JemyM
Okay, now roll sanity.
- Joined
- October 26, 2006
- Messages
- 6,027
Bar Oasis 1, 1.5 & 2 (iPhone)
Bar Oasis combines a heartful story with detailed drink-mixing simulation using authentic recipies.
Story in Bar Oasis 1
When Vic signed up as the new bartender at Bar Oasis he didn't knew what he was walking into. Despite his lack of training and experience he is quickly put in charge with greater and greater responsibility since his boss is a real slacker. But the regulars know enough and help him out.
If you played Phoenix Wright you will recognize this side of the game as the story in Bar Oasis is all about it's characters. The plot moves very slow forward, giving bits and pieces about their complexities and flaws. Some of them are just troublemakers, some are wildcards that helps you one time then make a mess in another and there are those who are always glad you came along.
The story in Bar Oasis 1 was really strong, towards the end I felt I was in a bar with friends and the game often made me smile or feel sad.
Engine: Graphics & Sound
Bar Oasis is beautifully painted in a way similar to Phoenix Wright. You often see who you talk to right in front of you and the game uses still-images and text. The soundtrack is superb and they even produced one for the 2nd that you can buy on Amazon and in iTunes.
Gameplay
Beyond clicking through dialogue Bar Oasis is actually an educational game. If you consider learning how to make real drinks like a pro that is. Bar Oasis is a bar, 7 seats with customers to serve and shelves full of liquor. To engage a customer you slide forward a coaster and listen to what they would like. You can then either look at the recipe or for extra money try to go without. You need to pick the right bottles from the shelves, perhaps a shaker or stirring glass and the right glass. The game actually uses real brands complete with photos and all and have like 50-100 true recipies of famous and standardized drinks. It will also sometimes tell a story about the drinks (and you can read about it in the game). I will probably not forget how to make a martini, a manhattan, a singapore sling etc because I learned both the amount of liquor and preparation. One note though; Bar Oasis 1 do not get you to pour the non-alcoholic content, only the liquor. Bar Oasis 2 is better in this regard.
To make the drink you need to pour the right amount out of each bottle tipping your telephone over. You can also use your thumb on the screen to stop the flow. Sometimes you have to also squeeze a slice of lime, lemon or orange on screen, tip over a spoon of sugar, stir the drink up and down or left or right or shake the phone when you shake the drink.
If your ingredients are right, the amount are right and timing is good you make a good drink (excellent if you didn't look at the recipe) and get extra money. If your ingredients are wrong or you have too much or too little of ingredients you may end up with decent, poor and at worst "sewage". A poor or sewage drink may end up costing you money rather than earning so you might wish to pour such drinks out.
If you too little money you can actually end up with a game over. If you earn too much you use it to invest in new brands on the shelf.
Verdict
Depending on what kind of player you are you either love or hate the story. If you are a sucker for a heartwarming story you should try out at least Bar Oasis 1. I loved the first and 1.5 but I did found the one in 2nd a bit let down. Not that it was poorly written, but it was quite sad.
Making drinks is a really interesting idea and very educational. I actually bought new bottles in real life and tried some of the drinks out. It's too bad you do not get to pour the sodas. But if you are in for the story the drinkmixing may become a bit tedious, especially when BO2 is a really long game compared to the first. The 2nd game actually allow you to skip mixing if you pay an extra dollar for the game (which I did just to support the studio). You can also pay to fill the shelves automatically and adjust the amount of customers.
I have saved the story for 1.5 and 2 to last and I will do so in a spoiler tag.
Story and verdict of Bar Oasis 1.5
Story and verdict of Bar Oasis 2
-edit- I just found out that there are three endings for BO2, there are happier endings. I am back to play the game
Bar Oasis combines a heartful story with detailed drink-mixing simulation using authentic recipies.
Story in Bar Oasis 1
When Vic signed up as the new bartender at Bar Oasis he didn't knew what he was walking into. Despite his lack of training and experience he is quickly put in charge with greater and greater responsibility since his boss is a real slacker. But the regulars know enough and help him out.
If you played Phoenix Wright you will recognize this side of the game as the story in Bar Oasis is all about it's characters. The plot moves very slow forward, giving bits and pieces about their complexities and flaws. Some of them are just troublemakers, some are wildcards that helps you one time then make a mess in another and there are those who are always glad you came along.
The story in Bar Oasis 1 was really strong, towards the end I felt I was in a bar with friends and the game often made me smile or feel sad.
Engine: Graphics & Sound
Bar Oasis is beautifully painted in a way similar to Phoenix Wright. You often see who you talk to right in front of you and the game uses still-images and text. The soundtrack is superb and they even produced one for the 2nd that you can buy on Amazon and in iTunes.
Gameplay
Beyond clicking through dialogue Bar Oasis is actually an educational game. If you consider learning how to make real drinks like a pro that is. Bar Oasis is a bar, 7 seats with customers to serve and shelves full of liquor. To engage a customer you slide forward a coaster and listen to what they would like. You can then either look at the recipe or for extra money try to go without. You need to pick the right bottles from the shelves, perhaps a shaker or stirring glass and the right glass. The game actually uses real brands complete with photos and all and have like 50-100 true recipies of famous and standardized drinks. It will also sometimes tell a story about the drinks (and you can read about it in the game). I will probably not forget how to make a martini, a manhattan, a singapore sling etc because I learned both the amount of liquor and preparation. One note though; Bar Oasis 1 do not get you to pour the non-alcoholic content, only the liquor. Bar Oasis 2 is better in this regard.
To make the drink you need to pour the right amount out of each bottle tipping your telephone over. You can also use your thumb on the screen to stop the flow. Sometimes you have to also squeeze a slice of lime, lemon or orange on screen, tip over a spoon of sugar, stir the drink up and down or left or right or shake the phone when you shake the drink.
If your ingredients are right, the amount are right and timing is good you make a good drink (excellent if you didn't look at the recipe) and get extra money. If your ingredients are wrong or you have too much or too little of ingredients you may end up with decent, poor and at worst "sewage". A poor or sewage drink may end up costing you money rather than earning so you might wish to pour such drinks out.
If you too little money you can actually end up with a game over. If you earn too much you use it to invest in new brands on the shelf.
Verdict
Depending on what kind of player you are you either love or hate the story. If you are a sucker for a heartwarming story you should try out at least Bar Oasis 1. I loved the first and 1.5 but I did found the one in 2nd a bit let down. Not that it was poorly written, but it was quite sad.
Making drinks is a really interesting idea and very educational. I actually bought new bottles in real life and tried some of the drinks out. It's too bad you do not get to pour the sodas. But if you are in for the story the drinkmixing may become a bit tedious, especially when BO2 is a really long game compared to the first. The 2nd game actually allow you to skip mixing if you pay an extra dollar for the game (which I did just to support the studio). You can also pay to fill the shelves automatically and adjust the amount of customers.
I have saved the story for 1.5 and 2 to last and I will do so in a spoiler tag.
Story and verdict of Bar Oasis 1.5
Vic is off in China to find his girlfriend and now it's up to Carla to take his place. Carla isn't as skilled as Vic at being a bartender, but she is better at listening to customers. While she get to know the regulars Vic did, she also hears a lot of rumours about this mysterious Vic. Who is he? Is he like the rumours? And when he comes back, will she get to keep her job?
Since Bar Oasis 1.5 is free it's a nobrainer to download. The story was longer than I expected for a free game but you will not be making advanced coctails in this one as the shelves are empty and Carla do not really know how to make them.
Since Bar Oasis 1.5 is free it's a nobrainer to download. The story was longer than I expected for a free game but you will not be making advanced coctails in this one as the shelves are empty and Carla do not really know how to make them.
Story and verdict of Bar Oasis 2
Vic broke up with his girlfriend and is now back at the bar, working together with the new bartender Carla. Unlike one, the second game isn't focused on a romance. Vic have to teach Carla (and solve the mess when she makes one) as the Boss is up to no good. A mysterious musician have started to appear in the bar, who is she? The old gang who owns the bar becomes more significant in the 2nd game, finally there might be a wedding coming up.
I found the story in Bar Oasis 2 to be a bit sad. It's almost like Empire Strikes Back, the sequel in which verything falls down and it's gets really dark. I hope that Bar Oasis 3 or the promised DLC story addons will fix this. If you were a fan of the first two though you should probably check it out.
Remember the DLC's. If you prefer the story you can use them to shorten the bartending moments. I did not see +3 dollars as a ripoff, I actually bought two of them just to support the developers.
I found the story in Bar Oasis 2 to be a bit sad. It's almost like Empire Strikes Back, the sequel in which verything falls down and it's gets really dark. I hope that Bar Oasis 3 or the promised DLC story addons will fix this. If you were a fan of the first two though you should probably check it out.
Remember the DLC's. If you prefer the story you can use them to shorten the bartending moments. I did not see +3 dollars as a ripoff, I actually bought two of them just to support the developers.
-edit- I just found out that there are three endings for BO2, there are happier endings. I am back to play the game
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2006
- Messages
- 6,027