a_bella's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:78
- Reviews Submitted:21
- First Review:March 14, 2012
- Most Recent Review:August 17, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Decorate your drink stand and serve yummy drinks to fairytale creatures in this tasty Time Management game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
New fave in 2024! Fast, funny, cute anime style cafe TM
PostedAugust 17, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
There are hardly any challenging TM games any more if you hate resource collecting. This old game is a fun winner even in 2024 and still plays perfectly!
- FAST! Cafe style prepare and serve
- FUNNY! The storyline is kept to a minimum and won't hold you up at all, but absolutely hilarious!
- CUTE! You're frantically serving the cutest fairystory customers who pariently wait without getting angry
- BONUS! If you complete all orders in the day, there are random levels where someone will ask for a custom drink and you are awarded a special power-up (shortcut wand). These are really helpful on later levels as the orders get complex and long. You can repeat levels.
Good to know:
The game is a cafe style TM where you prepare increasingly difficult and complex orders. You can cusomise level for easy, medium and hard. Further on you need a good memory for the various recipes. I absolutely loved the challenge.
- FUNNY! The storyline is kept to a minimum and won't hold you up at all, but absolutely hilarious!
- CUTE! You're frantically serving the cutest fairystory customers who pariently wait without getting angry
- BONUS! If you complete all orders in the day, there are random levels where someone will ask for a custom drink and you are awarded a special power-up (shortcut wand). These are really helpful on later levels as the orders get complex and long. You can repeat levels.
Good to know:
The game is a cafe style TM where you prepare increasingly difficult and complex orders. You can cusomise level for easy, medium and hard. Further on you need a good memory for the various recipes. I absolutely loved the challenge.
The game stays true to the trial period, and is nice and long.
You can earn upgrades that are decorative, but may increase tips if you match the theme to the relevant stage.
Overall this is such a fun fast paced game that had me bingeing for weeks! Highly enjoyable and replayable.
I recommend this game!
Get ready to investigate a mysterious murder of mythological proportions!
Overall rating
5
/
5
OUTSTANDING! Where has this been hiding? Best binge ever
PostedJuly 31, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Oh wow I am completely blown away by this game. 10/10!
FINALLY a TM that has ALL my fav TM features that have been sorely missing recently, and gives a pretty good challenge! Add a gripping storyline, incredible soundtrack and this game had me bingeing like the latest Netflix blockbuster and really invested in the characters!
Fave features:
- earn really significant powerups. Yay!
- soundtrack wow! esp the end chapters - mesmerising.
- Achievements I actually wanted to earn ... a couple really difficult to 'find' had me going back obsessively to colllect. I loved these.
- earn really significant powerups. Yay!
- soundtrack wow! esp the end chapters - mesmerising.
- Achievements I actually wanted to earn ... a couple really difficult to 'find' had me going back obsessively to colllect. I loved these.
Gameplay: very similar to Primrose Lake series (prob same dev) but waaay better. My constant frustration with PL was how easy the TM play was, never gettting harder, no powerups, and useless achievements.
Detective Jackie however you can earn significant powerups that were hugely impactful to gameplay. What a joy!
TM difficulty is customisable two ways: through selecting Easy - Med - Hard, and then in addition to that, you can also select more people to turn up during gameplay to increase difficulty - that is an awesome addition! I ramped it up in the middle of playing, then let it wind back a bit to catch up and restock, then pressed for more people again - so cool. I loved this!
TM difficulty is customisable two ways: through selecting Easy - Med - Hard, and then in addition to that, you can also select more people to turn up during gameplay to increase difficulty - that is an awesome addition! I ramped it up in the middle of playing, then let it wind back a bit to catch up and restock, then pressed for more people again - so cool. I loved this!
I don't know how I missed this when first released but this is absolutely one of the best TMs I have ever purchased for years.
I read CE includes the ring powerups, so if this is the difference between CE and SE then for the first time in years for a TM game, I recommend the CE as this was a very impactful inclusion. 10/10 and can't WAIT for the next one (please say there is a next one!) Congrats to the devs!
I recommend this game!
Join Emily & her family in a new Delicious Restaurant and Time Management game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Too slow and boring - my fave characters barely moving :(
PostedJune 25, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was so excited to see Francois finally return and Angela turn up at the cafe! All the fun and mayhem back! But oh my ... where has that fun gone?
Gameplay is so slow (even on difficult) I just can't get through it for the next sory installment. They barely move! It felt like I was waiting for the game to do something all the time. Waiting, waiting, barely playing.
Speaking of being excited for the storyline, what have the devs DONE?!! I loved how the cafe used to look really urban NYC vibes and the cafe looked like Central Perk from 'Friends' - and how Patrick was a flower seller, now they're in the suburbs and turned him into a mechanic? Why?! Even the streetscape looks like the cafe is housed in a McDonalds now.
I'm just really sad. Gameplay is boring and everyone's been sent out to pasture. Kudos to the devs for bringing all the fave characters back, hooray! But please bring the fun into the gameplay too!
I don't recommend this game.
Take on new time management challenges and help three young archaeologists unearth the mysteries of the past and piece together the story of the brave Xi Niu!
Overall rating
5
/
5
I'm OBSESSED with this game!
PostedApril 17, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This poor TM game doesn't deserve the tough reviews. Gameplay is very similar to other popular TM games such as Delicious (Emily), Primrose Lake etc - I LOVE this style of TM.
How much do you love becoming obsessed with a new TM game? I do and this is fantastic - I never want it to end.
This game offers some really different variations to these series, and requires a few levels to get the hang of (not difficult, just unique); I recommend trialling a good 20 mins as there's a lot of variation that is not apparent in the first 10 mins.
Sadly for the devs the first few short levels / 10 mins is a less enticing story with surprisingly sparse sound so I suspect loses a lot of audience early on, but the power is the ancient storyline that comes up a few levels in and surges with beautiful music and a fascinating plot. Once that kicked in I loved both storylines and became obsessed finding out more of the story!
Gameplaywise it can be surprisingly hard to get those TM fanatic's full stars, high scores, but the gamplay itself is fairly simple and similar to Delicious and Primrose Lake series that way.
Good to know: instructions are minimal to non-existent! This is either frustrating ... or an additional puzzle element lol. I took is as the ultimate puzzle challenge and jumped right in clicking everything in sight to see what happened and reaching all 3 stars.
The storylines that run parallel are an archaeology site and an ancient Chinese story. The archaeology site is unearthing artefacts piecing together the ancient story bit by bit. I LOVED this approach! You also get to learn about the artefacts as you go which I also loved. Th archaeology site is surprisingly accurate including what everyone is wearing haha!
This is great. Give it a try beyond 10 minutes- ideally 20-30 to really get a feel for how rich and rewarding this game is.
I hope the devs release a sequel! An absolute gem.
I recommend this game!
When a young man is apparently abducted by spirits at an abandoned movie theater, you rush to investigate. You arrive to find truth to the tales as you encounter specters from the very movies shown in the theater! Can you navigate dangerous films to save the living in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
Intriguing and enjoyable adventure!
PostedApril 12, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was so unexpectedly fun and addictive!
I'm not a fan of paranormal subject or HOs at all - but this is much more adventure style, and I LOVED the way the story unfolded; very intriguing! Likeable characters and voices were an added bonus that helped me feel invested in the outcome.
The game is stunning; of such high quality with fantastic detailed images and sound, and special features such as fully customisable difficulty. Lots of miningames you can skip if it's not your thing.
I played the demo and knew within 10 minutes this would be a buy. Was really excited to stay immersed and intrigued!
Really loved this and grateful for the quality and fantastic story the devs put into this. Great game!
I recommend this game!
Get ready for another round of good, clean fun!
Overall rating
2
/
5
Oh no! What have they done? First one was perfect!
PostedApril 4, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is heartbreaking.
The first Cleaning Queens was so great. It was my go to escapism when I'd had a super stressful day. Just so satisfying. Sorting out apartments and houses, I loved how different each place was from others; so many different styles. And the glee of seeing what pigs these pretend people are haha! And so strangely satisfying cleaning it up.
But this one? They've stuffed it up! All the joy has been ripped out of it; it is full of word searches, jumbled words, mini games, HOGs. I don't want those, there are literally millions of those types of game, and all doing it better. That is a saturated genre!
But cleaning up pretend apartments after pretend pigs? That was something really different and incredibly satisfying ... and sadly barely even there now.
Why, why, why did they turn it into just another HOG?? Pleeeease devs go back to the first one. This one is an absolute fail for me ... very, very sadly so.
I don't recommend this game.
The Legendary Dragon has unleashed terror upon the once-tranquil realm of Clicklandia!
Overall rating
5
/
5
What a fantastic surprise!
PostedApril 4, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I don't usually play this genre but the cute graphics made me give it a go and I loved it!
This is a match-3 game with a RPG style goal; collecting resources to gain power ups and attack enemies etc. The strategy is in balancing collecting vs defending; it was thoroughly engrossing!
You are rewarded with your collecing efforts by being able to buy lots of goodies to help you (arrows, pickaxes, shovels, potions) along with fun purchases like new haircuts and clothes. You can attack wolves dressed as a jester if you like.
The first few levels are a bit of a warm up. The instructions sketchy, but hang in there for the first few levels to get a feel for it; the levels are very quick. I am so glad I hung in there, because I was considering binning it before level 7 or 8 yet it turned quickly into a fave new game.
I ended up obsessing over this game and buying it immediately as the trial ran out. Then obsessively played it until I finished it, then went back to collect every trophy haha - typical TM junkie! (my usual genre).
Thanks devs for an awesome game and enticing me into a whole new genre!
I recommend this game!
Vera finds herself engulfed in a mystery straight out of a dark fiction novel!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Primrose Lake goes hardboiled!
PostedApril 4, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
More storydriven TM fun - hooray!
If you've played Primrose Lake games, then this is just a new story and setting. But for me that's that's great news.
I loved this new hardboiled setting and storyline and was as invested in getting through the levels to get closer to whodunit as ever! The devs are so great at cliffhangers and characters that pull you in deep. It's such a nice change.
If you've played Primrose Lake games, then this is just a new story and setting. But for me that's that's great news.
I loved this new hardboiled setting and storyline and was as invested in getting through the levels to get closer to whodunit as ever! The devs are so great at cliffhangers and characters that pull you in deep. It's such a nice change.
Gameplay is not much of a challenge for true TM addicts like me and had some frustrations that it doesn't get harder as you progress like other TM games, or ability to purchase upgrades like walking speed etc. But the story makes up for this .. mostly. It's a pretty limited TM play.
Overall however I love the visuals, love the hardboiled story and setting, and LOVE that I get to play an adventure / detective theme without gore and clutter hunting like a lot of HOs or horrible resource gathering like a lot of TMs: all elements I hate in games!
Therefore this is a rare gem of a game. If the devs ever make the TM play more challenging in the future, then that's the unicorn.
This is a definite buy for me.
I recommend this game!
Help Primrose Lake deal with an ancient secret that threatens to tear the town apart!
Overall rating
3
/
5
Great storyline but boring gameplay
PostedMarch 15, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love the storyline of this and the previous ones, but they leave me frustrated that the gameplay itself never develops. It's a very static TM play.
Typical TM features are still missing, such as purchasing upgrades and levels increasing in difficulty. These create a really satisfying sense of achievement and reward and make it fun. Without these, the gameplay was boring and pace frustrating.
You can select difficulty in settings, like most games, but every level is as easy / hard as the first. Some minor changes such as tray increase, new items but same walking pace, same prep pace. I was bored while playing this and was in it for the storyline only just wishing the play was over so I could get a little more of the story. That's pretty sad for a TM game and I am a TM addict.
They are masters at storydriven games that hold drama, humor and interest but my interest has decreased and frustration increased. Really hope the developers start evolving. There are so few TM releases and I am grateful they at least fill this gap.
I recommend this game!
The Legendary Dragon has unleashed terror upon the once-tranquil realm of Clicklandia!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Fun quirky mix of strategy, match 3 and RPG!
PostedFebruary 9, 2024
a_bella
fromMelbourne, Australia
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Stick with it to level 10 (they are short levels) was advice from an early reviewer and that was perfect advice. It's a fun blend of match 3 and RPG style energy / resource / attack management. The first few levels had me scratching my head but only a few mins in I was hooked!
However this quirky fun CE does NOT play like an CE, and I can't see CE value at all, so is not a buy for me until they release a SE. Do follow that early advice and trial it until level 10 to make your own decision. I loved the visuals. Tbh there is nothing particularly new but is just a fun game ... if it was priced as a SE like it should be. If you have cash to splash go for it!
I recommend this game!