Oct 14, 2009, 10:28pm
User review by allk-e
Honestly, this game probably would've gotten 4 stars from me if not for the "Master Chef" mode. I bought the game thinking that once I finished "Story Mode" I'd be in for a more challenging set of levels, but that wasn't quite true. Although I've already finished the first restaurant in Master Chef mode (yes, it's the same restaurants) and someone told me the difference is that the customers get impatient more quickly, I don't see any difference. The fact that the developers even left in the same tutorial (how to use cookies, how to use the fast cook/microwave thing, etc)in the early levels tells me they didn't really consider how to differentiate the two modes.
Another comment, if not complaint, is that there are too many similarities to Burger Shop, at least in how the game is structured, not the actual theme or game play: choose one of three new upgrades each level, the story vs. master level with master using the same levels but being more difficult, there's also challenge levels similar to Burger Shop where you aim to get a certain score per restaurant. By no means would I suggest the developers copied Burger Shop, but the influences are there (unless, of course, both games have been influenced by a third, earlier game that i'm not aware of). I'm a huge fan of Burger Shop and I feel this game tries to use the novelties of BS without really building on them, making it seem too familiar.
As for the actual gameplay, it's not bad. The mix of assigning tasks, moving ingredients and doing your own cooking is interesting. I didn't like that I couldn't outsource some tasks I really hated (like the mixer or food processor); on the other hand, most of the other activites i had to do where similar to the Cooking Academy skills I had so painstakingly mastered, but simplified. For anyone who has played Cooking Academy, you'll find something disappointing about the fact that there is no real penalty for wrong actions, or the shortened processes that made it so authentic. This is a good attempt to integrate the novelty of Cooking Academy into a time management game, but I was a bit disappointed.
If this were a game from an unknown developer, I'd probably be quite impressed. Unfortunately, coming from the developers of Cooking Academy, I was expecting a bit more. Nevertheless, it's worth the one hour trial and at least my three stars.
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