Order Up
Publisher: Zoo Games
Platforms: Wii
Rating: E — Everyone
Game type: Cooking
Rating: ****
What’s the premise?
It’s time to prove you’re the most versatile chef in the world —
able to thrive everywhere from the lowliest burger joint to the
greasiest spoon to haute cuisine and even in competition against the
greatest global gourmands in a showdown putting your culinary honour on
the line. Or you could just have some fun pretending to make food with
your Wii.
This game is most similar to…?
Cooking Mama.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
My five-year-old son said he enjoyed the game and found it quite
easy. He then burned down the kitchen of his restaurant three days in a
row. So we’ll say there’s a little bit of a learning curve for younger
gamers.
One player or more?
It’s just you and your computerized kitchen help..
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
Spice it up. Any Joe Cook can fry up a burger — add some
barbeque sauce to give your patrons a little kick. And don’t forget to
delve into the rest of your spice rack regularly. You’ll be rewarded in
ever-increasing tips.
What’s missing?
It’s a shame that you can’t play with a friend because many elements would make fun two-player action.
And in the end?
The art style is cute, the gameplay — while repetitive — is
surprisingly fun and overall, Order Up is well worth sinking your teeth
into.
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Rating: E — Everyone
Game type: Puzzle
Rating: *** 1/2
What’s the premise?
Millionaire Phil T. Rich is missing and it’s up to you — being
the great detective that you are — to find out what happened to him.
Use the DS’s touch screen to piece through densely layered scenes to
find clues and solve the mystery.
This game is most similar to…?
Mystery Case Files online games.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
The “I Spy” aspect of the game appealed to my five-year-old, but
the plot didn’t hold his interest at all. Good thing there’s a quick
play mode to skip all that.
One player or more?
Compete against your friends in a timed scavenger hunt or pass
the DS around with the hot-seat game that tests how fast you can find
your items before you move it along to the next person.
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
There are more clues to be found than just those in the puzzles. Keep
your eyes peeled for anything that looks out of place and you’ll get
ahead much faster.
What’s missing?
Having a plot does add something different to the mix, but it
feels like there should be something more to keep this from devolving
into a routine finding game.
And in the end?
Gamers with a yearning to test their eye for fine details ought to enjoy MCF: MillionHeir.
