Cake Mania

Cake Mania belongs to that ubiquitous group of online simulation games where players have to carry out a number of service-oriented tasks. Diner Dash, Cake Mania, Stand O'Food, Belle’s Beauty Boutique – these all involve arcade style play that requires players to accomplish multiple tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible to keep all the customers happy. Cake Mania has recently been released to console and computer systems. This review is of the Nintendo DS version.

I have to admit, that unlike many women gamers my age (over 40), I don’t spend much time playing online arcade, puzzle or word games. When I have time, I usually play strategy games like Heroes of Might and Magic or Civilization. So, although I’ve heard of Diner Dash and other like games, I’ve not actually played them. Cake Mania was my first introduction to these games. Well, all I can say is that is a good thing that I’ve not played them before, as I’m trying to finish school and I don’t need the distraction!

 And distracting it is, as I’m having a hard time putting the game down. I’m not the quickest gamer out there, and I keep losing customers. I know if I just keep practicing, I’ll get much better at keeping all those people satisfied and happy. I’ve read a couple of reviews of the downloadable online version, and many reviewers have said that while fun enough at first, the play is too repetitive. I must really love repetition, because I’m having a blast with Cake Mania. I’ve found it much more fun than many of the DS games I’ve reviewed lately, such as Wario Master of Disguise and Zoey 101.

The basic premise is that Jill needs to run a successful bakery in order to reopen her grandparent’s shop. To be successful, she will have to fulfill orders for her customers, thereby earning money. Cakes are the commodity and Jill will bake many of them. The customers all want different varieties of cakes that feature different types of frosting, shapes, and decorations. The customers will appear at the counter, and Jill will have to take their order. She chooses the shape of cake that the customer wants, then the frosting, and then the decoration (only some customers want decorations). Once she delivers the cake, the customer pays and Jill is a little richer. However, if she can’t deliver the cake soon enough to suit the customer, the customer will leave and Jill will lose money.

Jill has a few tricks up her sleeve to placate impatient customers, though, in the form of free cupcakes that will tide the customer over until the order can be delivered. A cupcake baking device can be purchased with earnings, and I highly recommend doing so. Another must-have is a display case, where Jill can place cakes that are mistakes in the hope that someone else will order a similar cake. Other upgrades include various decorations, and more and faster ovens and frosting machines.

The game on the DS is exactly like the online game, but utilizes the DS’s top screen for display purposes. The customers are shown at the top screen in a more close-up view with their hearts (which signify how much time is left) above them. Players direct Jill with the stylus on the lower screen. The only real difference is the size and graphics of the screen display. The cakes are harder to see and tap with the stylus, and the colors are harder to distinguish. The lavender and white cakes are almost indistinguishable. And, the screen scrolls to the sides to display all the areas. For Jill to move from the counter on the left to reach the counter on the right, the player will have to use the stylus to tap the screen near the other side, and then tap the decoration on the right, which uses up valuable time. This makes playing Cake Mania on the DS a little harder than playing on the computer.

But, you can’t take your computer with you easily, and even a laptop is cumbersome compared to a handheld. What is lost in translation is made up in mobility. I appreciated Cake Mania on the DS today at the Driver’s License office, while my daughter took her driving test.

While the game design is simplistic, it’s not easy. The cakes become progressively more complicated, especially if Jill has upgraded her bakery with decorations. If you have it, they will order it. Double cakes soon appear. As Jill gains more efficiency with faster ovens, the customers in turn become more impatient. And, Jill only has four lives that can’t be replaced. Once they are gone, players will have to begin again either at the last save level, or at the beginning of the game. As the game advances, Jill will move on to new bakeries.

I have had a lot of fun with this game, and believe it is well worth the $20 for the DS version. While the PC version is easier to play because the icons are larger, the mobility offered by a handheld is welcomed. This type of simple arcade game-play that is easily picked up and put down is ideal for handheld play for short increments of time. While the game-play would have been better with more choices, such as different types of cakes themselves, besides just a change in frosting, and more accessories like other kinds of desserts, Cake Mania still manages to be a fun diversion for a few hours of play. Now leave me alone, I have some cakes to bake, uh, I mean books to study.

Gameplay: 7.5
The gameplay is fun and addictive, and players who enjoy this type of arcade play will have a great time.

Graphics: 6.0
The graphics are decent.

Sound: 6.0
The sound is fairly average.

Difficulty: Medium
The difficulty level begins easily, but quickly ratchets up.

Concept: 6.0
This game is the same as others of like ilk, namely Diner Dash and Stand O’Food.

Overall: 7.0
While there isn’t anything deep about this game, it’s still a lot of fun for a few hours of play. Players will keep doing the same things over again, but this isn’t any different from Dr. Mario, which was a good game. The best test to see if this type of game-play suits you is to play the online version. If you find that fun, then you will find this version just as fun.