Umihara Kawase Fresh!
- May 28, 2020
- Studio Saizensen
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Get on Steam"Umihara Kawase Fresh! is a Nintendo Switch action/platformer that follows a young chef named Kawase who discovers a town of her dreams. With over 75 quests and a large explorable map, players will navigate through the town, uncover its history, and battle demons using Kawase's fishing lure. Each quest is replayable in Time Attack mode, and completion unlocks additional content."
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features enjoyable grappling mechanics and retains the physics that fans love from the series.
- The addition of a cooking system and the character Cotton provides new gameplay dynamics and accessibility.
- The challenge levels are well-designed and offer a satisfying experience for players looking for difficulty.
- The port is poorly executed, with issues like broken controller configurations and a lack of content compared to other versions.
- The open world design is underutilized, leading to repetitive quests and a tedious main story that feels bloated.
- The English translation is subpar, often resulting in confusing or humorous miscommunications that detract from the experience.
- story97 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 88 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in this installment of Umihara Kawase is described as a convoluted and largely irrelevant backdrop to the gameplay, with quests that often feel repetitive and disconnected from any meaningful narrative. While it introduces an "open world" concept through a quest menu, players are limited to completing one quest at a time, leading to frustration and a lack of exploration. Overall, the story is considered a secondary aspect of the game, with many reviewers suggesting that it is not worth engaging with, as it fails to deliver a coherent or satisfying plot.
“First time having a 'real' story in an Umihara game is kinda nice, even if it’s not so much a story as it’s just making deliveries.”
“It may not be the best translation, but it results in some fun moments, and I still laughed at some of the story (the pigs want pork pizza???).”
“However, it flows better than I expected, and it's still very much mission-based where you go from point A to point B for a series of quests/challenges.”
“The story is a total mess and you will not be missing out if you skip all the cutscenes.”
“The plot certainly isn't worth playing for.”
“The story is a truly insulting waste of time and I honestly think you lose nothing by not having it translated.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers enjoyable grappling mechanics that fans of the series will appreciate, but it can feel bland and unchallenging for those who don't engage with the hook mechanics. Additionally, the food and hunger system detracts from the overall experience, and players should be prepared for a tedious initial phase before unlocking more engaging challenge levels.
“The gameplay itself is everything you could ask for in the series, just some good grappling fun.”
“Still, you need to at least try to engage with the hook mechanics or you won't have any fun.”
“The vast majority of the gameplay is not threatening and just kind of bland.”
“The entire food and hunger system just gets in the way of the gameplay and doesn't really add anything.”
“Just be warned it will take about 4 hours of fairly tedious gameplay before you finally unlock the ability to play all the challenge levels.”
- music8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise, featuring a mix of new tracks and memorable themes, particularly in the overworld and sky areas, as well as the title screen and main menu. While some players found the underground layers less engaging, the overall soundtrack is considered a standout element, enhancing the gaming experience.
“The music is as great as ever with new tracks!”
“And special mention to the soundtrack.”
“While I didn't care too much about the underground layers, the overworld and sky area themes are both really good, and the title screen and main menu songs are also very memorable.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their stylized charm, successfully updating the visuals from the old games while maintaining an enjoyable aesthetic. Additionally, the accompanying music complements the graphics well, enhancing the overall experience.
“I enjoy the new graphics from the old games; it has a stylized charm to it.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, requiring around four hours of repetitive gameplay before unlocking access to all challenge levels. This has led to frustration among users who feel the process detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“It's incredibly tedious.”
“Just be warned it will take about 4 hours of fairly tedious gameplay before you finally unlock the ability to play all the challenge levels.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, particularly in its story, making it enjoyable and fun for players. Many recommend it, especially when on sale, highlighting its comedic elements as a key aspect of the experience.
“The game is really fun and funny in its story, making it a great pick when on sale.”
“The humor in the game adds a delightful twist to the overall experience, making it enjoyable.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers optimization primarily through 720p resolution in both windowed and fullscreen modes, along with rebindable controls. Users report no performance issues and note significantly faster loading times compared to other versions.
“720p windowed or fullscreen only, rebindable controls, no issues with performance on my end, much faster loading times than other versions.”
