In simple terms, the game Dosa Divas from Outerloop Games is built around the idea that shared meals foster connections, community, and family. It’s a unique blend that includes a touch of corporate fast food criticism, some mech customization, and a serving of strategic RPG gameplay, creating an enjoyable experience with a lot of warmth and charm.
At Dosa Divas, you assume the roles of sisters Amani and Samara, who team up to bring down a gigantic fast-food conglomerate with the help of their customizable Spirit Mech sidekick, which they navigate on. During this year’s Summer Games Fest, I got a brief glimpse into the game. Mostly, I engaged in fights against corporate minions, gathered ingredients, and cooked meals for the villagers. The culinary aspect permeates almost every aspect of the game, from its missions to its fighting style, and is crucial not just for healing and progressing but also for addressing past traumas and reconnecting with each other.
In Dosa Divas, combat draws inspiration from popular role-playing games like Paper Mario and Octopath Traveler. It offers a blend of the familiar and innovative, with timing mechanics similar to Paper Mario and boosting/elemental guard break systems reminiscent of Octopath Traveler. Instead of traditional elemental attributes such as fire, ice, or wind, Dosa Divas use flavor profiles – spicy, salty, sour, sweet, etc. – as their attributes, each represented by adorable symbols. This creative twist keeps the cooking theme prominent while maintaining a mechanism that RPG fans are already acquainted with. As chefs, it’s fitting that they wield cooking tools as weapons, including an impressive spatula nunchuck.
The sisters aren’t traveling solo; they have a companion in Goddess, their spirit mech reminiscent of Trotmobiles from the PS2 RPG, Steambot Chronicles. This machine isn’t just for transportation, but also assists the sisters in battles. What truly captivates is the freedom players will have to personalize Goddess, changing its color scheme and weaponry. As someone who appreciates mechs, their presence in Dosa Divas only fuels my anticipation for the game, and the ability to tinker with it adds to that excitement. Whether Goddess can actually bake a cake is still uncertain.
From the initial glance, it’s evident that a significant motif in Dosa Divas is the role food plays in uniting people, an idea I fully endorse. As you venture through the game, you’ll discover a variety of ingredients for different recipes to prepare meals for residents in the neighboring village. Just like real individuals, each townsperson has unique tastes and preferences, demanding you to create diverse recipes and collect ingredients to meet their specific requests. Although this mechanic might not appear significantly distinct from a typical item delivery miniquest, it may be that my affection for cooking makes delivering meals to people more endearing and impactful, thereby enhancing the game’s overall charm.
Despite its robust RPG mechanics, what resonates with me the most about Dosa Divas is its narrative and theme. The way Outerloop Games has skillfully woven these elements together truly stands out. The spatula nunchucks and customizable mechs are exciting features, not to mention the fun of taking down corporate minions, but the concept of bonding people through food strikes a chord within me on a profound level. I can’t wait to play the complete game upon its release next year. I hope they’ll include authentic recipes for all the mouthwatering dishes in the game, so I can try cooking them myself.
Dosa Divas launches next year on Steam and consoles.
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2025-06-14 03:27