by Rainier Wong

Created on: August 13, 2008   Last Updated: August 30, 2011

Name of game: Yummy Drink Factory
Producer: Amaranth Game
Ratings: 4/5
RRP: $19.99

The name of the game should be called Yummy Drink Cafe as the setting was more for a cafe than for a factory. If you like to take the challenge of working as an assistance at a cafe in a virtual mode, this game is for you.

Gameplay:

In this game, I had to play the role of a cafe operator. Before I could play, I was allowed to choose to play with or without the story mode. If you choose the story mode, you will have to play a girl who had to operate a cafe to learn how to serve with right attitude.

Levels were measured in terms of days. Each day started with a recipe, and an offer of a tutorial which I could accept or ignore. An order ticket would appear, and I had to serve different types of drinks listed on it with the correct ingredients. Like a real cafe, I had to know the equipment, ingredients, and items to use in the correct order to create a particular drink. If the drink was prepared correctly, I could "crossed it out" on the order ticket by clicking on its name. If I were successful for a day, I could move on to the next day.

As the days progressed, things could also get very tricky especially when I had to carefully select the correct ingredients for the different types of drinks especially the correct types of cream without creating unwanted drinks as I raced against time. This game indeed tested my ability to manage my time, and to plan; and my memory.

Game Control

The game control was fairly easy as all I had to do was to click on the correct item. Occasionally, I would have to drag items, and to release them by right clicking on them.

Sound:

The background music was quite soothing, and the sound effect was quite good. The sound of placing of the cups, however, were not so realistic.

Graphics:

The graphics were good, but it would be better if a different looking character was used for each customer to make it even more realistic.

Innovation and Creativity:

Both innovation and creativity should be together in my opinion for this game as it was the innovative ideas that made it creative. Placing the daily operation of a typical cafe into a game was indeed an innovation. Getting different gems stones as a result of the quality of service given by a player was also indeed an innovative idea. In some ways, the actions involved in the game was also realistic. For example, I had to return to the ice container for more ice after I have poured all the ice cubes into a glass from the scoop.

After comparing what I observed in a real cafe with this game, I gave this game an overall rating of four out of five.

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