Cook it up with 'Order Up' for PS3

— -- If you want to add some flavor to your PlayStation 3 this April, Order Up!! is an accessible and affordable cooking simulation, sprinkled with a bit of restaurant management for good measure.

While the game isn't exactly fresh —Order Up!! first debuted on the Nintendo Wii back in 2008, followed by an Apple iOS version a few months ago — it's a fun, humorous and family-friendly game at a tasty price of $20.

You're a chef (and restaurateur) who must prepare dishes in a timely manner. You'll receive an order, such as a hamburger and french fries, and you'll need to grill the meat on both sides (without serving it undercooked or burnt), keep an eye on the deep fryer and prepare toppings, too. While you can use a regular PlayStation 3 (PS3) controller, the game supports the motion-sensing PlayStation Move, so you can perform a chop motion in front of the television to slice tomatoes or peel lettuce by moving the controller back and forth, horizontally. You'll also need to pour drinks before completing the order.

Multitasking gets frantic when you're juggling more than one dish. This is where strategy comes in: some players will prepare each dish individually, while others will slice, dice, stir, flip and fry multiple dishes at once and then compile them all at the last moment — so they don't get cold on the counter before the waitress picks them up.

The game features multiple restaurants and dishes. You'll be whipping up omelets, making burritos, boiling pasta, roasting duck and plating lamb kabobs before you know it. Each action per dish is graded; the higher your score, the better your tips. Money allows you to hire staff (to perform various tasks for you), purchase better equipment (such as a faster oven) and upgrade your menu with new spices and foods to expand your selection. Your goal is to earn stars for your restaurant, unlock new establishments and of course, keep patrons happy — and food critics, too.

Along with support for the PlayStation Move controller, this PS3 version of the game adds optional 3D graphics (on compatible televisions) and split-screen multiplayer modes (play with someone beside you, cooperatively or competitively), as well as minigames and trophies.

But keep in mind, Order up!! can get a bit tedious and repetitive. While you're preparing new dishes all the time, most of the core cooking tasks remain the same. You might have your fill after an hour or two, but the "dangling carrot" that draws you back is to ability to expand your restaurant empire, unlock new recipes and meet funny characters you must cater to.

If you're not sure if this game is for you — and you own an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad — download the free "Order Up!! To Go" at the App Store for a taste of what to expect in the full-featured PS3 version.

—

Order Up!!

Platform: PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii

Genre: Simulation

Developer: SuperVillain Studios

Publisher: UTV Ignition Games

Web site: playorderup.com

Price: $19.99

Rating: "Everyone"

Score: 3.0 stars (out of 4)

—

Contact Saltzman at techcomments@usatoday.com.