Review Diner Dash: Hometown Hero Developer: Play First Publisher: Play First Genre: Casual Game Release Date: September 2007 Platform: Review by Karla Munger April 3, 2008		Buy this game at Trade for this game at:

We thought it would be fun to review some of the casual games we currently have available in our JA Casual Game Center. Needless to say, these games are very addictive and while our enthusiastic reviews are, for the most part short, the time spent playing these games is not. Once you have read the review, drop by the JA Casual Game Center and download a free trial version of the game for yourself, but remember - you have been warned!

I first encountered the ridiculously addictive Diner Dash in the spring of 2006. It was love at first sight.

And as if two sequels weren't bad enough, here comes Flo again. I think PlayFirst is out to get me.

Diner Dash: Hometown Hero, the fourth game in the franchise, is quite impressive. Here, PlayFirst has interwoven many items and features from the first three games with lots of new ones, creating a clever tapestry. For the most part, I had great fun with it.

Flo visits her granny this time, and you can guess what happens. There are five new locations, six new customer types and some new extras. You also get to compete with another waiter once at each restaurant. Achieving an Expert score across the board in any location will unlock an additional "Expert" level. You'll also be able to choose each restaurant's cuisine, and Story Mode boasts upgrades previously available only in Endless Shift. That's only part of what Hometown Hero has to offer.

But alas, I have one problem with this game: its difficulty levels are all over the map. While some represent reasonable challenges, many are too easy and some are over-the-top demanding. The fifth Expert level, aptly called Flo's Inferno, is nothing short of brutal. Only the fastest, most intrepid players will be able to beat it.

That having been said, however, I do recommend Hometown Hero. Its innovations greatly outweigh its frustrations and definitely make it a worthwhile purchase.  If you approach the game with realistic expectations, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Try Diner Dash: Hometown Hero for Free!