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Category: Time management / hidden object game
Developer: Alaware Entertainment, Inc.
Requirements: iPhone OS 2.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone and iPod touch
File Size: 54.9MB

What is it?

Well, sadly, it’s not Goremania, which would’ve been appropriate for this time of year. Rather Gourmania is a well-executed cross between time management games such as Diner Dash and hidden object games like Mystery Case Files, with a tiny bit of Cooking Mama tossed in just to stir things up.

How does it work?

Gourmania begins just as you’d expect the career of a budding chef to begin; at a fast food joint on a swank resort island. Create your character, and you’re immediately tossed into a restaurant with impatient customers demanding their hot dogs and croissants. You’ll have to serve three customers at a time, but it’s not a matter of simply preparing their orders. First, you have to find the ingredients.

Of course, the developers didn’t make this easy. There’s no rhyme or reason to where anything is kept; ham is sitting on the counter, cheese is stashed in a non-refrigerated cupboard, and tomatoes are just lying around on the floor. Reminds me of the restaurant at which I worked back in high school. Ah, the ‘80s when washed hands, hair nets and the fear of food poisoning weren’t nearly as important as a tasty meal.

So, you see your three orders, and you hunt down the items you need to make them. There are usually multiple locations for a single ingredient, and after a while, they will reappear in the location at which you found them. You simply tap these ingredients on the playing field until the recipe is complete, then perform any preparation that’s required (usually a matter of just tapping a frying pan, cutting board, etc.). Once the food is served, tap the cash to accept payment and take the next order. You’re rated at the end of each round, and then progress to a greater difficulty level through eight total restaurants (60 levels in all, although none of them get too terribly difficult).

This action is broken up by two bonus rounds per restaurant. These were likely included to reduce the monotony of the game, but as I imagine most people will only play a couple rounds at a time, it’s not all that necessary. Once you’ve worked your way up the culinary ladder (purchasing upgrades to help you on your way), you’ll get to participate in a showdown against the resort’s top chefs.

Features

• Seamless blend of hidden object and time management games
• 60 levels across eight locations
• Simple gameplay that takes into account the iPhone screen when tapping small objects
• Lively graphics and music

App it up, sum, it up

I really can’t think of a single thing that’s wrong with this game, other than that it may be too easy for those familiar with these genres. Are there hidden object fans out there who hate time management games, and vice versa? I can’t believe that. Combining the two makes perfect sense, and I’m surprised we haven’t soon this sooner. Regardless, Gourmania is a great game that’s underpriced at only $0.99, and is something that should be tried by all casual iPhone / iPod touch gamers. In fact, there’s even a free lite version specifically for that purpose.

Cost - $0.99
Worth the Money? - Easily
Availability - Now, in the iTunes App Store.