BurgerTime

The Good
Burgertime hails from that period in the early 1980s when the "Big Three" (Atari, Coleco & Mattel) were trying to maximize profits by releasing big games across all platforms (sound familiar?). As a result, there are multiple versions of Burgertime, presenting casual retrogamers with a bit of a problem, since the core game represents arcade gaming at its pinnacle - addictive, rewarding, yet very, very challenging.

The Intellivision version shines brightly. The graphics resemble that of the arcade to an acceptable degree, and the Intelly's circular pad does not hamper gameplay at all. Plus, you get a slew of stages to complete, some of them nightmarishly difficult.

If you're not familiar with the basics of Burgertime, you play a chef you needs to make burgers. He does this by running over components of the uncompleted meal (buns, meat, cheese, tomato, etc.), causing them to fall to the bottom of the screen where they land on a plate (thoroughly tenderized, one assumes). However, he is pursued relentlessly by evil hot dogs, eggs and pickles, who can be thwarted, but never killed. You can stun your foes with pepper (of which you have a very limited supply), drop burger components on them, or send them flying down with the burger components if you're skilled enough.

The Bad
It's quite difficult. Just try making it through one complete game cycle, and you'll see what I mean.

The Bottom Line
Well, it's Burgertime, except it's much better than the crap Atari 2600 version.

The Good
I loved the BurgerTime arcade game and was excited to play this conversion. Unlike many ported arcade games of the day, this one was well done with many of the engaging features of the original arcade game intact. The music is engaging just as in the arcade version and the artwork is colorful and attractive. The animation matches, if memory serves, exactly that of the arcade version. If you liked the arcade version of BurgerTime, you'll love this game!

The Bad
The only thing I don't like about this game is that there are no correspondingly good version for other home systems (such as the PC).

The Bottom Line
An engaging game, well worth a look. Fun and challenging even by today's standards.

The Good
An excellent arcade game, Burger Time is a true classic. The charming, addictive gameplay shadows the simplistic graphics and sound effects. The gameplay is often intensive, often challenging and always fun!

The Bad
Silly graphics, but that's a plus... the only real minus I can think of is the overly simplistic sound effects.

The Bottom Line
A true classic!

The Good
Words fail me when I try to accurately describe what a little wonder of a game this is. One of my all time favourites, I'm insanely addicted to it and still have to play it every week after all these years. I dream about descenting buns and salad at night, and when something terrible happens in my life I hear the little piece of music that plays when Peter (that main character) dies inside my head.

The Bad
Nothing - this game simply has no flaws. Find one - I dare ya.

The Bottom Line
It's the true meaning of life. Remember: Don't use the peppers until you've got no other way out.

The Good
This game has everything that the arcade had but downsized just a bit for the Colecovision. The music is very good and the graphics are very close to the arcade with the burgers and hotdogs actually making me quite hungry. The enemies are just enough to make you annoyed,but keep you coming back for more action.

The Bad
The controls are a bit sticky when trying to come off ladders and the evil food sometimes follows very predictable patterns. These do not hinder the gameplay by any major degree though.

The Bottom Line
You are Chef Pepper and must make hamburgers for the hungry customers, while watching out for the hotdogs and eggs trying to ruin your day. Chef Pepper has a small amount of pepper to temporarily stun the enemies, while he tries to build the burgers.

The Good
Colorful graphics

Multiple levels (called "patterns" in the game) are reproduced from the arcade original

The Bad
Enemies are single colored sprites (the yolk in the egg flickers between black and white instead of yellow).

Music is monotonous as it starts from scratch any time there's another in-game sound (such as walking over a burger ingredient).

The Bottom Line
In BurgerTime, you move your chef around the play field, walking over ingredients to build hamburgers. If an ingredient from a higher level falls on top of an ingredient on a lower level, the lower ingredient falls a level. This can "chain" so that an effective strategy is to try to build the burgers from the top down.

Giving chase are hotdogs, pickles (which flicker badly in this version), and eggs. If an enemy is on an ingredient part as you make it drop, it tends to fall further than just a single level (and may in fact fall all the way to the bottom, taking any intervening ingredients with it). You can also drop ingredients on top of the enemies, which temporarily removes them from play.

Failing that, you have a limited supply of pepper, which you can sprinkle on enemies to stun them for a short while. At limited times in the game, you can pick up an ice cream cone which replenishes your pepper supply by one "shake."

The Good
BurgerTime's NES version had very good graphics, sound effects and gameplay. Its main goal was similar to many arcade games of its time, like Pac-Man or Mappy, which was to avoid the enemies and to capture (or to tread, in Burgertime) the objects.

The Bad
Burgertime's NES version was a bit hard.

The Bottom Line
BurgerTime is a nice game. If you aren't hungry and has an NES, get and play this game! If you are...

The Good
CABINET DESIGN: 8/10 - Viewing that huge Peter Pepper on the side of the “BurgerTime” Arcade Cabinet was something to behold. It was so eclectic for 1983 that I had NO IDEA what the game would be once seeing that screen. The cabinet art on the front really fit the diner theme, and all the colors were crisp, complementing each other, even in the low arcade lighting.

ATTRACT MODE: 6/10 The Attract Mode of “BurgerTime” is quite standard for an arcade title from the Labyrinth/Maze Genre, cycling quickly through a brief scoring example demonstrating how to earn massive points.

GAME DESIGN: 8/10 - Data East Corp. was adept at taking what would appear to be non-standard or strange design concepts, and then turn them into function video games with unique gameplay!

CONTROLS: 6/10 The controls for “BurgerTime” are somewhat basic for any game from the Labyrinth/Maze Subgenre. Don’t mistake the beauty of simplicity, because those controls are very responsive for an early 80’s Arcade Game; they just don’t reinvent the wheel. This title is best played with a 4-Way Joystick, because you will find yourself possibly stuck on ladders at time just long enough to die with an 8-Way Joystick.

GRAPHICS: 5/10 The Graphics of “BurgerTime” were above average for an Arcade Game from the early 80’s. It was a very colorful, detailed video game for its time, quite nice to look at but nothing revolutionary.

MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS: 7/10 - The Sounds Effects and Music of “BurgerTime”, they are of the type that are easily forgotten, but you will instantly recall when heard; at least that is how they are with me. The Music isn’t anything special and certainly NOT something you will play in your car or used for a ringtone, but it complements the game quite well all the same; even though it constantly repeats, it will not drive you crazy. All the Sound Effects are admittedly more cartoonish than most games, not adding anything in terms of tension, but are entertaining, nonetheless. The ONLY sicound here that will instill a sense of urgency is whenever you have zero peppers remaining.

GAMEPLAY: 10/10 - “BurgerTime” is one of those masterfully engineered Video Games that come along once out of every ten to twenty arcade releases. Data East Corp. kept everything simplified down to the common denominator, which is typically a disaster when done in the modern era but works famously for early 80’s Arcade Games. It becomes one of those endeavors for Gamers where “BurgerTime” is so damn easy to pick up, but extremely difficult to master, ensuring quicker turnarounds, with games averaging 5 – 10 mins.; while NEVER leaving Gamers feeling cheated.

ORIGINALITY: 10/10 [“BurgerTime” is a successful example of how keeping a Video Game simplistic can also creatively explore new territories. There was nothing else like “BurgerTime” out there in the Arcades until Data East released other titles in the series.

FUN FACTOR: 8/10 “BurgerTime”, provides an excellent gaming experience that will be appreciated by Normie and Hardcore Gamers alike. Because children in 2024 will be more proficient with electronics, this may also serve as a GREAT entry-level Video Game to play for them.

REPLAY FACTOR: 6/10 The Replay Factor of “BurgerTime” always something that was either a hit or miss with Gamers; certainly, you would have the Average Arcade Gamer playing it once or twice then moving on, and then you would have the Hardcore Gamers that would stand there for an hour practicing their craft, while fighting for position on those coveted Hi-Score Screens.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 6/10 “BurgerTime” is one of those Video Games where you will NEVER feel cheated while walking away, the enemies are very predictable, and the rules are NEVER altered besides enemies increasing in speed whenever you drop them on a burger. That said, it still may NOT be for everyone, because it IS a fool’s errand as you try to stave off that inevitable Game Over.

FRUSTRATION LEVEL: 8/10 [“BurgerTime” is a one of those masterfully crafted Video Games where the Frustration Level is almost non-existent, despite the challenge it presents, it was one of those Arcade Games that I NEVER saw anyone hitting, even the few children I saw playing it. It is very balanced where you WILL reach Skill Saturation or Repetition Fatigue LONG before any BS Saturation.

The Bad
MULTIPLAYER FACTOR: 2/10 “BurgerTime's” multiplayer becomes a detriment to your gameplay unless you are challenging a friend to a Hi-Score.

ENDING: 5/10 Besides that tried-and-true, inevitable Game Over Screen, “BurgerTime” has no known ending to it, but it presumably does have a kill screen eventually (due to the chips utilized). But you MUST also keep in mind that this never-ending gameplay model was standard for Arcade Games in the early 80’s.

The Bottom Line
“BurgerTime” one of the most iconic Arcade titles from what we now call the Golden Age of Gaming and is much more of a slow, methodical burn than frantic, instant action of modern Video Games. It remains very friendly towards new players, but it is no pushover!

VERDICT: 7.21/10

The Good
MSX's BurgerTime had good graphics, sound and gameplay. It was an arcade game which featured a concept similar to Pac-Man or Mappy, in which it was necessary to get objects and to avoid the enemies. In BurgerTime, it was possible, but limited, use pepper to paralyze a little an enemie.

The Bad
MSX's BurgerTime is a bit harder, like another good version of the game in its time.

The Bottom Line
BurgerTime is a nice arcade conversion game for MSX computers. If you have one, get it and make hamburgers! But don't play if you're hungry, please...

The Good
It's time for hamburgers, and your job is to make four of them. Just put on your bun, your lettuce, your beef patties, and top it off with another bun. You do this by running over them to make them fall down to the next level until they have reached the bottom level, and once they have reached that far, run them over again to place them on the bun, one filling after another. Once all burgers are completed, you proceed to the next level. The hamburgers will definitely be tasteless, as you won't be putting cheese, pickles, or ketchup on them.

The catch? You must also avoid egg yolks, pickles, and hot dogs who will do their best to stop you from making the burgers. They will chase you around and around until they are able to knock you out and lose a life. Fortunately for you, you have a limited supply of peppers, which you can sprinkle on them to stun them for a few seconds. If you run out of peppers, you must grab the sundae that can be found on the top level. Remember, it won't stay on the screen for very long, and it appears only once in a level, so you must grab it within ten seconds or avoid getting close to your enemies.

You can also squash enemies on a level below you by running over the fillings, and letting it fall on them. Doing this will award you 200 points. The squashed enemies will appear on the screen good as new. The number of the enemies increase as you progress from level to level.

One thing about Burger Time is the fact that the game is challenging that you probably become addicted to it, and want to play it again in the future. Graphics in the C64 version are excellent and are a little bit ahead of the arcade version. The sound effects are average.

The Bad
There is no music that you can listen to while making hamburgers. The only music in this game is that from the title screen.

The Bottom Line
This game is addictive, you'll keep coming back for more. ***

The Good
Making burgers while avoiding sausages was appealing (for some reason -- maybe because it was just different) and the level design was very well thought out.

The Bad
The controls were somewhat jerky and it wasn't that easy.

The Bottom Line
I remember playing this in a commodore 64 way back in the day...for several fun hours (until I became frustrated). As an added plus, the c64 version had many additional colors.