One of the hardest things for a game developer/publisher to admit is that “This isn’t working…” and that “We need to make a change.” After all, if you’re a good way into a game’s development and you need to make a significant change, that means more time and effort will be put into making that shift, and then working just as hard to make it all work. HIPS N NOSES has been on Steam via a demo for a while, and according to the team at Studio Pepper Stones, the feedback they’ve gotten highlights how a change is needed. So, they’ll make that change, and that change will happen in line with the Tokyo Game Show! Check out the details below:

“In HIPS N NOSES, nobody sleeps except Mela, the only person capable of dreaming. After opening a café that helps its customers recover lost memories, Mela spends her days getting to know the people who walk through its doors, learning
about their needs and serving drinks tailored to their individual tastes.

At night, things get considerably more dangerous. When Mela falls asleep, she enters a constantly changing dream world filled with monsters. These nighttime expeditions allow players to collect Memory Flowers, which become ingredients used back at the café. The two sides of the game feed directly into one another, with conversations and café management influencing what players need to seek out when they enter the dream world.

The new Tokyo Game Show demo introduces a major overhaul to HIPS N NOSES’ combat, giving players more control over how they build and develop their party. At the heart of the update is a new tag system, which allows players to apply tags to
each party member’s weapons and skills, customize their combat builds, and strategically shape their preferred progression path.

The café is getting some extra help, too! The updated demo introduces a new part- time staff system that helps players keep up with the growing workload as their café expands. Staff can assist with preparing and serving drinks ordered by regular customers, making it easier for players to manage everyday orders while focusing their attention on the café’s special customers.”

So, yeah, that’s a pretty big overhaul, but they clearly thought they needed it to make the game better, and we should be grateful for that. To that end, here are some of the game’s key features to check out:

Run a Café in a World That Never Sleeps – Meet a colourful cast of customers, listen to their stories, and learn what they need before crafting drinks specifically for them.

Enter a World of Dreams – When the café closes, explore Mela’s dreams and battle monsters in action roguelike combat.

Master Card-Based Combat – Build and adapt your approach as you make your way through the dream world, with a major overhaul to the combat system debuting at Tokyo Game Show.

Gather Memory Flowers – Collect special ingredients within dreams and bring them back to the café to help restore customers’ lost memories.

Two Worlds, One Gameplay Loop – What happens in the café informs your journeys into dreams, while what you discover at night gives you new possibilities during the day.

Get to Know Your Customers – Build relationships with the people who visit Mela’s café and uncover their stories as you progress.

The demo is still available on Steam, and the game will soon go into Steam Early Access to further work things out.