Outerloop, an independent game development studio, gained recognition a few years back with their game “Thirsty Suitors,” featuring a blend of role-playing battles, cooking, and skating intertwined with a heartfelt narrative about a young woman reconnecting with her family and dealing with a quirky lineup of ex-lovers.
Their latest offering, “Dosa Divas,” stays true to the essence of its predecessor but refines the gameplay, presenting a more confident experience. The game revolves around a tale of family reconciliation set in a colorful and fantastical world, offering a realistic portrayal despite its whimsical backdrop.
A notable drawback of “Dosa Divas” is its potential to leave players craving more – more rhythmic battles and culinary escapades, along with further exploration of the endearing characters. It resembles a debut season of a popular streaming series that premiered with eight episodes but could benefit from an extended narrative to fully explore its components.
The central narrative of “Dosa Divas” follows the journey of two sisters, Samara and Amani, who once managed a family-owned restaurant passed down to them. Amani returns after a decade, aiming to reconnect with Samara and the rest of the family.
On the other hand, their youngest sister, Lina, has established a vast business empire centered on selling “Lina Meals” – a soylent-like product. The addictive nature of Lina Meals prompts Lina, backed by a team of lawyers and tech entrepreneurs, to push for the outlawing of traditional cooking methods.
The game sets up a stark dichotomy between the sisters’ worlds: a theme of cooking, bonding, and solidarity contrasting with profit-driven motives at the expense of humanity. As players progress through the approximately 10-hour gameplay, they unravel the complex history among the siblings, involving their retired parents and former colleagues from the restaurant.
Additionally, a subplot introduces Goddess, a sentient robot-cum-food truck accompanying Samara and Amani. She represents one of the “DIVAs” – sentient robots paired with the main characters, adding depth to the narrative with challenging boss battles and a touch of mythology intertwined with the sisters’ personal stories.
The gameplay in “Dosa Divas” revolves around three main aspects: exploration of various locations during Samara and Amani’s quest, engaging in turn-based battles reminiscent of classic RPGs like “Final Fantasy,” and preparing dishes to satisfy the populace’s hunger.
Players control Samara, Amani, and Goddess in battles against Lina’s corporate entities and the formidable DIVAs, employing strategic attacks with timing-based mechanics for enhanced effectiveness. The game incorporates elements of foraging, fishing, and ingredient procurement to craft dishes catering to specific flavor preferences.
While the battle mechanics are well-executed, the cooking segments, involving mini-games like vegetable chopping and batter spreading, may feel slightly less polished. However, with practice, players can master these challenges, creating a satisfying loop of exploration, culinary creations, and combat encounters to boost character progression.
Despite the game’s ambitious scope, some narrative threads in “Dosa Divas” may appear unresolved, possibly due to time constraints stemming from Outerloop’s modest team size. The storyline introduces compelling supporting characters with brief but intriguing backgrounds that fade into the backdrop swiftly.
Certain narrative arcs delve into darker themes amidst the vibrant visuals, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by characters, such as overworked miners under Lina’s regime. The narrative primarily focuses on the intricate dynamics among the three sisters and their DIVA companions, leaving poignant questions on class disparities and wealth divisions largely unexplored.
While set in a fantastical realm, “Dosa Divas” presents a poignant and candid depiction of family reconciliation, portraying the complexities of unresolved conflicts with authenticity. The game, though mechanically simpler compared to high-budget RPGs, offers a narrative woven with sensitivity and honesty, leaving players eager for Outerloop’s future creations.
“Dosa Divas” is now available for PCs and major gaming consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, catering to a diverse gaming audience with its unique blend of storytelling and gameplay mechanics.