Believe in Santa™ (Windows)

22 out of 25 people found this review helpful:

2006

DEC

1

by debbyberry

This game is very much like Cake Mania, which has both very good and very bad aspects. The gameplay is very similar, which means later levels are really fun, but earlier levels can be frustrating since the characters are very, very slow and clunky.
Several people on the forums have reported errors. I got several errors as well; they looked like old Windows 3.1 error boxes. However, the game would start back up, and since I've turned off the "3D" box on the Options page, I haven't had any more (yet).
Three concerns. First, like Cake Mania, this game has no Endless levels. The levels are all there are.
Second, again like Cake Mania, you can't go back and replay levels you didn't get Expert scores on. I didn't notice it in Cake Mania because you could save games there and go back and replay any level you particularly enjoyed. Even after you've finished all 40 levels, there's no way to go back and pick up the ones you've missed. Once you're done, you have to start all over and play the first 20-odd slow, clunky levels before it gets fun again.
Thirdly, it's a 40-level game. The last time we were presented with a 40-level game with no Endless mode (Back to the Bakery), it was $14.95. This was the full $19.95. I assumed maybe there would be bonus levels, but I don't see any, and since it's impossible to go back and pick levels up, if you ever get them, you won't be able to replay them often.
Pros: Fun game (eventually); festive holiday music
Cons: Buggy; clunky for the first half; no non-level gameplay; no replay to improve score; no bonus material; choices are strictly cosmetic and do not affect gameplay; expensive for what you get
Don't get me wrong; this *is* a really fun game, and I'd buy it again. If you have to choose between buying this and picking up one of the Cake Mania or Diner Dash games you don't have, though, pick the other one.

12 out of 15 people found this review helpful:

2006

NOV

29

by lilacsky

This game is very much like Cake Mania and Back to the Bakery. The characters are interesting (witch, cowboy, businessmen/women, etc), so if you are a huge fan of Cake Mania, you would love this game! The music is the same and doesn't really change, although I like that 1 character in each location who gives everyone else extra hearts! Overall, it's a good game.

10 out of 12 people found this review helpful:

2006

DEC

3

by Unitys_Serenity

This game is similar to Cake Mania and Diner Dash, but has the same issue I had with Cake Mania. There is no chaining bonuses or chaining of events to speed things along, the mouse clicking is slow and clunky with many actions taking too many clicks to complete - like the boxes for wrapping. The characters are cute and is a cute idea for Christmas, but nothing too new that isn't already out there in Diner Dash or Cake Mania. There are only 40 levels for the price, with no endless or bonus secret levels. The same song plays over and over again which gets to be annoying after a while. Way too high a price for what seems like a slapped together remake of great games - Diner Dash and Cake Mania.

11 out of 14 people found this review helpful:

2006

NOV

27

by Teren

This is a great Christmas Games! You should to try it now!

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful:

2007

MAR

4

by Starbunny

This is a great game. It has the pace of the Diner Dash series, and is very unique. The graphics are very good. It is a good game for people of all ages, but I think especially kids would like this game. In the beginning it is fairly simple, but like most games, the level of difficulty advances for an enjoyable game experience.

9 out of 11 people found this review helpful:

2007

FEB

17

by Greenmocha

This game is fun because it helps you keep your mind running. What i mean by that is you always have to be thinking and moving so the patrons don't get mad. At the beginning of the game Santa said you could click on the elves for some of there friends to help you which now after i played the free trial i know is not true. The game is kind of like Diner Dash . I recommend this game to people who like to think a lot because on some of the levels you have to think and remember to add either the balloon or the flag to the toy. I think it is good in the game you can make the patrons happy by either giving the grownups cards and the children candy canes. If the title of this game was optional to change i would probably pick the title Santa Claus is comin' to help because he sends some of his elves to help and ends up doing a great job and succeeds in helping. I think you should play this game because it is a fun mind opening game.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful:

2007

DEC

10

by maritzaisabel1ac

I really love the Christmas spirit, so I decided to download the game. The graphics are nice, and so is the concept, but one major problem I had with the game was the slow character, and lack of challenges. Another annoying thing was that some characters would appear with only 2 hearts, and in certain levels, only that type of character would appear and you'd run out of candy canes and cards quick!

8 out of 10 people found this review helpful:

2006

DEC

22

by Chele

This game is a lot of fun. The Holiday shopping is a lot like Cake Mania, or Diner Dash. There are a few gliches causing the game to have fatal errors. Hopefully these will get ironed out and we can download a corrected version. I love the toys, sounds,graphics and gift wrapping!

9 out of 12 people found this review helpful:

2006

DEC

7

by juhjuhJULIAN

Excellent game, I had to have it. It really gets you in the holiday spirit. Definatly worth trying out.

7 out of 9 people found this review helpful:

2008

JAN

2

by Kitty221

This is a wonderful time management game, I would love to see them make a third edition, the first one being "Believe in Sandy, a Santa story" I would play this over again without a doubt.