Archive for March 2010
GamesCafe that we all know and love developed another pleasant opportunity to loose yourself in gaming worlds. After the success of Sally series which I reviewed earlier they to out collective delight decided to branch out and explore party planning business. The protagonist, Pepper, comes back to Bashville. Life goes well for Pepper. Not only has she had a chance to see all her long-lost friends but to make a little money all the while by hosting fabulous parties.
Party Planner only has one mode. Still there is a lot to do. We are offered 15 locations to explore. Each location comes in 5 levels. For a time management game 75 levels is a rather pleasant surprise.
Similar concepts were used in such games as Wedding Dash or Party Down. If you’ve ever played those you will be comfortable enough. Still Party Planner offers enough diversions and twists to keep even the pickiest player occupied.
Each party begins with a discussion of hosts preferences. Each person has his own ideas about most suitable activities and music, food and drinks. Then you play memory game trying to choose right items corresponding to what the host wished.
Tasks mostly involve fulfilling the whims of the guests. Just drag whatever necessary from one place to the other; it includes both people and things. I just wish everyday life was more like this!
While you do your best fulfilling the orders you earn money and hearts. Whatever money you have are to be spent upgrading and buying new useful stuff. The hearts on the other hand are used in determining whether you reach normal, expert, or epic goal.
The upgrades I mentioned vary from quicker kitchen staff to Confetti and Fireworks which are a sure way to earn more hearts. Party Planner gives a lot of opportunities to earn money early in the game which lets you buy whatever you want which somewhat diminishes the excitement. Even a newcomer with luck can breeze through the game at the first try. This is the only negative comment I have about Party Planner – while in the start the game is exciting but in the middle of the game you will buy all upgrades and the game gets somewhat repetitive.
Overall Party Planner is a great game. I absolutely adored the way they made the guests. It made me chuckle in an evil way. If you like time management games you will get a kick out of it, just like I did.
Coconut Queen seems to some inventive unlockables with combine “neighborhood improvement” concept. Add into the mix subtle sense of humor and lovely graphics and guess what – you’ve got yourself a winner. The story presents us with Lui-Lui Island of immense beauty with the greenest jungles and pristine white beaches. Then the Colorado Coconut Company sends Liz from accounts department to investigate a decrease of fruits production. Once she set her foot on the island’s soil odd things befall on her. First and foremost somewhat odd crowd of native men decided to make an unsuspecting Liz their queen. So, what does Coconut Queen do? Queen’s job is to earn the island as much cash as possible by attracting the tourists. Since tourists need somewhere to live you are to help Liz with building accommodation for them. Said accommodation may differ in size from cabins to cabanas. As long as you put a lot of palm trees, hot tubs and other tourist attractions while on your construction spree you will be fine. Cash mainly comes from rent, but there is considerable income from buffets and markets too. As you undoubtedly understand the prettier the place is the more tourists will come. So invest some effort into decorating – it’ll pay for itself. Each chapter of the game brings a certain number of goals to be met. Sometimes disastrous events happen to break the routine – be ready to face those! The game really picks up speed as soon as you work through an entire resort area. New unique upgrades are available for purchase. To buy those you have to have gems which come from completing the chapter. Strategizing is very important in Coconut Queen. Choosing a right upgrade is of paramount importance for the game-play. Coconut Queen is great game allowing you freedom to build wherever you want to. Choosing your own plan sounds fascinating, doesn’t it? You may even place the huts in the shape of your own name to boost your ego. This feature gives Coconut Queen a higher than usual replay value, since choosing different upgrades and locations produces a new game each time. Having completed the area you are able to play unlimited building and developing your dream resort. Since the story develops with the game you will not get bored. Oh, but whom am I kidding? The game with its cartoony animation and humorous details that catch you unawares is a flawless product worth your attention.
If you have played the first one you will notice at once that Posh Boutique 2 picked up where its predecessor left off. Even if you didn’t, you might want to try this fast-paced time management game.
The game starts with Alice flying on a vacation using her prize in the worldwide in-flight lottery. Lucky girl, eh? Our fortunate heroine has ambitious plans. She plans to use the prize money to develop her business and maybe, just maybe go worldwide. Imagine Posh Boutiques all over the globe and the trouble of managing them. She obviously needs our help so let’s stop dawdling and rush to her rescue.
If you ever played any time management game you know the drill – you will be hiring your employees, serving your customers, earning money and eventually upgrading everything you have to make your business modern and profitable. Efficiency is the key. There are variations of course but overall Posh Boutique 2 is developed along the usual lines.
From the original Posh Boutique its successor inherited a number of features – there is a VIP Room too for example. Some things are better. I liked improved graphics – the boutiques sure look better now.
You must work fast if you plan to success in this particular game. Sometimes a couple of customers may drop by at the same time. Serving them at the same time takes effort and good organization skills. Giving discounts stops angry customers from leaving; use them at your convenience. Messy clients are to be dealt with. If you are squeamish or plain busy (and you would be) just hire a cleaner and forget about it.
Once you lured the client into your shop click him to discover his needs. There are ways to satisfy those needs to the customer’s satisfaction.
Available upgrades allow you training your cleaner, bettering your fitting stations and even increasing Alice’s speed. You can also decorate to your heart’s content using mannequins, neon signs and other ornamentation to catch the attention of potential customers.
Once you finish the level you are able to win a trophy for your hard work (private consultations to VIP clients or serving a certain number of ordinary customers). Check Trophy Room for your awards.
On the whole Posh Boutique 2 with its lovely sound effects and amusing graphics is a well-made game. Should you desire to entertain yourself with a time management game this one will prove worthy and fun.
Farm Frenzy 3 is one of those games which make you question yourself for a second. Why? Despite a deceiving number in the title it is a forth game in the series. It seems Farm Frenzy Pizza Party was not good enough to get a number. Sometimes I just wonder… Anyway, moving on!
It being a series we roughly know what to expect. The game obviously follows pretty much the same story with a number of changes barely enough to make it different from its predecessors. In this agricultural simulation you will be producing goods, storing and selling them and don’t forget to care for your animals. Such as they are. You will get chickens, ostriches and bears. This particular incarnation also adds yaks, penguins, llamas, and walruses into the mix.
The story of plucky and adventurous farmer Scarlett and her travels all over the world is fascinating. Scarlett in a bout of ambition put it into her head to become a president of the farmers union. That is why she goes to Africa and other distant locations in order to be helping farmers.
Every level produces different goals for Scarlett to meet. Anything goes in the game. Sometimes her goal is to make or collect a certain amount of products and sometime she has to earn a certain quantity of money. On different levels she has a different number of goals to complete.
It is not so easy as it sounds. To be efficient (and it seems the only way in Farm Frenzy 3) Scarlett is supposed to upgrade her equipment or even buy new one. It concerns every bit of machinery the farmer owns from product making machines to transportation and bear cages. Some levels cannot be accessed without certain things bought and renewed so you will be returning to play faster and more efficiently to earn money.
This game requires a lot of thinking and planning. You will be trying out different strategies in order to deduce which will earn you the silver or gold star. You certainly will be able to replay Farm Frenzy 3 a number of times since each strategic approach gives different results.
The graphics are gorgeous. So good in fact that they overburden your PC. Actually it is the only flaw of Farm Frenzy 3 worth mentioning. The developers of the game chose heavy graphics over performance.
Despite those problems the game is actually very well done. It is not boring and will keep you guessing for a long time. I mean, come on, there are 95 levels with 33 products and 30 animals. The diversity of it all allows hours upon hours of quality play time.
Aztec Tribe developed by Merry Pen Games is a casual combination of agricultural stimulation and city construction game. Lately the developers tend to mix genres for our collective entertainment so let’s examine another product of their efforts.
The storyline is simple. There is this tribe of natives who peacefully live in the mountains. But eventually trouble comes and enemies seem to surround the tribe from every side. After careful consideration the elders decide it’s time to move on. Once tribe’s scouts discover a lush valley fit to become a new home it’s your turn to help. To survive and settle in this foreign place the Aztecs need a lot of help. To help little civilization to thrive you will be building a lot shaping land to your content.
This game is centered on resources. You always start in a similar fashion. You move people to the new place, build a wigwam [a side note: I mean, come on – Aztecs in a wigwam?!] where your people will sleep. The next stop will be creating farming land to produce food. Then goes the mine, the sawmill, etc.
Once you have enough of precious resources you can upgrade the buildings. A tip for players – you must always leave at least one worker in each building to keep it running.
In Aztec Tribe you will have a choice of playing strategy: either you are set on victory and leave the level as soon as you can or you want to master the game and continue to play the level until you receive the star for your efforts. The latter strategy offers more challenging goals for the strong of heart.
On the basic level there is wood to collect, gold to dig, etc. but you must focus on your main strategy to meet the goals of the game. Aztec Tribe offers 34 levels from rather easy to more and more difficult. There are pests to overcome and disasters to face but the game itself will not get repetitive. Since the game is not timed you have enough time to consider your options. You will have a number of ideas to try so replay potential of Aztec Tribe is rather high.
Also keep in mind that this particular game is a late-bloomer so the first hour of game-play may seem a tad too slow. Don’t you worry, it’ll pick the speed up soon!
Overall this strategy based building game with nice graphics and tolerable music will make the time fly. The game offers a relaxing fulfilling time for the devotees of time management games.
To take a break from all that excessive farming I was doing on my PC (no, no real plants for me!) I took up another time management game. I’d rather build something I thought. So, I happened to stumble on Build it! Miami Beach Resort and decided to get acquainted with 1920′s America. Not a bad time that. Economy was on the rise – big money to be made.
The protagonist, Claire Parker, is in real trouble. She used to work for Brisco Partners at a clerical job. Sadly, she thought on the job and got sacked. Since trouble comes in pairs her dearly loved Uncle Pete passed away. Unpleasant, to say the least. Anyway the situation came with a silver lining. Claire’s relative left her a tidy sum which she is supposed to use following his footsteps in construction of luxury resorts on Miami Beach. Not bad for a girl in 1920′s, is it?
Build it! Miami Beach Resort developed by Cerasus Media GmbH is a city construction strategy. You will be following Claire from 1920 to 1980 as she transforms previously empty beach into fantastic Miami-Dade County resort. Claire strives to turn her uncle’s fortune into a popular resort where people flock to avoid winter unpleasantness and to enjoy the sun.
The game lasts 60 years the developers designed each level to last a year. A number of tasks is to be accomplished during this period since the clock ticks on. Since first and foremost it’s a time management game your time efficiency is paramount. If you fail to achieve your goals till December 31 you will have to restart it all over again. Expert score is achieved by implementing everything twice as quick so July 1-st will serve as an alternative deadline.
Miami Beach Resort offers three different kinds of construction projects. Those are divided according to the spheres of implementation such as Recreation, Leisure and Lodging. As you may understand from the names Lodging includes everything connected with hotels. Each room you have will bring a certain amount of cash. Which is good but building only hotels is not going to work. People want to be entertained. So building parks and bars will bring additional money. The most important idea to keep in mind is that the balance between all three is essential. There is no fixed ratio I can suggest so you’ll have to work out this on your own.
Overall Build it! Miami Beach Resort is a good game with quality graphics. It is rather interesting but don’t let a tad difficult beginning to scare you. This game is worth the effort.
Recently hidden object games and casual games became more and more adventurous. The genres are merging since a mix of genres will surely attract more attention from customers than a classic game of one genre. Diner Dash series used to be one of those. But PlayFirst’s Avenue Flo was made in this modern style. The sixth game of this series allows us to skip some part of routine of waiting tables and have a little adventure. I believe we are all happier this way, most of all Flo.
Hard-core players of adventures will not be fully satisfied with Avenue Flo but devotees of Dinner Dash will be happy to experience this little expansion. The protagonist, Flo, whom we all know and love, will go on a little journey through the Dinertown neighbourhoods which is I found quirky and charming.
The story itself: the town is abuzz. Large wedding by the town’s most important socialite – Miss Big – is to be held today. But something goes really really wrong. So wrong in fact that writing it off as a chain of coincidences became impossible. The cake was damaged, the rings somehow misplaced, etc. Similar disasters sprung from around every corner. So who’s the saboteur? As you would expect Flo rushes comes to the aid. Saving the event is paramount for the town!
Since it’s a little town everyone Flo encounters on her journey somehow is involved in the wedding. Many of those will need Flo’s help. It seems nobody from florists to dressmakers is able to handle their job in time (I mean really – in THE day of the wedding?!) or on their own. Sometimes you will meet people willing to help but (there is always a but, isn’t there?) they will need some favour in exchange for help. Just like in the real life.
The challenges are mostly simple fetch quests, sometimes you have to sort stuff on your way. However Avenue Flo is not a camouflaged hidden object game. Present elements of this genre are infrequent and are of little consequence. The most important tasks stand alone and offer a real challenge. The puzzles might not be outstandingly hard but they sure are tricky.
Game offers plenty of locations and characters, it’s fully voiced. A pleasant surprise to be sure making the game atmospheric and rich. Another of my sore points in games is music. Avenue Flo though offers light music with a hint of jazz. Not unbearable but a tad irksome.
Overall the game is bright and cheerful. It will suit any age group.
Delicious Emily’s Holiday Season is one of the products of Game House Studios. The game resembles a TV sitcom with accompanying music and somewhat tacky sense of humor. So, let’s get o the story.
The protagonist, Emily, lives in Snuggford – a peaceful little town. Once the town got covered in snow Emily decided to stay in town for some time and spend time with her family. The hotel she was staying in was a trifle neglected. Once Emily’s friend Francois sneezed in a dusty room and knocked over a vase. Emily fixed the vase and found herself with a new job.
Hotel management may be interesting enough. In Delicious Emily’s Holiday Season you will herd customers to their rooms with all additional services such as key’s fetching. There is also a restaurant where patrons are to be fed. What I liked in the game is a queue of tasks for Emily. Thanks to this feature you don’t have to watch her all the time – there is time for some ahead planning.
There are extra chores to do in case Emily gets free moments. Catching spiders, dusting cobwebs (Eww!) and picking up misplaced stuff. Those will get you extra cash and better score. The more you earn the more you will be able to spend on upgrades. No slacking allowed!
Holiday atmosphere is present both in hotel and extra locations where our precocious heroine goes. She will be visiting farm and even Winter Fair which offers pleasant change of the scenery.
Delicious Emily’s Holiday Season nicely stands out of lots of other time management games. This game is all about mood, atmosphere and story. It will remind you of long gone holiday season. The feeling I got from the game is similar to one you get curled up on the sofa, with a good book and a cup of tea.
The game is wonderfully well-done. Each level starts and finishes with a short scene that is essential with the story. Since those are witty and likeable you’ll find yourself looking forward to them.
An adrenaline junkie probably won’t be satisfied. I cannot describe Emily’s Holiday Season as especially challenging or stressful. But the variety of tasks you are supposed to complete and rich story with atmospheric game-play offer excellent entertainment for anyone. Overall the game was made to keep our attention for the long haul. Among the selection of other time-management games this particular game is fine specimen of quality craftsmanship.
Another agricultural simulation from the hoard of clones caught my eye. So what distinguishes Farm Mania from a multitude of look-alikes? Actually I found this one to be on of the most playable and catchy views of farming life so far. This game offers a number of animals to care for in between dozens of stages. Action in the game is well-balanced and the presentation is lively enough. Overall the game is a welcome distraction for true devotees of the genre who may even be somewhat tired of it. Let’s take a closer look then!
As far as the story goes Farm Mania wouldn’t offer anything especially revolutionary. A young but determined protagonist, Anna, strives to save her grandfather’s farm. The farm is obviously in some sort of disarray. The idea might sound fairly familiar. But alas, half of the games in the genre start on the same note. Don’t let it discourage you. In this particular case the story is not important – the actual way it was executed is more important. The game’s developers took their time and invested a lot into Farm Mania. Backdrops are lively and present beautiful views of fields and forests. Animated characters were obviously made with love.
Game-play of Farm Mania is pleasing to the eye in its simplicity. Each stage offers a land plot with certain farm buildings and fields are located. You are given some tasks to execute within a limited time period. Since it’s a time management game be prepared to juggle your tasks and do your best to do everything efficiently. Casual Mode is offered too but where is the fun in it? There also something alike scavenger hunts when you will be trying to locate your misplaced ships in wooded areas. It breaks the routine if you (God forbid!) get bored while playing Farm Mania.
The game offers a multitude of activities such as crops watering, seeding, hoeing soil and eventually harvesting and delivering made products. There are also animal-related activities such as feeding and watering your herds and managing limited amounts of wheat, hay and clover. Making honey, cheese or bread is included too.
The game is not slow-paced. You must be prepared to invest into upgrading as soon as possible because juggling all the tasks and chores will quickly become rather tricky.
All in all in between a swarm of clones in this genre Farm Mania is a pleasant exception to be taken seriously.
