Delicious - Taste of Truth

[b]Note:[/b] A totally awesome friend sent me a copy of this game although I was offered a review copy via curator connect. ^^ [h1][i]Delicious[/i] is back and better than ever. :D[/h1] [h2]Introduction[/h2] [i]Delicious: Taste of Truth[/i] is a time management game developed by SQRT3 and published by GameHouse. It's #21 in the [i]Delicious[/i] series. We see Emily and Patrick return along with their kids, Paige, Emmy, and Vito. Emily and Patrick are juggling parenting and work. Since Paige is a teenager, she's become interested in social media, like Snapgram, since her friends are into it. It's a concern, and if that wasn't enough, Patrick's estranged dad, Paddy, sends them an invite to visit them in Florida. Even though Patrick is initially against visiting Paddy due to abandonment issues, Emily eventually persuades him to change his mind, and so, the family goes on a road trip. Little do they know that there's going to be a bombshell that'll shake up the family... As for the gameplay, you can choose from among the usual three difficulty modes. (For review purposes, I chose normal mode.) There are a total of 60 story modes and 30 challenge levels, with 6 different restaurants for Emily and her family to work at. In each level, you have to serve customers with their orders, and depending on how quickly you do so, you can earn up to 3 diamonds (the equivalent of stars). Also, there are the usual mini-games, such as quickly folding pizza boxes. An additional diamond is earned by completing the task in each level, and one more diamond can be earned by finding Carl the Mouse. In addition to earning diamonds, you'll earn coins for each level. Diamonds are used to purchase restaurant décor items and unlock art for the mural. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3771795101 Coins are used to purchase restaurant upgrades, such as more tray slots and helpers. You can even choose an avatar and as you make progress in the game, you level up, which results in unlocking cosmetic items with which you can decorate your avatar. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3771795418 Plenty of in-game trophies/Steam achievements are present, and achievements count towards a user's global total. [h2]Review[/h2] It has been so long since GameHouse last released a game on Steam, but gosh, the wait was totally worth it. I knew that as soon as I could, I had to play this game, and the [i]Delicious[/i] series is my favorite. Also, it's the longest running time management series from GameHouse. XD [h3]Story and Gameplay[/h3] Emily and Patrick are back in finer form than ever, and I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be parents, especially with having a teenage daughter. The story has just as much drama and emotion as in the previous games. There's a bit of a debate over Paige being allowed a smartphone, mainly because of the dangers of social media and mental health. For the most part, I like how the writers approached this topic. It's definitely a valid concern, and based on personal experience and those of close friends, there are way too many toxic people on social media. Of course, there's even a bigger story going on, which has to do with Patrick and Paddy. Paddy reveals some shocking information to Patrick and Emily, which is why the family continues to go on their road trip throughout the southern US. It's quite the adventure, and I like the many people that the family meets and helps with their problems (although they inadvertently cause them, too). As for how the story ends, that's major spoilers, but I'll just say that it left me feeling very emotional to the point of crying happy tears, and yes, I need a sequel to this. :o The gameplay is just as much fun as ever. However, the levels can prove to be challenging if you don't think strategically through and purchase the necessary upgrades to progress. You may find yourself having to replay levels to get the maximum number of diamonds although it's worth doing so, especially since you can earn more coins and there's an achievement for replaying levels. The shop upgrades are very useful, and I like decorating the art mural. As I mentioned earlier, you can choose an avatar and customize it, and that's a feature I haven't seen in earlier games. I had to choose the O'Malley's dog, Rosie, and it was fun choosing cosmetic items to make her look totally cool. ^^ All achievements unlocked for me without any problems, but you may have to replay quite a few levels in order to get them all. However, the game is so much fun that it makes replaying and revisiting the story that much worth it. [h3]Art and Music[/h3] The art style is beautiful as always. It's wonderful that the same style continues to be used, and it feels familiar as you spend time with Emily and her family. The sprites and backgrounds are drawn and colored well. Also, I mentioned earlier that there's customization with the avatar and art mural, so if you check out all the possibilities, you can tell that a lot of work was put into it. Before I forget, there's a lovely display of Paige's snapshots of the family road trip that are unlocked as you progress through the levels. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3771794633 As for the music, the tracks are all original, making the game unique from its predecessors. Each track fits well with its respective restaurant, such as the jazz theme when the O'Malley's are in New Orleans. (There's even a vocal at one point. :o) No voice acting is present, but that's usually the case in these games and it isn't necessary. [h2]Conclusion[/h2] Would I recommend [i]Delicious: Taste of Truth[/i]? If you're a time management fan, you're especially a fan of GameHouse's games and/or the [i]Delicious[/i] series, and/or you enjoy getting a lot of Steam achievements, then yes, this is totally a must buy. Granted, it is a bit on the pricier side compared to the older games, but there's a lot more gameplay content, so I suppose that compensates for it. Of course, you can choose to wait for a sale. At any rate, I'm hoping that we'll get more TMs by GameHouse. I always enjoy playing (and reviewing) them. ^^ [quote]For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]