It's quite emotional to say that I recently took a break from my busy schedule and played "Restaurant Development". I originally wanted to kill time, but as I was playing it, I actually remembered those old games from before.
I'm not bragging, I've been playing all the way from the Saipan era. At that time, there weren't as many bells and whistles as there are now. I remember that my first smartphone was a Nokia N73. To install a game, I had to search and search for memory. I could play "Beautiful Restaurant" for a semester with a few hundred KB. Fast forward so many years, and now games can easily start with just a few Gs. The graphics are indeed beautiful, but they always feel like they are missing a bit of soul.
When I first started "Restaurant Development", I actually didn't have high expectations. After all, there have been too many development-related games in the past few years. Most of them just change skins and increase values, which makes you tired of playing. However, this game gave me a little surprise.
It has a very interesting merging gameplay, which is to combine two identical delicacies to upgrade them into a more advanced one. From an ordinary plate of egg-fried rice to a Buddha Jumping Over the Wall, from roadside stall steamed dumplings to a Manchu-Han banquet, watching those Chinese delicacies sparkle on the screen, to be honest, I, a self-proclaimed gourmet, am a little greedy😋 and there is a special sense of satisfaction in the synthesis process, just like I couldn't stop playing 2048 before. It's really interesting.
But what I didn't expect was that this game actually had a hidden plot line! As the game progresses, you will unlock various characters and trigger various suspenseful stories. I was here to cook, why did I suddenly become a detective? Not to mention, the plot is very meticulously written, and every detail hints at something. The fun of reasoning and the gameplay of matching food make even an experienced player like me a little addicted.
Thinking about nostalgia, many friends probably still remember the classics they played in those years, such as "Farm Frenzy", and repeatedly adjusted their strategies just to make a three-star dish. Another example is "Plants vs. Zombies", where we studied formations until two or three in the morning. What those games have in common is that they are not particularly gorgeous in packaging, but they always have a kind of addictive magic.
To be honest, the feeling that "Restaurant Development" brings to me is a bit like regaining the pure joy of playing games in the past. There is no pressure, no messy missions, and the game screen is clean. It is quite therapeutic to just quietly cook, watch the plot, and chat with the characters in the game.
What I find most rare is that the various dishes in this game, such as Peking duck, Malatang, and Yangzhou fried rice, all look friendly. It's not that the graphics of this game are amazing, but the familiar flavors will make you smile and feel that this developer should understand us Chinese players❤️
All in all, if you are also a mobile game player who has experienced the old era and occasionally misses the simple joy, you might as well try this little game. In a busy life, it is very satisfying to be a happy restaurant owner and savor delicious food stories. Not to brag, this game looks a bit like it did back then.