Another success for the Ramsey Franchise (Hell's Kitchen (DS))

Member Name: Lbird99

Product:	Hell's Kitchen (DS)
Date:	22/04/09 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Time Managemet Puzzle Game

Disadvantages: Repetetive, goes on too long

I absolutely love Gordon Ramsey, I can't get enough of all his shows, have a collection of his books and was once fortunate enough to meet the cooking god, but for some reason I was quite sceptical of this game! I mean cooking and video games don't mix, Right?

Wrong!! This game, although simplistic, is very addictive!! And to be honest, it is only very loosely based on cooking. The action is split between the Kitchen and the dining room - In the dining Room you have to seat diners, take their orders and clear their plates, and in the kitchen you have to click on pots to prepare them, and then cook them at a variety of start times so that they are all ready to be served together - luckily I was better at this than I am with a Sunday Roast!!

The trick is to balance both these rooms at the same time - cooking to time is easy but there is probably a queue of people waiting to get served, so you have to flick between the two. Your performance is monitored by two burning flames at the edge of the screen, and if you manage to extinguish them then you achieve 100% for that level. If anyone is left waiting too long or you muck up the timings in the kitchen then the flams go up and Gordon starts hurling abuse at you. It is bleeped out but it is pretty clear what he is saying , so not a game for the easily offended!!

This game gets steadily harder as the levels progress and more tables, customers and courses are added!! By the end of the game the levels are going on so long that it starts to lose its fun factor - its appeal is the short frantic darting between rooms, but serving 5 tables 3 courses takes forvevr and by the end I was completly bored. Its only the last cluster of levels that made me feel like that though, it seemed to be a stage to far.

For each level you complete you get one of Gordans recipes - I barely even glanced at these - If I had wanted recipes I would have bought Cook with Jamie, but its a nice touch if that is what you are into.

I picked this game up for £10 in Sainsburys, and for the money it was a pretty good buy - I wouldn't want to pay much more than that. It was a good enough game but not one I would pick up again and again - not enough Gordon in it for that!!

Summary: Gordan Ramsey Puzzle Game for a Bargain Price