It's Time to Party!
The idea of yet another Diner Dash-esque business simulation really didn't appeal to me, but Beach Party Craze immediately grabbed me and wouldn't let go. With its stellar graphics, lovable main character, entertaining story, and incredibly fun gameplay, Beach Party Craze quickly shot up the list to become one of my favorite games. If you've ever enjoyed running a virtual business then it would be in your best interest to give this game a whirl right this second.
The Best Beach Resort There Is!
The game begins with your character Maria relaxing on the beach with her friend Helen. Helen owns the beach resort that you're visiting, but unfortunately her mother has fallen ill and she's being called away. What's worse is a beach management contest is coming up soon and without Helen participating, she'll lose to her smug (well, he looks smug) ex-boyfriend Kyle. Being the friend that you are, you offer to step up and take Helen's place as she's away. After all, what are friends for?
In each level you'll have to take care of customers as they relax on your beach. This starts out simple; in the beginning you'll be fetching glasses of water and renting out water rafts. Of course, as your business expands, so will your customers' requests. You didn't think this was going to be easy, did you?
One of the most innovative and fun aspects of gameplay I discovered right off the bat. When you serve a customer a drink, a special mini-game pops up. You'll see a glass of water quickly going between full and empty, with the object being to click when it's the most full. It's all about timing and the fuller the glass, the bigger the tip you'll receive. It's very fun and offers a nice break from the normal gameplay.
The normal business rules apply here. If you take too long, a customer loses patience. The more impatient they get, the less they're willing to tip until they eventually just leave. You can also chain combos together by doing a certain act multiple times in a row. Combos are an effective way to get monster tips.
Making Progress
There are a lot of stages to complete here which means that you're getting more than enough bang for your buck. As you move forward from beach to beach, you'll see a side-by-side comparison of your rating and Kyle's, Helen's ex-boyfriend. At the start of the game, Kyle's rating is already at 500. You'll have to start from zero and work your butt off if you want to show him who's boss.
This is One Party Worth Attending
Beach Party Craze is an absolute blast to play and that's really what matters the most. The objective of destroying Kyle is both entertaining and very motivating. Like I said before, the game is long, so you know you're getting a lot of gameplay out of your purchase. I don't know what else I can say here other than you should pick up this product right away!
