uper Villain Studios is bringing a new adventure title to the Wii – one that will test your multitasking skills and push your ability to stay calm under pressure to the limit. Think that statement a bit dramatic? Then you have more than likely never worked a Friday night in the food service industry. No, the game in development is not a tactical espionage action title – it instead enters the ruthless world of culinary arts – a place where your enemies take the form of rodents, impatient patrons, heath inspectors and food critics. Order Up, which falls under both the adventure and cooking genres, follows the story of one eager chef on a journey to reach the top of the culinary food chain. Sound intriguing? Grab your utensil of choice and let’s dig in.
Story
Your trials and tribulations as a new chef begin in the aptly named setting of Port Abello, a premier fishing harbor, tourist destination and above all else – culinary haven. As you would expect, being the newbie in town automatically limits your career options for the foreseeable future – unless you take matters into your own hands. Immediately upon your arrival in Port Abello you seek employment at a local Burger Face – a burger franchise with cooking practices as questionable as its name – in order to make ends meat. After a hard days work flipping burgers and frying potatoes you receive your hard-earned cash – sans the coins reserved for Uncle Sam, Uncle George, Uncle Joe and your Social Insecurity fund.
Catering to your disappointment about netting negative dough your first day on the job, fate steps in and leads you to a vacant diner up for sale which you purchase upon sight. Simultaneously, you become aware of the Fortified Chef Competition, which will soon be making its way to Port Abello. Hardened with determination, your adventure in truth begins the next day when you open your premier eating establishment, a greesy-spoon-esq dinner named the Gravy Chug. This is the first baby-step in your grand plan to move up the ranks of the culinary world and become a top chef.
As the story progresses – and presumably your skill level evolves accordingly – you will learn to master more than simple diner dishes. In the 12-hour adventure you will take control of other eating establishments and master Mexican, Italian, and ultimately French cuisine. Sound daunting? Don’t worry – you won’t have to make the journey alone. A large cast of characters will always be at hand to give aid when it is most needed. Assistant chefs and knowledgeable friends will help counter the hectic nature of the food service industry.
Gameplay
When we said multitasking and foreword thinking were key elements in Order Up, we were not jesting. While three difficulty settings will help level the playing field for everyone, the gameplay boasts an exciting challenge. In Order Up, intuitive movements and controls are countered with timed actions and precise control to create meals sure to please your patrons.
Orders are brought to you by your service staff – consisting of one character unique to each dining location – and are tacked up as tickets in the window to your kitchen. Using the Wii remote, players can grab the ticket to investigate what is needed for any particular table. You will have to manage your time between cook top stations including the grill, range, cutting board and other areas. A simple meal of a burger and fries requires more diligence than you might expect. Burger patties must be fried on each side, carefully watched to ensure they don’t burn. French fries follow a similar formula – but are easier to ruin if left unattended.
