Selden: I backed this on Kickstarter and played the backer demo - they've done a lot with it since then, but I'll share my early impressions since the general reaction seems to be "What the...?"
There is a single player story mode. I didn't do a lot with that since it was the demo, but I can confirm its existence. I tended to play the 'quick match' mode, pitting you against another chef... which at the time meant you were Mina, the girl with the knives, and your opponent was Thrash the swordsman orc.
Going out to get ingredients is similar to playing Smash Bros in that mode with enemies you actually kill - Subspace Emissary for those who recall it. In fact, it's similar enough that the demo also included a 'break the targets' mode patterned off of the Smash Bros one. Presumably the main game will too. Once you've killed a dragon or a few land squids you can run back to the kitchen to prepare your ingredients in one of a number of minigames similar to Bejeweled and Bejeweled Twist. Try to make sure that something from the required beastie is in the mix, and if at all possible keep the requested taste from being overpowered... that is to say, if you've got a judge that wants an earthy taste, keep more green flavor spheres in there and upgraded by combining with other spheres than anything else.
The primary part of the game will be beating things up in a side-scrolling platformer. The cooking is certainly an important part, and cannot be ignored or glossed over by simply getting the best of ingredients and tossing them in, but you will probably mostly be stabbing hydras and dodging wild boars as they charge down on you. This takes some skill, but if you have decent timing and learn to use your character's special skills it shouldn't be too big a problem.
tl;dr, it's a platform beat-em-up with cooking minigames for after you carve opponents to pieces. It's an oddball idea, but it's nice to see people who aren't afraid to break the mold for their games.
Ok, thanks. Il wishlist it since at least sounds a bit more interesting than the usual beat em up.
