Not to be confused with Sizzle & Serve, 2009 Remake, 2010 Remake, Classic or 2014 reboot.
Diner Dash is a strategy/time management video game initially developed by GameLab and published by PlayFirst. It is now owned and published by PlayFirst. It is one of the top-selling downloadable games of all-time and is available on multiple platforms such as PC, Mac, consoles, and mobile.
The game was at least remade 3 times, in 2007 for the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable handhelds with completely redrawn graphics and new retro soundtracks per each restaurant, in 2009 in 3D for (Xbox 360, Wii and PS3) consoles with completely remade graphics and gameplay whilst still maintaining the original art style and music, and in 2010 for Mobile with remastered graphics.
Plot[]
Flo is a hard worker at a big stock market company in Dinertown. She's tired of doing all the work and feeling unfulfilled. Flo finally quits her job, wishing she could work someplace else. She spots a rundown old diner, which she buys. She has to make enough money to fix up the diner. Later, after earning more money, she opens a new restaurant called Flo's Tiki Palace. She then goes on to buy a seaside diner called Go with the Flo Seafood Dining and an elegant restaurant in an opening of dark and shriveled trees called Chez Flo.
After having the intuition that something special will happen, Flo finishes up her work in Chez Flo and is immediately transported above the clouds. Here, a Shiva-esque goddess welcomes her and challenges her to ten trials inside her own restaurant, the Indian Restaurant. The goddess transforms Flo into a golden banquet goddess with 4 arms, allowing her to carry double the amount she could before. Flo completes the 10 grueling trials and is congratulated by the goddess for completing the trials. The goddess then flies away to the Indian Restaurant and Flo spots a young man below working in the same business job she had at the start of the story. She prepares to fly down, intent on turning him into a waiter similar to what happened to her.
Gameplay[]
Gameplay involves seating customers and guiding Flo around the restaurant to serve customers. Each level has a goal for money, or points, that the player must achieve. As the game progresses, Flo updates the dilapidated restaurant she begins with and builds three further restaurants, which provide new settings.
The map screen showing Flo's 4 restaurants, eventually, the Indian Restaurant will appear on top of the mysterious fountain.
Gameplay centers around catering to customers within a time limit in order to gather as much money as possible. Flo can be moved around the restaurant in order to complete tasks. As customers arrive in the restaurant, the player must drag and drop them onto a table, where they sit down and read menus. Then the player must guide Flo to the table to take their order, which must be taken to the service hatch. After the chef has prepared the meal, Flo must deliver the food. When the customers are finished eating they must be given a check, at which then the customers leave a tip and their dishes on the table, departing the restaurant. The dishes must be cleared by Flo before the next set of customers can use the table. Each successful action earns the player points and performing the same action multiple times in a row earns the player a chain bonus, which multiplies the amount of points the player earns. For example, the player can earn 50 points by giving one table their check, but if they give another table a check right after, they will earn an additional 100 points from a 2× chain bonus. The chain is broken if the player does not continue doing the same action.
Customers have a series of hearts over their heads that indicate their mood. The longer the customer is forced to wait, the more hearts he or she loses. Each type of customer has different degrees of patience and tipping habits. Flo can perform various actions, such as talking to customers or serving them drinks, in order to recover these hearts. When a group of customers lose all their hearts, they leave the restaurant, incurring a significant point penalty. The goal of a level is earning a certain number of points. Additionally, each level also has an Expert target; if the target score is reached, a star will appear in place of the dot for that level on the in-game map.
The game has two modes: Career Mode, which follows the story of Flo, and Endless Shift, a survival mode in which the player must last as long as possible in a single level.
Restaurants[]
Flo's Diner[]
The very first restaurant of the game, Flo's Diner is the basic tutorial restaurant and you will get a feel of what's to come in every subsequent restaurant, the diner introduces the Drink Station. The diner itself would become a landmark to DinerTown.
Flo's Tiki Palace[]
Flo serving Seniors in the Tiki Palace
Flo's second restaurant, built on an unused lot, with a distinctive Hawaiian theme, it is also where the player receives the Podium, one of the finest pieces of equipment in the game.
Go with the Flo Fine Seafood Dining[]
Flo's third restaurant, built on a harbor, it features a gorgeous sea theme, introduces snacks, which break chains but also give the player extra points.
Chez Flo[]
Flo's final land-built restaurant, located in a starch clearing of spooky woods, the Hollywood-themed details shine like a beacon, new to equipment is the bar, which can seat any number of customers.
Indian Restaurant[]
A magical heavenly restaurant unlocked after completing the previous ones, the theme of the palace is Indian-oriented décor and food. Flo will also be able to grab 4 things at once, and the levels here are the toughest and longest in the game.
Customers[]
- Young Lady: (Introduced in Level 1-1) A young lady, who has moderate patience. She orders and eats at moderate speed and is considered the "restaurant regular". She’s a moderate tipper.
- Food Critic: (Introduced in Level 1-6) she’s impatient and slow to order but eats at a moderate speed. She tips, not by money, but by a star. However, if she leaves unhappy, that will cost you A LOT of money.
- Kindly Senior: (Introduced in Level 1-7) Seymour is the most patient out of the customers, but he’s very slow when eating and ordering, and doesn’t tip well.
- Businesswoman: (Introduced in Level 2-6) A black woman who is the most impatient customer in the entire game. She orders and eats fast, and she will give big tips.
- College Kid: (Introduced in Level 3-7) A little younger than Rosie, he’s impatient while waiting to be seated, but he can linger at the table. The updated version of the College Kid looks more like Leo the Lovebird.
- Mr. Hot Shot: (Introduced in Level 4-7) Hotshot is in his 30-40s, and is the "coolest" customers in the game. He’s patient in line, but becomes impatient once seated.
Upgrades[]
- Drink Station: (Introduced in Level 1-5) When it lights up, bring a drink to the customers while ordering or eating for a mood boost.
- Podium: (Introduced in Level 2-4) Stand at the podium to chat with customers in line to make them happier.
- Snack Station: (Introduced in Level 3-5) When customers request this, bring to them quickly or they'll get upset.
- Stereo: (Endless Shift only) Slows the rate at which customers at the table become impatient.
- Performer: (Endless Shift only) Slows the rate at which customers in line become impatient.
- Oven: (Endless Shift only) Makes food cook faster.
- Running Shoes: (Endless Shift only) Makes Flo move faster.
Development[]
The game was inspired by a real life restaurant called Darla's.
Reception[]
Diner Dash has been mentioned in The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, and in a variety of casual game studies, including Nicole Lazzaro's analysis of player emotions at the 2005 Game Developers Conference. Games Magazine gave it a favorable review, calling it "remarkably flexible."
Gallery[]
Gameplay[]
Comics[]
