Best Served Cold

After a very promising demo, I regret having to say that I can't recommend this game. The concept is great and some of the mechanics and cases were really fun or just needed some polishing, but there are a few glaring issues specifically with the writing and worldbuilding that I cannot ignore. Unfortunately due to Steam's limitations I will have to focus only on those. In essence, my gripe with the game is the stark disconnect between what it is doing and saying versus what it seems to be setting out to do. I've tried to split my criticism in two parts, though they overlap. Spoiler warning for the entire game! 1. The writing itself: Beyond a pretty sizeable amount of spelling and punctuation errors, the writing seems very flat and lacking nuance. This is noticeable in the character design: most characters are simply portraying one or several stereotypes (all the way down to their drink orders!), antagonists are mostly cartoon villains that you're really really meant to hate, that are irredeemable and do not deserve to be heard, except for one very special antagonist who is actually different and you are meant to understand and excuse their actions, because you take so long to learn about these special differences, and you're meant to put in a lot of effort to let them get off easy. Romancing a character (which I think didn't need to be in the game at all) turns them into a romantasy character with generic lines, stripping them of their personalities. Both the game and the characters insist on always telling me how to feel about characters and events, everyone's feelings are also generally spelled out very clearly as if they are attending a therapy session. Most of the character development is done off camera, which might also explain why, especially towards the end of the game, it felt very rushed. It seems to be mostly reserved for men, the women barely have any flaws and their struggles concern external influences rather than their own flaws. 2. The deeper worldbuilding: Using the 20s/prohibition era as inspiration for a fantasy world is an interesting concept (I definitely enjoy a 20s aesthetic), though the intrigue ends when you add blatant references to real countries (some of which even share the same names?). You will end up with a fantasy China, referred to as an "Empire", a place void of diversity, a place people need to leave to find faith (aka a woke sort of christianity) and meaning in their life. This compared to the game's setting, the fictional city of Bukovie, Tsara (inspired by Romania, presumably?), a melting pot of cultures...and...colonies? (Positive or at least neutral? In comparison to the Empire, which...is bad?). See also the character from fantasy Russia, who herself comments on how she does not really have a culture and instead prefers learning about other cultures, and ultimately becomes a plot device: the "good" foreigner that gets to "fix" the raging xenophobe character and forms such a strong bond with him that she then has to suffer the most when he is hurt. (Though that said, the writing takes a lot of care to remind you that despite some "troubling" views, said character has been a beacon for his community, a true saint who does not deserve anything bad to happen to him.) Xenophobia overall seems to be the most important issue in this fictional world, and it is most openly applied to a white, Western European man (which might seem like the safe option, though then again, his salvation comes in form of a different, actually evil foreigner who did in fact do the horrible crime). In fact, xenophobia, classism and, to some extent, misogyny, seem to be the only glaring societal issues this fictional country has, to the point where a black woman experiencing discrimination is not even allowed to talk about racism, instead defaulting to vague statements about "vulnerable groups" that are "not in power". Even more noticeable is the complete lack of discrimination against the queer characters. There are several openly gay and lesbian characters as well as a nonbinary person. They are all well respected (beyond class differences), nobody displays any sort of queerphobia nor is it reported. I assume this might have been something close to the devs' heart or catering to the intended audience, but it seems very odd to cherrypick and cartoonify certain issues from the inspiration while ignoring others or being so strangely vague about them. I think this in combination with the generally quite shallow writing ruins the mature, "social commentary" angle the game seemingly attempts to take, which makes for a strange dissonance while playing. All in all, I just wish that more care had been taken representing these very real issues and incorporating real world inspiration into a fantasy world, and that all characters had been given a similar amount of nuance in development.

近期玩到的比较满意的视觉小说，很喜欢。 写在最前，需注意游戏成分较复杂，有女同、男同、跨性别角色。 游戏中玩家作为酒保出现，在与客人调酒闲聊中提取有用信息与线索协助侦探破案。虽然有好感系统，但主要是为了达成一定数值套出破案的线索用。终章可以选择心仪的角色表白却没有甜腻的展开也没有后日谈，恋爱要素不多或者可以说极少。且几个客人有比较明确的cp，你也插不进去。 说是获得线索进行推理帮助侦探破案，实际上推理的成分不高，直白点来讲推理部分乐趣不大，游戏整体很线性，就算使用穷举的方法一个个问过去，那么多个回合足够你把线索拿完，更别说案件凶手还算明显。 如果奔着恋爱元素与推理来必然会失望，但如果只是把它作为一部视觉小说，你就会发现这个游戏的人物塑造和剧情氛围整体真好啊。 游戏中角色性格非常鲜明，口吻区分做得非常棒。有些视觉小说人物一多就把持不住节奏，角色的说话风格多多少少会出现重复，但本作没有。角色们即使是在表达同样意思的一句话，也会通过风格迥异的方式表述出来，显尽自己的性格。在抒发自己观点时也更像是“角色本人在表达自己的见解”，而不是“作者通过角色之口输出观点”。 而且角色的形象塑造上只感觉舒服，整体很坦荡。我一般不是很喜欢性格张扬、高调、又爱八卦的角色，但游戏中的一位确实有能力、自己也承认得大大方方，一点也不让人讨厌反而讨喜。唯一一个对女性各种打压、看不起，说教意味重的男性也是基于人物形象设计出发。 角色塑造方面就再简单提一个点吧，游戏内角色之间不乏有小矛小盾，大部分人不会因为个人关系的不愉快在事件中把责任和嫌疑推给对方，反而会直白承认对方的为人与能力，挺身担保。君子和而不同，处理得相当舒服。 而游戏氛围的塑造上呢，我只能说打完这个游戏，我好像真的短暂地参与了角色们的部分人生。 随着剧情的推进，作为全局观察者我能明显看到角色的变化与成长。被控制欲极强的父母管控着的小少爷终于在终章勇敢摆脱父母的束缚，找到自己擅长与热爱的事为之努力；失去了最好的朋友、对手、甚至可以说是半步恋人的棋手终于重拾勇气面对棋局，携着已故友人的愿景成为国际大师，探寻新的社交与关系；阴沉的神父也逐步摆脱对酒精的依靠，去接近更阳光积极的社交氛围… 在游戏的终章，角色们专门与我感谢陪伴并道别说想去开展新的生活，那一刻我不禁有些许感动。是呀，我见证了他们的大起大落、聚散离合，我陪伴了他们一路，他们不也参与了一段我的人生吗。 人情味，这是一个具有人情味的游戏。 [spoiler]游戏整体剧情上设置了一个大的因果，打到最后没有多少意外，只是很希望无辜入狱的桑德拉有一个好的结局。 桑德拉，我希望你能过得幸福，请你走吧，越远越好，请你一定要获得明媚的人生。[/spoiler] （我会期待续作上线的！） 再有一些挑刺环节。很明显游戏对于主角酒保的性别并没有明确的界定，但是中翻中角色称呼主角总会用上“兄弟”，不是很让我满意。 游戏的调酒玩法是限时连线，整个流程玩下来难免让人觉得冗杂多余产生反感，希望续作能够优化。 最后感谢寒霜老师送了我这个游戏，很高兴能游玩到如此对我胃口的作品，十分感谢。੭ ᐕ)੭

I loved it, it's Coffee Talk meeting some Noire fiction like Raymond Chandler's books ; the ending was so great, didn't see it coming ! and I loved the fact the characters grows over the chapters, gives them more depth and background. Looking forward to play their next game, already wishlisted !

I did enjoy the game at first, however after the first chapter, I got angry closed the app all because a character ruined it for me. I refuse to help someone who has put me down, don't want to spoil it, but I couldn't get with the program after that. However, I am a bit petty, so if you enjoy mystery games and can overcome hard feelings of disgust for a character you will be fine.

This is coffee talk and ace attorney mixed to almost perfection. I would echo a lot of the common sentiments in the other review that this game might not be worth it at full price, but a great deal on any sale. You get all achivements simply by finishing the game correctly. The strength of Best Served Cold is it's characterzation, the overarching plot is serviceable, but the trial and error stage of presenting all your clues to customers does not always flow correctly and feels like you are just throwing everything at the wall to see anything sticks. The character artwork is simply subperb, the ambience soundtrack is very nice as well. There are some immersion breaking moments (the game does acknowledge to a point) where you as the bartender need to interrogate all of your patrons like a cop.

A poetic Mystery game where decisions matter, relationships matter, and where the twists and turns all lead to a complete conclusion that you have influence in. I will be buying the upcoming sequel to this titled "Last Night Last Call".

The game is amazing. The story is captivating, I didn't know what to expect from each next chapter. Gameplay is always the same, you talk with people, serve drinks, present stuff and learn to build your case. You got enough time and action points to do it even if you fail miserably. First chapter is basically to learn, so don't worry if you do it a bit wrong (I did). Graphically speaking, the game is beautiful, but it lacks backgrounds, it's always the same 2 places, bar and home. You don't really need more, but it would be a nice touch to change the bar between cases, since there are usually separated by several months. If you like Ace Attorney games, this game is very much like it, but simpler. You don't move to locations, you don't have a linear way to advance the story, and in my opinion, is way harder to fail in this game. You get clues, you ask questions, you present clues and get more clues, and when you get a motive and the weapon, you present your case and wait for it to be right or wrong. The stories for each character are quite nice, some of them are very profound, and you can see the growth of some of them. I actually grew fond of some of the characters, and I also came to dislike others. To put it short, if you enjoy visual novels and doing some detective work, you will enjoy this game, and as an avid Ace Attorney fan, I recommend it! I can't wait to play Last Night Last Call, specially since knowing some characters I liked from this game are also on it. And I truly truly hope they bring your past choices to the new game, it would be nice to get some mentions to it!

Haven't finished it yet but wow. The art is fantastic and the writing too! The setting itself is a few decades back and they don't fumble that at all Edit: Finished it and I love u Hugo you better be in the next game <3

처음 시작할때 더빙이 나와 기대감이 컸지만 시작할때 더빙이 전부고 이후는 특이점 없는 비쥬얼 노벨임 게임 자체는 키워드 모으는 흔한 유럽소설 읽는 듯한 느낌임 넬레 노이하우스의 책을 몇 권 읽어봤다면 알거임 그 느낌 다만 주제가 "칵테일" 인데 그 깊이가 심히 낮음 먼저 위스키가 들어간 칵테일은 잘 쉐이킹 하지 않음 근데 여기선 모든 칵테일을 쉐이킹 해버림 스터링과 플로팅이 존재하지도 않고 마우스만 끄적여댐 이름도 지 멋대로 바꿔 놓음 스토리를 위한 요소라 변명하는 데 올드패션드, 블러드메리, 모히또가 저작권이 있는 것도 아니고 오히려 칵테일을 잘 알았다면 게임에 풀어나가기 편했을거임 이럴거면 그냥 바의 시그니처 메뉴로 도배해도 됐을걸 칵테일 이라는 도구만 필요했을 뿐 별로 관심조차 없는게 느껴짐 그도 그럴게 메뉴만 봐도 시대가 중구난방인 데 청교도 등의 이야기를 보면 1930년대 이전 유럽이 시대적 배경인데 1940년대 이후 스미노프사에서 개발한 모스크뮬이 나옴 이런건 대체역사고 아슬하게 걸쳤다 쳐도 1980년대 개발한 에스프레소 마티니는 시대가 맞냐? 금주법의 시대는 저급한 밀주 맛과 단속을 피하기 위해 주스를 섞은 칵테일들이 개발되던 시기임 여기서 고증에 어울리는건 블러드메리 하나뿐임 피나 콜라다? 넌 진짜 검색을 좀 해봐라 만든 인간이 칵테일 조사한다고 위키도 안 본게 느껴짐 자료조사는 창작의 기본인데 금주법도 칵테일도 조사를 안함 칵테일 조주를 아는 사람 입장에선 진짜 개 대충 만든 무언가임 애초에 칵테일 도수가 10도 미만이 전부던 데 벨기에는 바에 가면 칵테일에 물타서 마심? 그런거면 벨기에는 앞으로 프렌치에 프라이드 반납해라 마시는것도 대충하는 애들이 뭘 씹는걸 논하고 있음 대체역사고 추리가 메인이니 대충하자? 이게 무료게임임? 게임적인 부분도 할말이 많은데 그냥 겉멋이 존나 들었음 술만드는 행위는 왜 필요한지도 모르겠고 그냥 하나하나 짚으면 이해 안가는거 투성이임 설정,스토리, 게임성 삼박자 전부 지적하면 논문 나올 듯 좋게 생각 해줄려해도 장점이 분위기가 전부 아님? 그 분위기란것도 홍대 근처 원피스 피규어 세워놓은 일식집 수준이고

Overall a fun experience. There were a lot of punctuation/spelling errors throughout the game, however. The story was interesting and solving the cases was enjoyable, but it could get tedious when I got stuck. The characters were likeable for the most part and felt like real people. I wish there had been an epilogue of sorts to wrap things up but overall I felt like the last case was a nice way to finish things.