Game – Fast Food Panic

Platform – Nintendo DS

Game Length – About 5 Hours

Completed? – We both beat it on normal and hard modes.

We opened a restaurant in America with our goal being to satisfy the “big American eaters”, while satisfying the normal people too. As the normal people were ordering a meal each, the “big American eaters” apparently have to order four at a time, minimum. It’s all fun and games until you burn the steak because you were too busy putting the cheeseburger together, all while trying to boil pasta and tenderize meat. No, we don’t own a real restaurant; this is how hectic and aggravating Fast Food Panic for the Nintendo DS is.

Charis: Don’t even get me started on it being aggravating! (Also, I was offended by that “big American Eater thing.”) For those that aren’t familiar with Fast Food Panic, you are the owner/head chef of a restaurant in which you are the ONLY employee. Sure, you have some girl that is supposed to be part of your staff, but that’s mostly a lie. She is an absolutely terrible employee, because she is constantly begging for your help. How do you enjoy trying to keep your customers happy, while cooking ten meals, and helping this girl use a calculator?

Shawn: You do realize there would probably be no game without her complaining and being helpless, right? The whole reason the game becomes hectic is because you need to clean the tables for her, make the deliveries, help with her math, and tell her when to get rid of mice. Yeah, making the orders is tough, but it really wouldn’t be if you were allowed to concentrate for more than five seconds. I think the main issue is that every time she needs help it’s right when an important person shows up. Whenever I needed to quickly and perfectly assemble a delicious cheeseburger, I would see her crying on the top screen of my DS, sending me into a panic induced rage.

Charis: This may all sound simple, but the pressure of making that cheeseburger will get to you. The stylus is used to pick up ingredients, such as the bun, hamburger, and cheese, and what goes on it all depends on the type of burger that they want. If you accidentally grab the wrong item, it will lower the customer’s happiness level. This applies for every type of thing that you make. If you mess up at any part, or it takes you multiple tries, you’ll get a lower happiness rating. It’s a game about perfection and timing… and perfection is not something I’m good at!

Shawn: Surprisingly, Fast Food Panic really did bring out the perfectionist in me. On paper the concept behind this game seems like shovelware, but it does have an addicting feel to it. The problem is that it ends after 15 levels and no more than two or three hours of gameplay. Add in the fact that difficult mode turns the game into a “what am I skipping, and what am I not?” type of feel isn’t really enjoyable either. It raises determination, but it doesn’t raise the fun factor. If anything it shows many of the flaws the game faces. It’s short, the number of foods you can make is very limited, and the lack of multiplayer is surprising. Throw in the fact that you sometimes fail missions because they don’t give you enough of the correct person to complete it, and you find a game that has potential, but falls short.

Charis: True. There should have been more of a selection of dishes to make. I believe there are only five or six different options, which makes it seem boring. But for what it is, a short addicting game, it’s still fun. Pleasing food critics, feeding groups of four, and keeping your restaurant clean are just some of the things to keep you on your toes. We both sat there for awhile trying to beat each others scores in both the main game and a few mini games that come with it. While the mini games were pretty lackluster, the main game had us coming back for more. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I would yell at the screen, “No! I don’t have time for three parties of four, making a delivery, and making this critic happy!”

Do we feel ready to open a real restaurant now? Obviously not, but Fast Food Panic does a great job at making the task entertaining. While it is short, rather limited, and almost entirely lacking in direction, it does excel in one aspect: it’s addicting. Fast Food Panic is easy to pick up and play when you are on the go, and just as easy to put down, as the levels are very short. This is the game’s biggest drawback, however. At $30, it’s like paying for a full-course meal, but only receiving an appetizer in return.

Score -

6.5

(5′s and 6′s are recommended, but only after a price drop or as a rental. They are average games that have potential, but plays everything a bit safe and may feel repetitive or boring. There may be fun to be had, but it’s just not enough to recommend a purchase.)