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Review for Yummy Drink Factory

Alas a game that manages to combine the elements of fantasy, fun, strategy, and a mythical cafe. In Yummy Drink Factory, the goal is simple - combine a variety of ingredients to form recipes to serve to fairytale characters and try to earn as many tips (jems that can be used to decorate your cafe) and gold as possible per day.

At having three modes of play with three levels of difficulty (a story mode, a freeform play mode where you work with the game's recipes, and a freeform play mode where recipes that are created by the player are used), there is something for everyone. Parents will enjoy allowing their children to experience the valuable lessons learned through the addicting and thought provoking story mode, and the ever changing race against the clock while attempting to memorize recipes and combine ingredients while trying to keep the customers happy teaches a variety of time management skills in a fun, strategic way. Memorizing the recipes themselves strengthens valuable memory skills and is both fun and challenging for the player, and many adults will find themselves challenged by it as well. It is not just a game for the children, making it one of the few universal games attractive to all ages and stages of life out there today. The freeform mode allowing players to concoct their own beverages makes this game worthwhile playing on its own just to test their creativity skills and see what funky beverage they can create next. Mmmm, something with vanilla, peppermint, hazelnut cream, marshmallows, and warts anyone?

Putting the player behind the coffee bar amid a colorful, vibrant playing field with all of the ingredients in quick and easy reach make the game play functional and relatively easy to navigate. There is a helpful tutorial that appears to guide the player through new things, and the notebook possessing the recipes as one learns them throughout the stages of game play is invaluable to anyone who just can't remember the exact ingredients for the marshmallow float or the peppermint choco. And with large, easy to read font, it is a visual delight for anyone who is learning to read, has been reading for years, or is a little hard of seeing.

One of the most alluring aspects of the game aside from the vibrant colors and cell-shaded graphics that put the barista-in-training behind the counter is the music. Set in traditional Celtic undertones (The rendition of Scarborough Faire that plays while on the main world map during story mode is audibly fantastic by its own right), it adds a sense of Medieval flair reminiscent of what one might find at a Renaissance Faire, and provides the relaxing atmosphere of what one might actually find at a mythical caf and makes players actually want to play on to see just what will walk through the door next, be it dwarves, witches, or more traditional folk with pointed ears.

One never knows who's going to show up wanting a good old fashioned cup of hot chocolate or other tasty beverage next, and a majority of the players will definitely want to add this one to their collection to find out. Out of five stars, this game scores an easy five out of five and is worth purchasing.

Learn more about this author, Kathryn Martin.
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