Developer: Liquid Pug
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
Release Date: 2nd November 2022
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Switch & PC
Reviewed on: PS5
▫️ Code provided by the publisher ▫️
Godlike Burger is a good idea on paper. It takes the success of Overcooked and tries to expand on it by adding rogue-like elements along with a bit of Hitman on the side. Unfortunately, what this often adds up to, especially early on, is more frustration than fun as you struggle with both the controls and the carnage on screen.
You play as a chef looking to make it in the competitive fast-food world. The idea is to arrive at a planet, and feed the hungry customers while completing challenges that will unlock the next planet. Orders are placed and the correct food has to be prepared as a result. In this respect, the game is very much like Overcooked. Where it differs though, is that you have the option to kill your clientele and use them as ingredients.
That’s right. In what can only be described as the ultimate act of a restaurant owner cutting corners, the most lucrative way of progressing is to feed a customer, wait until they pay and then murder them before they leave – preferably in the toilets as if someone else sees you’ll soon have the police fishing around. This adds as much madness to the game as it sounds, with customers unwilling to go down easily and you not starting out as the most efficient killer.
However, what I found was that the added killing mechanics, along with multiple other distractions like having to kick the appliances when they stop working, became a bit overbearing. As a result, at least in the opening few hours, you are unlikely to do too much globetrotting before being killed and sent all the way back to the start. Thankfully, there are plenty of upgrades like health, attack power and kitchen improvements that carry over between runs.
This means if you are willing to stick with the game through a hectic and sometimes frustrating few hours you will be better equipped both in terms of unlocks and game experience to deal with what comes after. You can also slow down and speed up time, which is handy when things get a little out of hand or you want to fast-track a customer heading to a secluded spot. There is also a lot to consider on the management side of things, such as paying bills, or bribes if the police start to clock that you are a mass murderer trying to turn the galaxy into cannibals.
Visually the game looks clean and colourful. Again, think Overcooked but with a filter over it that makes it look hand drawn. At times I even got a Simpsons vibe from it. Cutscenes are done with comic book styling which looks and conveys the admittedly light story well. The UI on screen can get pretty busy once things kick into gear, looking like a bit of an eyesore at peak times, but everything feels like it is necessary. The sound design is serviceable without ever really sticking out.
Those looking to land all the trophies or achievements will need some patience. Levelling everything up, spending 10,000 credits on bribes, and buying all recipes, traps and kitchen upgrades are just some of the goals you’ll be working towards en route to that 100%.
VALUE: £15.99 feels like the right price point for a game of this nature. The value proposition will depend on how the mechanics and structure of the game work for you. If it clicks and you see it through to completion you will more than get your money’s worth.
Overall Godlike Burger has a lot of ideas. At first many of these ideas are getting in each other’s way, forcing you to persevere through the first couple of hours to get a full handle on what the game expects. Once you do though you’ll be able to team up the skills you have learned with some quality-of-life upgrades that make things more manageable. If you have the patience, this is a venture worth investing in.
-Mark 🦉