Game update: 09/03/16

With it being goal week in Restaurant Story, we're all making a beeline for our devices in a bid to get ahead in the new quest.

Introduction to bee goals

It's a bee theme which the goal set is built around, with all the content available from level 12. Here's your usual list of all the additions:

Tables:

• Honey Comb Table - 16,000 coins

Chairs:

• Honey Pot Stool - 10,000 coins

Wall decorations:

• Bee Hive Sign - 12,000 coins

Floor decorations:

• Honey Bear - locked by goal
• Bella Beekeeper - locked by goal
• Beekeeper Cafe - locked by goal

Wallpapers:

• Busy Bees - 6,000 coins

Floor tiles:

• Bee Stamp - 1,000 coins

Appliances:

• Honey Stove - locked by goal
• Honey Oven - locked by goal

Counters:

• Honeycomb - 10,000 coins

It's always nice when the goal update rolls around and we have that rich selection of stuff. So often in recent weeks and months there has been something lacking in one way or another, be it the absence of a table and chair, or the non-appearance of a wallpaper and floor tile. But the goals pretty much guarantee one of everything, and all for coins, which just adds to the optimism I always have at this time of the month.

March is typically a month for an out of season goal set, with last year's being a mystery crime party and 2014 yielding a basketball theme. And that run continues with a bee based quest. This one is quite clever though in that it still has a tingle of Spring in it, thanks to the bright colours on show. And you can feast your eyes on all that vibrancy in this image from the Storm8 Blog:

Items from update as shown on Storm8 Blog

There was actually a bee themed update in Bakery Story at the beginning of the month, which continues a recent trend of the two games sharing concepts and ideas. The décor itself is all unique, but there's definitely an increased amount of crossover between the games.

I won't pass comment on the padlocked items until the goals content report early next week, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to take in now. The Honey Comb Table and Honey Pot Stool are both golden in tone, although they convey very different characteristics of honey. The table focuses on the orderly and regimented way that the bees make their honey, with the hexagonal pattern on the top.

Meanwhile the chair takes the angle of liquid honey and how gooey and sticky it can be. There's honey oozing over the sides of the stool which is presumably shaped like a beehive. The hexagons can still be seen on the top, complete with a bee. Not sure I'm keen on the inclusion of this on top - it looks a little overengineered and I'd have been happy just with the oozing honey.

Moving along the tabs, the Bee Hive Sign is a new wall decoration. This depicts three bees buzzing around their hive, with yet more honey working its way over the sign and beyond. I struggle to see how this piece can be described as a 'sign' when it appears more like a straightforward painting (which hasn't dried!) It looks okay, but I struggle to envisage a setting for it.

Staying on the wall the Busy Bees wallpaper once again showcases the hexagonal forms those brainy bees conjure up. The bees are present too, although the varied ways they're positioned prevents any feeling of repetition. They've also been placed astutely to allow wallpapers to be slapped side-by-side with solid continuity maintained. I like it, and if I ever go all out with bees it'll be easy to drop in.

Accompanying the wallpaper is the Bee Stamp flooring. Sadly a repetitive pattern is obtained when this one is thrown down multiple times, with a large bee dominating every tile. And if you join the flooring up you'll soon see that the corners unite to create... you guessed it, hexagons!

The last addition under the magnifying glass for now is the Honeycomb counter, which essentially combines the properties of the table and chair before it. On all sides we have more hexagons inherited from the table, and carried from the chair is another wave of glutinous honey working it's way down the sides. It's a good buy in my opinion, largely because its square form makes it a natural fit for a man-made beehive. You could easily buy up a few of these and place them in a row (separated by a gap) to make a bee farm. Although plates of food chucked down on the counter might ruin that effect!

As I've already said, thoughts on the remaining décor will be reserved for the goals content report which you can expect before the next update's release. In the mean time do check out my dedicated post on the goals for guidance on how to get through it without getting stung.

Before I buzz off we've got more special deals to take a look at, starting with a limited time offer available to all from today for five days.

Irish Band limited time offer

The Irish Band is a second prize in the Lucky Chest which was introduced a year ago on Saturday. It's not all that often that the LTO is a second prize, but I'm not complaining. There are plenty of outstanding second prizes, and this is one of those where I'd say it's better than the top prize. It features four Irishman celebrating St Patrick's Day with a native tune, all on a classy stage.

At 32 gems this is a pretty attractive deal. The only downside is that it could signal Storm8's intentions with regards to St Patrick's Day. I know a lot of players were seeking a Paddy update this week, but I suspect the gamemakers' decision to release this LTO signals that they're not going to be pursuing it. Otherwise it would surely have came with the St Patrick's Day update.

There was another musical time limited offer popped up just for iOS users last Friday, with the Orchestra being part of a Value Pack.

Value Pack including Orchestra

A touch more sophisticated than the Irish Band, this is the first prize in the Melody Box. It's pure quality, but the walled sides do take something away from it in my opinion. There have been and probably will be better Value Packs to be had, although I'm sure one or two players will partake in this one.

Got to say I'm somewhat on the fence with my overall feelings this week. The bee theme is interesting but if you don't fancy dedicating a portion of your diner to it then you'll have a struggle with finding homes for any of the additions. The content itself seems to be decent, although it does lack a spark. I guess the anticipation of something St Patrick's Day or Easter themed may have contributed to that, but we'll have to wait until next week for any chance of either of them being covered fully!