On the one hand, I'm glad I finally own a copy of one of Nippon Ichi's first PlayStation games, Cooking Fighter Hao

On the other, I wish I actually enjoyed playing this cooking-themed import.

Sadly, I doubt the latter is going to change anytime soon, as Cooking Fighter Hao has proven to be a monumentally tedious experience for me so far. It was fairly evident from the word go that would be the case, actually, as the game opens with may well be the world's most boring--and wordy--introductory cutscene.

After that, players are transported to a drab, gray arena and then tasked with battling a bunch of SNK rejects in an what can only be described as an Iron Chef-esque competition. Here, though, participants produce dishes by bashing the adorable (well, kind of) animals that scurry about each stage and then pressing the PlayStation controller's buttons or control pad in various ways once the cattle, chickens, crabs and such have been stunned into submission.

Although that may sound acceptable enough on paper (or, er, on blog), in reality it's anything but.

Add to this the fact that the aesthetics of Cooking Fighter Hao would have been considered middle of the road even if they'd appeared in an early Super Famicom release--although I personally quite like the sprites found in the battle scenes--and you've got yourself a rather disappointing PlayStation pick-up.

So why did I buy a copy of it? And why am I happy about it? My knee-jerk reaction is to say that the game was made by the folks at Nippon Ichi and, as such, it would be worth hunting down even if it literally were a piece of crap. After a bit of reflection, I'd add that, despite all of the criticism I've leveled at it so far, I still like Cooking Fighter Hao enough to own a copy of it--especially given the price I paid for this particular copy.

Plus, the game's packaging is pretty nice, as a quick glance at any of the photos strewn about this post should prove. I especially like its cover and disc art, by the way, although the manual sports some nice illustrations, too.

Have any of you experienced Cooking Fighter Hao in some form or fashion? If so, do you agree with my rather negative assessment of it, or have you enjoyed what you've played of it thus far?

Acquisition #150: Ore no Ryouri (PlayStation)

True story: I've been a bit obsessed with this PlayStation-based cooking game since I first heard about it shortly after its Japanese release in 1999.

Despite my interest in it, though, I've yet to play it. Oh, I've attempted to play it via emulation a few times in the past, but for whatever reason none of the PlayStation emulators I've used recognize my controller's analog sticks--which are required to play Ore no Ryouri's Order Up!-esque, restaurant-based mini-games.

Given the above, you might find it strange that I recently decided to pick up a complete-in-case copy of this Japan-only game--a number of photos of which can be seen below.



The fact is, I've been thinking of buying either a Japanese PSone or PS2 system for ages, so picking up a copy of Ore no Ryouri--especially a rather cheap one--didn't seem all that weird to me.

In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to busy myself by taking in the beauty that is Ore no Ryouri's disc label (above), which makes the CD appear as if it's a bowl of delicious ramen.



Just as cool, in my opinion, is the image that sits behind the disc tray--which looks like a bowl of ramen that's (nearly) been wiped clean.

Although I won't be able to share my impressions of Ore no Ryouri for at least a short while, interested parties can go to the Twin Dreams blog to read more about it in the interim.

See also: previous 'Acquisition #123' posts

Order Up!! (yes, now with two exclamation points) coming soon to 3DS, PS3 and 'TBA'

The folks at Supervillain Studios have been teasing an Order Up! sequel for some time.

It all started in late 2009, when one of the developer's staffers revealed that "a good amount of work" had been competed on the title. The teasing continued last June when a comic was published on the company's website that suggested the follow-up would be released for the PS3.

Strangely, that's the last time anyone at the Irvine, Calif.-based company talked publicly about the game--until a few days ago. That's when four screenshots--which seemingly showcased a new Order Up! restaurant (below) and waiter--were added to the developer's website. Shortly afterwards, a Supervillain Studios staffer revealed that the screenshots in question were from Order Up!!, an updated--with new content and features--version of the Wii release that will appear on the 3DS, the PS3 and "a third (TBA) platform as well."



Will the "TBA platform" wind up being Nintendo's soon-to-be-unveiled successor to the Wii (i.e., Project Café)? We'll find out shortly, I guess.

In the meantime, add one of the above-mentioned iterations of Order Up!! to your "to buy" list. If it's anything like its Wii-based predecessor, it'll be well worth whatever you have to spend to acquire it.

(Via gonintendo.com)

The Great Gaymathon Review #13: Order Up! (Wii)

Game: Order Up!

Genre: Puzzle

Developer: Supervillain Studios

Publisher: Zoo Games

System: Wii

Release date: 2008

Screw Mama (of Cooking Mama fame). Yes, she's cute, if a bit temperamental, but the game in which she stars has nothing on this generally overlooked gem, developed by the folks at Supervillain Studios. Although both games feature similarly precious graphics and music--with the polygonal protagonists in Order Up! looking a bit like Weeble Wobbles--they differ substantially when it comes to gameplay. Cooking Mama calls on players to string together a series of short mini-games to complete a single recipe, while Order Up!, which is more of a restaurant simulation than a straight-up cooking simulation like its competitor, requires them to multitask by working on multiple dishes at the same time. As a result, Order Up! has an enjoyably desperate edge to it that is sadly missing from Office Create's effort. I say "enjoyably" because, with few exceptions, the controls in Order Up! are both easy to understand and easy to pull off. Also adding to the game's enjoyability quotient: Its witty dialogue and its quality voice work.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

Is Order Up! Move-ing to the PS3?

Late last year, one of Supervillain Studios' staffers mentioned on the developer's website that "a good amount of work" had been completed on a sequel to what I consider to be one of the most underrated Wii games, Order Up!

Well, it seems that said sequel may appear on the PS3 rather than the Wii. At least, that was my first thought after reading the following post on Supervillain Studios' site:

"They call this a “teaser” in the biz…

…because it could mean something.
…or it could mean nothing.
…or it could be something good, which ends up being nothing.
…or it could be nothing (but still good), which ends up being something…also still good.

Right.

…or it could just make you chuckle (also still good) because that happens now and then."

This image was posted alongside the text (click to engorge, er, enlarge):



Hopefully Order Up! 2 will be released for both the PS3 and the Wii--and at a bargain-basement price like its predecessor (which I picked up late last year for a paltry $19.99).

(Via NeoGAF)

See also: 'Special of the day: (News of) a follow-up to Order Up!' and 'Now playing: Order Up! (Wii)'

'The best PlayStation game you've never played'

The headline above is in quotes because, well, I've yet to play the game to which it's referring. That said, I've read enough reviews and seen enough videos of said game to believe it to be true.

So, which game am I talking about? Ore no Ryouri--aka My Cooking or I'm the Chef.

In case you've never heard of it, Ore no Ryouri is a cooking/restaurant simulator--think of it as a precursor to games like Cooking Mama and Order Up!--that was released (in Japan) in late 1999. Although a one-level demo of the game made its way to American gamers a few months later via the quarterly, disc-based magazine, PlayStation Underground, it was never released in full outside of the so-called Land of the Rising Sun.

If you want to see why that's an utter travesty, check out this video review of the title:



Anyway, I've been a bit obsessed with Ore no Ryouri since I first read about it on some random gaming site (sorry, I can't remember which one) a few years ago. I haven't bought a copy--yet--because I don't have a way of playing it, but you can bet your butt I'll get one as soon as I buy an import PSone (or PStwo).

If you're at all interested in learning more about this quirky little title, read this review (and this one, too).

See also: 'Now playing: Order Up! (Wii)'