"VA-11 Hall-A" vs "Coffee Talk" vs "Red Strings Club"

[Harmacist]

Briefly looked into them, and they seem quite similar. Can't find any real comparisons between them, so I am here asking you guys. What sets each of them apart? Thanks!

[Sweet Tooth]

Different stories. Its like Paper Please and Not Tonight, or Material Girl and President Yukino.

[Harmacist]

Originally posted by kasmemoro:

Different stories. Its like Paper Please and Not Tonight, or Material Girl and President Yukino.

Exactly. I know they are different. I want to know how different, and what themes

[ONIMAI.RU // Крыска]

Years passed. Coffee Talk ep. 2 is out now (I hope N1RV Ann-A, so... I haven't played "Red Strings Club, but I can compare first ones

World
VA-11 HALL-A - cyberpunk future world, in dark "Glitch City", which is controlled by mega-corporations and theirs experiments (like nanomachines, advanced AI, etc). Glitch City is notoriously unsafe, like darkest places of Detroit or sth
Coffee Talk - fantasy version of the real world populated by a broad variety of fantasy races, such as elves, orcs, mermaids, and others (Also, you'll meet aliens from other planet). The city is Seattle, USA. It's not about future, it really (ep. 1 happens in 2020 and ep.2 in 2023).

Main Location and employers count
VA-11 HALL-A - Bar named "VA-11 HALL-A", but all saying it like "Valhalla". One boss, two bartenders (including MC [Jill]), and one cute part-time worker for few days
Coffee Talk - Coffee shop named "Coffee Talk". Runs by MC and only by them. Only one "part-time" worker and for 1 day only

Gameplay
VA-11 HALL-A - All recipes of alcohol and non-alcohol drinks written down on Calicomp (Bartender computer). So, main problem - is to give needed drink. Also, the goal is.. To earn enough money for MC to live (earning not enough = another "Bad" End). From giving right drinks to customers - you can get their endings.
Coffee Talk - Brewing coffee here is little more complicated, but you can always check guides to fill up you brewpad (App with all drinks recipes, that you brewed). Also, there's no driven goal, like earning money. But if you mess up with orders - you mess up character's story arcs

How long to beat? howlongtobeat.com
VA-11 HALL-A - 13-14 hours with extras like prologue and etc
Coffee Talk - 4-6 hours
Coffee Talk - Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly - 6-8 hours

I recommend playing those 3 games: VA-11 HALL-A, Coffee Talk and Coffee Talk - Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly. Especially VA-11 HALL-A. Worth it 100%

[Harmacist]

3 years later, finally got a response. Thanks!

Characters and story-wise: how would you TLDR them?

[Aachen]

VA-11 Hall-A and tRSC are more overtly technological-transhuman in flavor, while Coffee Talk is more “fantasy archetypes in a contemporary setting.”

If memory serves, the plot of Coffee Talk is almost wholly focused on its characters, VA-11 Hall-A has conflict balance between characters’ conflicts and a larger …. story …. while in tRSC the larger plot is a much greater focus than in the other two.

[Harmacist]

Gotcha, thanks!