Overall, I enjoyed Hometown Hero Gourmet as much as the first three games. I'm glad that the rules and gameplay haven't changed, and I welcome the new customers. I also think that multiplayer mode is a great idea as it offers a fresh challenge for those who finish single-player mode. I consider myself to be a pretty good Diner Dash player and have Expert score on almost all the levels in all four games, but when I played against a live person for the first time I got whooped. It definitely forces you to change your playing style when you compete against someone, which can be exhilarating for some but frustrating for others.

However, as much as I like the addition of multiplayer mode, I don't like that one is forced to play the new levels in which Flo competes with another server. Yes, it's to expose the player to multiplayer mode, but these competition levels in single-player mode should be optional for those who have no interest in competing with anyone, not even a computer player.

Another aspect I didn't care for was the clothing purchase option. As I mentioned earlier, clothing was introduced in the last Diner Dash game. However, it seems that game developer/publisher PlayFirst decided to have people pay for their avatar's clothes to make a few extra bucks. Granted, there are a few default clothes available, but naturally the best looking outfits are for sale. At the same time however, keep in mind that purchasing clothing and multiplayer mode are completely optional.

If you're a long time Diner Dash fan like me, you will definitely enjoy this latest installment in the series.

Diner Dash Hometown Hero Gourmet is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB.