I love a story of tragedy! These touching tales are full of drama, loss, and meaning. Consequently, they are easy to lose yourself in and keep you focused until the end. However, I didn’t expect this to be the plot behind an Overcooked-esque title. Onsen Master combines crazy and demanding action with a melancholy and bizarre plot. Accordingly, it’s a strange mix that shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
Developed by Waking Oni and published by Whitethorn Games, this is a hot spring customer management title. Furthermore, it uses well-trodden mechanics from similar games such as Moving Out, Tools Up! and, of course, Overcooked. As such, it will resonate with this genre’s passionate fanbase. However, will it do enough to stand out, or will it be a poor replica?
Onsen Master is short but very sweet.
The action follows an apprentice called Mu. This young lad is desperate to impress his Sensei and is dedicated to his role. Subsequently, he spends hours helping sick and elderly people in the country leading Onsens. Things were going well until disaster struck! One day, his Sensei left on an important quest, but he never returned. Fearing the worst, Mu undertakes a journey to discover the truth and rescue his beloved mentor.
The story is wonderful, and it’s beautifully integrated into the game’s maddening chapters. With 6 Onsens to visit, Onsen Master is unfortunately very short. However, there are several game modes to enjoy that increase longevity. Thankfully, though, the mechanics are pretty simple. Effectively, you must fill a hot spring with a specific ingredient. There are 5 to choose from and 4 tubs to use. Once you’ve ground the ingredient into a powder, you must place it in the water and grab each sick person. Accordingly, this gameplay loop continues until the timer runs out and your score is added up. Here, you’ll discover how many stars you’ve been awarded and you’ll move on to the next stage. As you can tell, we’re in pretty familiar territory with the structure and core elements.
Luckily, though, Onsen Master has a few tricks up its sleeve. Each region comprises 3 levels and culminates in a special boss fight. These tough encounters twist the normal action and push you to your limits. With many tricks and underhand moves at the ready, each of the villains wants you to fail. However, with patience and planning, you can thwart their silly games and come out on top.
Onsen Master is pleasant to the eye.
Like its peers, Onsen Master is pleasant to the eye. Its soft colour palette, excellent character design, and unusual range of enemies are amazing to look at. Furthermore, I adored the stage design, the flawless action, and the vivid yet stereotypically Asian surroundings. With plenty going on, the game could have faltered and stuttered repeatedly. Fortunately, though, this never happened, and it ran perfectly.
The stereotypes extend beyond the visuals. With a classic Asian soundtrack, it is overwhelmingly clichéd. However, I adored this approach, as it enhanced the traditional undertones of the story. Moreover, alongside the relaxing but upbeat music were some great sound effects. With weird noises for the monsters and realistic sounds for the hot tubs, it was a strange but effective blend that worked well.
Excellent controls.
My go-to complaint about this genre is it’s normally lacking balance. As a solo gamer, it’s frustrating and nearly impossible. But Onsen Master is different. Thanks to its amazing controls, every level is manageable. Furthermore, with a simple layout to understand, you grasp the basics immediately. Consequently, this is a fantastic title for gamers of all ages and abilities.
We all know that this genre is packed with replay value. Yet, Onsen Master goes further because of its excellent cooperative action and challenging additional modes. The story will test your resolve, but the arcade option will make you explode. As such, if you wish to succeed, you’ll have to spend hours tackling each level. Personally, I’m not sure what will break first, my patience or my controller.
Onsen Master is as good as its peers.
I was concerned that this would be a poor replica of its peers. However, I was foolish to think that way. It’s unique, but the short story is wonderfully complemented by some excellent gaming elements. On top of this, the additional modes add to the challenge and this was phenomenal. I thoroughly enjoyed playing it and I recommend you buy it here! Can you help every sick person and save your mentor? Explore the fantasy island of Izajima, complete your tasks, and save the day.
