Monster Menu: The Scavenger's Cookbook - Game Review
0Monster Menu: The Scavenger's Cookbook - Game Review
Hello again, gamers! Welcome back to Veteran Game. Today, we're sinking our teeth into "Monster Menu: The Scavenger’s Cookbook", a dungeon-crawling JRPG roguelike from NIS America. While the blend of genres is an interesting concoction, does this gaming meal leave a pleasant aftertaste, or does it leave us craving something more? Let's find out.
"Monster Menu: The Scavenger’s Cookbook" spins a simple yarn. You're an adventurer who set off for a region called the Sealed Lands, only to end up stranded without supplies. With the help of three other customizable adventurers you fortuitously encounter, you have to figure out how to escape the ever-changing Sealed Lands.
Sadly, the narrative seems to have been left on the backburner. Beyond the initial setup, there’s no real storyline or even party banter. This feels like a missed opportunity for a studio known for its distinctive character and world creation.
Starting a run in the game drops you into the first floor of the first themed Orgonne region: the Ruins. Each floor's layout is slightly randomised, but don't expect unique movement or exploration challenges. The gameplay loop primarily involves battling enemies, scavenging, and progressing to face the Orgonne boss. Once defeated, you'll unlock a teleport point to the next Orgonne.
There is a certain mindless fun in the game’s simplicity. The bite-sized, contextless JRPG battles can be enjoyable, especially as you need to tackle as many battles as possible to prep for the final boss of the Orgonne. This is because your levels and food-provided skills reset upon death.
Food is a big deal in "Monster Menu", though perhaps not as much as it should be. The items you scavenge on a floor will primarily be cooking materials, and as your characters’ Calorie and Hydration meters are constantly draining, cooking dishes and feeding them to your crew is a key element.
However, the game doesn’t quite fulfill the potential of this mechanic. You never really feel involved in the food prep process. You simply choose a recipe and the game auto-selects the ingredients you need. This means the potential joy of experimenting with random ingredients is seldom rewarded, particularly in the early game.
"Monster Menu" initially feels a bit light on content. With its minimal story, little room or enemy variety, and a basic cooking mechanic, it lacks the immediate variety and meta-progression that makes other roguelikes so addictive.
As you progress, however, the game becomes more engaging. As you unlock more Orgonnes and develop high-level characters, it begins to feel less like a tactical roguelike and more like a JRPG simulator, where you plan skill and gear combos, then test how well their synergy delivers.
To sum up, "Monster Menu: The Scavenger’s Cookbook" might not satisfy all roguelike fans, but if you're a JRPG aficionado and fancy some bite-sized encounters, there's potential for enjoyment here. But be warned: it's more a snack than a full-course meal in gaming terms.
That's it for our review of "Monster Menu: The Scavenger’s Cookbook". What are your thoughts on the game? Let us know in the comments! And don't forget to hit that like button and subscribe for more gaming reviews. Until next time, stay safe and happy gaming!