Everyone can aim for an idyllic life, but reality’s ups and downs often make it difficult for things to come to fruition. But what if you just so happen to be an excellent robot sushi chef? What’s the perfect life then? That’s what players would find out in Catch & Release, LLC’s cosy restaurant life simulator, Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends, which launches on June 4 on both PC and Xbox.
Rolling Along in Life
In the ever-evolving world of life and management sims, there is still room for creative takes to surprise, and after speaking to James Tillman, co-creator of the game, it is easy to understand just why Rolling Hills had to be made.
“The theme of Rolling Hills came from an incredibly simple place: I was eating at a sushi restaurant, and the punningly-named speciality rolls, conveyor belt, and colour-coded dishes struck me as the kind of world that would be fun to explore in a game,” Tillman said. “For me, the freedom to explore an entirely new world with each project is the greatest appeal of making games.”
The studio’s past work certainly points towards that pursuit of something new each time. The sci-fi mobile adventure Star Billions was Tillman and fellow creator Matthew Taylor’s first stab at making games, and it was followed up by the western VR dueler Cold Iron. Now, it’s all about owning a sushi restaurant and being the best at it, even if you happen to be a robot who cannot enjoy the deliciousness on show.
“In the earliest prototypes, you actually did play as a human character, and Sushi Bot was your sidekick. I have to credit my little brother and design partner, Matthew, with the idea of playing as Sushi Bot. At first, I thought it would never work, but asking life sim players to walk a mile in Sushi Bot’s… uh… wheel… was probably the single best choice we made in development,” the developer said.
“As both Sushi Bot and the player inhabiting his chassis for a while, you first come to Rolling Hills as a stranger. For better or worse, the people you meet don’t know what you’re capable of or what your limitations are. Speaking metaphorically, you’re an ambitious baby making your way in a new world, as if you just came online for the first time. To me, that’s both a relatable feeling and the quintessential life sim experience.”
Both Tillman and Taylor embrace the ability to experience a different slice of life in their craft, with their “lives in a very small, rural town” serving as “probably the biggest inspiration.” Thanks to that and plenty of imagination, players will be introduced to “a place full of imperfect oddballs capable of moments of heartfelt tenderness, show-stopping awkwardness, and lasting friendship.” Yet, “unlike the real world, you get to be a robot who owns a sushi restaurant. It’s the best of both worlds!”
That sure sounds like a recipe for enjoyment.
The Five-Star Establishment
When it comes to running the restaurant, that means taking care of everything that will impact the customer’s experience. There’s always something to do, be it taking orders, cleaning tables, or dealing with all sorts of surprises. When the kitchen closes, there are still the “familiar shopping, decorating, and upgrading experiences” that are synonymous with the genre, albeit infused with the personality that permeates throughout the entire game.
For example, furniture is both visually and functionally important in the game. While a certain look might suit your personal tastes, consider the need for expansion as well as the special effects that some furniture may possess. Having items of a Relaxing nature can help with soothing impatient visitors, while Electric furniture can help speed up things in the kitchen.
Also, sushi might be the titular cuisine, but that’s not all Sushi Bot is capable of making in Rolling Hills. Tillman shares that this would be “a culinary odyssey of more than 50 recipes, including hearty
dishes like ramen and sweet treats like strawberry cake,” and “each recipe serves a unique gameplay
purpose in addition to adding colour” to the world.
Furthermore, flavours, quality ratings, and special effects must be considered when serving your customers, and selecting the best ingredients can elevate a recipe for even more benefits. After all, it is much easier to make new friends and build relationships when good food is on the table, with friends being able to gift items and share abilities with Sushi Bot for good measure.
Between making friends and sushi alike, players will also have to unravel the mystery that is at the core of the town, which “will lead you to the most powerful abilities of all.” What that entails is anyone’s guess, but it is definitely intriguing stuff, especially coming from a team that is always thinking beyond the conventional.
The Culinary Headspace
Naturally, we had to ask, just what made sushi such an attraction for Tillman?
“I’m fascinated by sushi. What other cuisine wears so many hats? The humble gas station
California roll is sushi. The $2,000 omakase in a world-famous restaurant is sushi. The futomaki
on a bright blue plate breezing by on a conveyor belt is sushi. It’s a term that’s both steeped in
tradition and stretched to the point of meaninglessness by inventive chefs all over the world.
There’s drama in contradictions, and for my money, there’s no cuisine more dramatic than
sushi,” he said.
Combine that with the video game inspirations of the likes of The Sushi Spinnery, Lemon Cake, and even Chrono Trigger, and the hope is that Rolling Hills will be an adventure that is just as varied as the cuisine, full of possibilities and potential, and capable of being stretched in so many ways. The genre may already be populated by many greats, but there is a new robotic kid on the block, and chances are, June 4 is going to be the day we welcome another exciting and charming addition to the family.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends will be available on June 4 on PC via Steam, and through Xbox Game Pass at launch.
