Yes, where I am summer is nothing more than a distant memory, especially after a vacation which just didn't last long enough, and I must warn you that this may have an impact on my views with regards to the various decor unlocked in the goals.
Let's start with the two appliances which bring with them two new construction parts.
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| Sun Knob and Sky Knob |
The first of those cookers is the Sunset Oven which calls for 6 Knobs, 6 Blue Rose Knobs and 10 Sun Knobs. The Blue Rose Knob is an interesting and unexpected inclusion here - I'd have considered it more of a wintry part. Indeed it was originally introduced alongside the Nupial Stove in the winter goals in January 2016, its only previous appearance.
When it comes to the recipes, we have shrimp, chops and salad on the menu:
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| Sunset Oven recipes |
I really like the wooden board that the Caribbean Spiced Shrimp is served upon and appreciate the Pineapple Crab Salad stretching beyond the edge of its plate - this adds some authenticity which can sometimes be lacking. Meanwhile the Mango Pork Chops look rather sloppy but I suppose that's fairly standard with a hearty pork chop!
Here are some recipe ratings:
| Caribbean Spiced Shrimp | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 1 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3.3 |
| Mango Pork Chops | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3.2 |
| Pineapple Crab Salad | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3.4 |
The first two of these dishes are clones of existing foods when it comes to the statistics. The shrimp has three identical comrades including the Seaweed Ice Cream (Nori Machine) which was added pretty recently with the Winter in July goals. And the chops mirror a whopping six other 3 hour efforts, among which are two entries from the animal water park theme last month.
At least the salad is unique, although that's only the case because it comes with a below par number of portions. Consequently it lacks any spark across any of the factors, with a steady stream of yellows and oranges. The most notable detail for the salad really is that it is the 99th recipe of 2 hour length to appear in the game.
On we go, and the Sunset Grill requires 8 Motors, 8 Broiler Pans and 12 Sky Knobs to build. Twelve of the new part is just ridiculous - remember we are limited to accepting 20 gifts and sending out 20 requests per day, meaning that assuming you're set with Motors and Broiler Pans you can still only possibly construct three grills in a Restaurant Story day.
On a more positive note, the Sunset Grill is a re-coloured version of the Outdoor Grill which is a one-recipe appliance released way back in January 2012. Usually you'd expect me to express frustration over a recycling job like that, but in this case I'm absolutely fine with it. I remember the Outdoor Grill being one of my first non-basic appliances when I picked up the game all those years ago, so a shiny new edition of it comes with a sweet scent of nostalgia for me.
Another trio of dishes are located on the Sunset Grill:
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| Sunset Grill recipes |
The Coconut Fish Stew looks awfully like Cullen Skink, a traditional fishy soup in my neck of the woods, and one which absolutely stinks. Then there's the Spicy Lobster Noodles which just appear to be lobster shavings (is that even a thing?!) sprinkled over some noodles. It seems very simple and looks rather grim in my opinion.
Lastly the Kalua Pork passes the appearance test thanks to some lovely curving vine leaves and cubes of feta cheese on the side, but it's about to face a disqualification from this beauty contest. The credit goes wholly to xxEDLxx on the Storm8 Forum for spotting this, but the pork is actually just a recycle of the 6 hour Laulau on the Basic Stove. This is the first time a recipe has been re-used in Restaurant Story and disguised with a different name and set of stats. It's a mightily dangerous precedent to set - recycling stuff from a different game is one thing, but from the same game? That's a different matter altogether and sits very uncomfortably with me.
At least I have complete confidence (as if!) that the ratings will turn the tide:
| Coconut Fish Stew | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3.2 |
| Spicy Lobster Noodles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 3.1 |
| Kalua Pork | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 1 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 4.8 |
Well now we're re-using numbers from the same update! Statistically the stew is identical in every way to the chops on the Sunset Oven which is just shocking. The noodles at least copy dishes from the past rather than the present with three doppelgangers, while the pork is a perfect match for the Ocean Tart on the Marine Oven.
That last fact is somewhat important as you may recall the tart setting a new high for XP gain in the 9 hour duration when introduced last month. This means that the Kalua Pork joins it at the top of the XP ladder, although given that the tart was the pioneer (and therefore was the one to cause the re-calibration of the 9 hour duration) only it retains a special place in our hearts.
After that profound statement I suggest we turn our attention to the floor decor obtained via the sunset goals. There were four in total, with two crossing over from Bakery Story and another from Fashion Story. The latter was the Summer Hammock (Tropical Paradise in Fashion Story) provided as the prize for finishing the bonus goals. Thankfully the three-step challenge was changed up this time, with new recipes rotated in. Apart from the Cheeseburger which for some unknown reason managed to appear for a third straight time.
The use of a Fashion Story item follows in the footsteps of some Nightclub Story counters making the trip last month, thus indicating that in the long term pooling resources may well not be a Restaurant Story and Bakery Story closed shop. This is a concern for me, since those two titles have a very different style from most of the rest of Storm8's fleet. This hammock is a fine example - it lacks much of the texture that is characteristic of Restaurant Story designs, with much reliance on streaks of solid colour to create the impression of depth. Nevertheless, it was essentially a freebie so I can't complain. Too late!
Sunset theme
The Beach Feast Table is very tropical with its floral tablecloth and array of bright colours. The Tiki torches are a nice inclusion and the pineapple stands out as a quality design despite its size. A definite nod of approval from this reviewer.
Then there's the Sandcastle which would have been a big hit if it weren't for the fact that it is within a sandpit. The brown border stops it from being a natural inclusion along a stretch of Desert Sand flooring which is such a shame. Instead it kind of needs to be in a kids play area which is feasible as we do have related content, but it's not how I'd have liked to have utilised it.
Last but not least is the Beachy Hut. It sends us out on a real high with its substantial presence. I've always loved it in Bakery Story and am delighted to get a shot at it on the other side. It's a significant enough piece that it can really be a focal point to any summer layout. It's just a shame that for players in the northern hemisphere summer has just done down the pan, but I'll definitely be looking to do a beach theme next summer specifically to get this hut in the open air.
Overall my general feeling with this update and goal set is that it came too late in the season. With no shortage of summer themed updates over the past few months, I think most players were probably ready to move on, especially when the alternative may well have been Autumn decor which never fails to please. Some shocking additions - I'm looking at you the Plastic collection! - were luckily offset somewhat by a handful of highlights such as the Summer Sunset wallpaper, Beach Feast Table and Beachy Hut, but going forward I really hope the gamemakers do all they can to provide updates which fit the current season and are topical.
Right, back to Halloween people!
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