PGC NEWS

The Holy Potatoes! franchise is back, and this time, it’s bringing the heat (literally) with Holy Potatoes! What the Hell?!. Following the wacky space adventures of Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?!, Daylight Studios returns to its simulation roots with a hellishly fun restaurant management game. But in a market saturated with cooking and restaurant sims, can Holy Potatoes! What the Hell?! serve up something truly unique?

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Managing a Restaurant from the Underworld

Holy Potatoes! What the Hell?! casts you as a chef banished to the underworld to cook for a demanding clientele of gods. The gameplay loop is deceptively simple, revolving around two core activities: gathering ingredients and preparing dishes. Four ingredient types represent different sins, each requiring you to punish sinners who committed the corresponding transgression. For example, to harvest french fries, you must mete out justice to murderers.

Once you’ve stocked your pantry, it’s time to fulfill the gods’ culinary desires. Early levels are straightforward, reminiscent of casual mobile games. However, the complexity ramps up quickly as the recipes become more elaborate, demanding strategic thinking and efficient resource management. New mechanics, such as seasonings, baptisms, and station upgrades, add layers of depth that can be initially overwhelming.

Thankfully, the game features a handy pause function. This allows you to strategize, assign tasks to your automated potato-powered machines, and ensure the quality of your dishes, keeping those divine diners satisfied.

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Spud-tacular Humor and Visuals

Like its predecessors, Holy Potatoes! What the Hell?! is brimming with potato-themed humor. The game is peppered with witty dialogue referencing pop culture icons and global phenomena. Even celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay makes a cameo appearance in this infernal culinary escapade.

The vibrant, cartoonish art style adds to the game’s lighthearted charm. The depiction of hell and its punishing contraptions is surprisingly whimsical, further enhancing the overall comedic tone.

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A Half-Baked Narrative

The storyline in Holy Potatoes! What the Hell?! is admittedly thin. Skipping the cutscenes won’t detract from the core gameplay experience. Furthermore, the in-game tutorials are rudimentary, focusing on basic mechanics while neglecting strategic elements. This might lead some players to dismiss the game prematurely, mistaking its initial simplicity for a lack of depth. Occasionally, the humor falls flat, with jokes that might not resonate with all players, especially those unfamiliar with Western culture.

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From Easy to Play to Easy to…Quit?

While Holy Potatoes! What the Hell?! is easy to pick up, it risks becoming repetitive. Despite the extensive recipe list, the gameplay primarily revolves around ingredient gathering and cooking. The gods, despite their diverse appearances, primarily serve as demanding customers, constantly pushing for more complex dishes. The upgradeable machines are functional but limited in scope, focused solely on ingredient production. This feels like a missed opportunity compared to other Daylight Studios titles, which often feature more engaging gameplay mechanics.

The sound design also leaves something to be desired. The lack of voice acting and the repetitive nature of the music and sound effects fail to create a distinct atmosphere for the various hellish environments and machines.

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Conclusion

Holy Potatoes! What the Hell?! offers a lighthearted and accessible restaurant management experience with a unique, hellish twist. Its charming visuals, humorous dialogue, and simple gameplay loop make it an enjoyable, albeit somewhat shallow, experience. While the repetitive nature of the gameplay and lackluster story might not appeal to all players, fans of the Holy Potatoes! franchise and casual simulation enthusiasts will likely find something to savor in this infernal kitchen.