In Hungry Hearts Diner 2, be the boss of a small eatery in a quiet corner of 1960's Tokyo. This casual restaurant management sim comes jam-packed with stories, and you'll have a chance to both catch up with old friends and meet new faces. Grandma's back with an all-new diner location but the same delicious cooking...and a few new recipes, to boot! Taste popular classics like curry, ramen, and miso soup, but don't forget to browse our selection of more retro and traditional Japanese foods like natto, nikujaga, and okonomiyaki as well. We've got a huge selection of tasty treats, and yes, even the undisputed emperor of Showa sweets—fruit parfait! But you're not just here for the food, right? ...Right? Okay, you are, but so is everyone, at first. Stay awhile, however, and Grandma's garrulous manner will soon have you as chatty as her other regulars. They're an odd bunch, and they all seem to have their share of troubles. But after the third bowl of miso soup or so, they'll open up and reveal their stories, both joyous and sad. Strap in for an all-new set of tales, with some surprising twists and turns along the way. And remember, everyone's got that one special meal they can just never forget.
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Visuals have been updated with each character having their own portraits and the new diner looking more visually pleasing (and refreshing to boot). Instead of having to increase customers' satisfaction to unlock more conversations, this time the game has an "episode" system and an overarching narrative instead.
The gameplay is the same as in the 1st game, although this time cleaning dishes is now done manually. It seems annoying at first, but it quickly becomes apparent that the game has a faster pace to it, with customers coming in more frequently; cleaning dishes as such can act as a breather since leaving them as is stops customers from entering. It's small things, but there's thought put into it as far as I can tell, and that's neat.
The change in the approach to story-telling I find interesting. Characters' stories intertwine and each has some form of character development by the end of the game (there's even bonus episodes too, which is neat), and it overall leads to a better sense of familiarity with each of them than with those of the first game. It's executed well overall, and while it loses some of the calmness the original had, it has an enthusiastic and optimistic side to it instead (if that makes any sense, haha).
Overall, if you liked 1, then you'll definitely enjoy Moonlit Memories a lot more. They really improved on the concept as a whole and it shows.
Actually, I recommend both Hungry Hearts games. They're short, they have a clear ending, don't require spending any money, and if you want to play more idly it won't take much of your time.
The story though is adorable. The whole setting, a small restaurant in the Showa era, lovingly tended by a kind granny is just Very wholesome. Some parts nearly got me tearing up as well!