Crazy Hotdogs

By Christine Morris on July 6th, 2009
Our Rating: :: BURNT
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

This game is really for folks who have tried every other “make a product, sell it to customers before they leave or get angry” style of game. I would try the free one first to see if it holds your interest ~ you might just prefer a burnt hot dog to the game.

Crazy Hotdogs is in the same style as the popular cooking / selling / trading games. You have a product to make, and customers to sell to. You have to make up the correct orders and serve the correct people before they get too angry, or leave (or similar to that). Unfortunately this game just doesn’t seem to be as good as the other ones out there.

About Crazy Hotdogs… The initial opening screen is really wonderful, great animation and music to get you into the excitement of selling these hotdogs. (Can that be exciting?) When you are past that, and into the game you have the options of Game Start, Records, Settings, Instruction, More Games and About. Settings are just the typical sound options so not much to see there. The Instructions area is broken into the different tasks and how to do things. It is all just text info and I’m not sure there is any need to ever refer to this. Besides that, I have played so many of these types of games (and you may find yourself in the same situation) that you just don’t want to waste time on instructions for what should be a straightforward game.

So, once it is launched you can choose to read the game instructions. I choose not to because after a while you pretty much understand the game play, cook something and serve it right? Well, when you launch the game you are taken through a tutorial. I really think this is a mistake of the game. It was so slow and boring that it really put me off the game right away.

I wanted to just get into the game and start playing, not be made to serve a pathetic amount of hot dogs and wait for the next day to begin zzzzzzz. This is the initial ‘mission mode’ that must be completed. Please developers, do not make us sit through boring levels we don’t need to. Let us jump straight in!

Unfortunately, I really did not like the game play in terms of the grill area and customer service screen. You are basically looking at a huge grill area and then you see these circles for heads (which get angry and complain far too fast and too often). You then click them and your grill disappears and the hotdogs are on plates which you serve from. Then you have to click back on the game to cook more. It was awkward and confusing. <--- this probably doesn't make sense, have a look at the image below for a better view of what I am trying to describe.

It’s just plain awkward.

I played the entire first level, which you must complete before you can do Free mode. Once you have unlocked Free Mode the game is much better. In free mode you get a lot of customers and have to serve pretty fast. It is much more exciting and the game play gets miles better. I wish we could just start in free mode. Also, I couldn’t find a way to get rid of any raw or burnt hotdogs, most games have a garbage near by that you can get rid of them. Because there isn’t a way it means that you serve them to customers and your rating goes down.

Also, where is the ketchup and mustard? Fries? Drinks…. the game seems to be a bit too one dimensional at the moment, but the way the screen is set out there really is no where to add this stuff.

If you can get past the first level tutorial I think it is a fun game overall, as long as you get used of the screen. Try the free one and see for yourself before you buy it would be my best advice for you. There are other ‘lite’ versions of similar games that are worth your time.

Be aware that the video from them below, features very little of the actual game play, only a few seconds worth in the middle.

Overall I would give this a miss in all honesty. For this style of game there are now so many out there and so many fantastic ones that you really have to step up your game in order to make a mark. I’m afraid this one misses it.

Crazy Hotdogs

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $1.99

Our Rating: :: BURNT
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2008-12-10 :: Category: Entertainment