic,
but it’s certainly preferable to managing
multiple tasks on your own. The online
could perhaps have been fleshed out a bit
more, as its customizations are limited and
there’s no leaderboard to be found. Still, it
works well enough, and goes a long way in
extending the game’s shelf life.
The original Overcooked managed to be
something of a sleeper hit and its sequel
further reminds us why this quirky co-op
franchise has won over so many. Ghost
Town Games and Team 17 have sprinkled
in just the right amount of new elements
to strengthen and further flesh out the
experience without overwhelming it. While
your levels of enjoyment playing solo are
likely to be tepid, those looking for co-op
multiplayer gaming excellence should look
no further than this charming, addictive
sequel.
By Stephan LaGioia, VGChartz