![]() ![]() Fortunately, these sequences are short and inconsequential.ĭiner Dash features little in the way of bonus content. The words are located on the second screen, making for a pretty confusing reading experience. Cutscenes between sections of the game are weak as well - the story takes place in the form of comic-style panels, with word bubbles that don't actually contain any words. It's reasonable to expect a certain level of flash and polish when playing a game on a modern platform such the DS, and this game simply doesn't deliver. It took me a while to figure out what the heck they were asking for. Some of the interface elements are so small and pixelated that they are difficult to interpret, such as the little thought bubble that appears over customers' heads when they want their area mopped. The graphics are SNES-quality at best, featuring low-detail cartoon-style character sprites. However, the game's low-budget roots are evident in its graphics and presentation. Once you achieve this level of mastery, the gameplay can become quite addictive and satisfying. Once you get the hang of it, you can reach a certain level of Zen as you smoothly click on the places Flo needs to go and simply trust that she will get there in the right order. The real fun comes when you realize you can "stack" Flo's movements - that is, you can select her destinations faster than she can actually move to them, and the game remembers where you've been clicking such that Flo catches up eventually. This is one of those games that could never work well with buttons, and as such, it's perfectly suited to the DS. The entire game is controlled with the stylus, and it works very well. The game reaches a surprising level of complication once all these extra elements are thrown into the mix, and it's pretty easy to lose your head trying to take care of everything that's going on. On top of that, different customers wear different-colored clothes, and arranging them at tables to sit in matching chairs can net you some extra points. An optional drink dispenser can raise a table's happiness level, a mop can be used to clean up spills, and different customer types need to be placed strategically (keep those crying babies away from the other customers!). You can also see a customer's happiness level through their facial expression, and a simple scowl can feel surprisingly cutting when you're doing your best to dash around and fulfill everyone's needs.Īs the game progresses, layers of complexity are slowly added to the basic gameplay. ![]() The longer customers have to wait for anything (whether it's being seated, receiving their meal, receiving their bill, etc.), the less happy they become, as indicated by a heart graphic that slowly depletes as time goes by. Customers keep coming and coming, and each customer is usually in a different stage of their meal than all of the others, so keeping track of where to go and in what order becomes a gargantuan task. Simple enough when you're dealing with a single customer, but unfortunately, you never are. Customers come in and you have to seat them, take their order, bring their order to the food counter, grab their food when it's prepared, take it to the table, hand them their bill when they're finished, and take their dirty dishes to the bus tray. Pretty lame vacation if you ask me!Īs in previous Diner Dash games, the gameplay area consists of a dining room with tables of various sizes, a counter where the food is cooked, and a bus tray. ![]() But when they lose their luggage in the opening scene, they are forced to work in the ship's restaurant to earn some cash to get their wardrobes back together. In this installment, the main character, Flo, and her friend Darla are heading on a cruise for a much-needed vacation. Actually, "restaurant simulation" might be putting it too strongly - there's no managing income or opening new locations in this game instead, the game focuses on the fast-paced world of waitressing. That's not necessarily because Diner Dash is no fun, but I just know that in real life, I could never handle the sheer amount of anger I seem to inspire in the game's customers.įor those who don't know, Diner Dash is a frantic restaurant simulation franchise that first appeared as a lightweight downloadable computer game, and has since been ported in various forms to the Nintendo DS, the iPhone, Xbox Live Arcade and a variety of other platforms. If there's one thing Diner Dash has taught me, it's that I never want to work in a restaurant for as long as I live. ![]()
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