The cakes, they are a flyin'!

Like every other business-sim game, Cake Mania is all about making money and satisfying your customers. But this game adds some sugar. You play Jill, who’s taking on the big Mega-Mart with her own business and hopes to reopen her grandparents’ bakery.

Each level starts with Jill’s goals for the month and an opportunity for her to purchase items for her kitchen. Ovens, decoration units, even her shoes can be upgraded. Customers drop by to buy cakes, and the orders stack up quickly. Jill must bake, frost, and decorate the cakes to receive payment and points. A less-than-five-star performance results in Jill not making her budget and losing a “life.” And of course, once Jill’s five lives are gone, the game is over.

Customers have different patience levels, represented by a series of hearts - fewer hearts signal a sour customer who’s a stingy tipper. Jill can butter up her customers by feeding them cupcakes, giving them a menu, or turning the TV to a channel they relish. In other words, cater to your customers’ needs, and your business will succeed.

Cake Mania’s gameplay is simple enough, but it’s also quite addictive. You upgrade right after moving to the next level, so you’re encouraged to see what hot new kitchen items you can buy. If only the soundtrack were as tasty as the rest of the game - after the first few levels, we couldn’t hear the music anymore.

The bottom line. Cake Mania is a real treat for casual gamers.

COMPANY: Sandlot Games

CONTACT: www.sandlotgames.com

PRICE: $19.99

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later

Simple yet addictive. Universal binary.

Musical quirks.