Hell's Kitchen (Wii, Nintendo DS, Windows, Mac)

If you've seen the Fox TV reality show Hell's Kitchen, you can probably guess what the video game with the same name is all about. In the HELL'S KITCHEN game, you're trying to be the best chef possible and rise through the ranks from dishwasher to master chef. You'll endure all manner of complex recipes and demanding customers. If you don't do well, you'll incur the wrath of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. In fact, he likes to call you a "donkey" when you don't finish a dish within the allotted time.

In the Wii version of this game, you use the Wii remote to hone and master three key restaurant skills: preparation, cooking, and service. Ramsay watches your every move, and he often doesn't like what he sees. You'll play host to diners, leading them to their candlelit table, helping them to choose from the menu, taking their order, prepping their meals in the kitchen, serving it, and then clearing the table when the gourmands are done. You can also play with one pal in coop or competitive mode, but there is no online play.

Career mode is where Hell's Kitchen shines. You even get to keep the recipes you make for future reference in your own real life kitchen. And, yes, while Ramsay is tough on you (too tough for the sensitive), he does release a few compliments when you've done well. While the motion-sensing aspect of the Wii remote is great for cutting and chopping, it's not as precise for pointing and mixing foods together. You'll also have to keep an eye on Ramsay's Tolerance Meter, which flames with rage. If you make too many mistakes, the meter overflows. The result? He'll get so annoyed, he'll close the restaurant early.

There seems to be an endless supply of recipes and levels for you to wade through on your way to becoming master chef. While it's initially exciting (and somewhat frightening when Ramsay cracks the whip), the repetitive nature can get to be a grind. Unless you're a true foodie who wants to unlock the many recipes (including Mint Lamb Burgers and Polenta Shortcake with Roasted Peaches and Ice Cream), you may become restless, and worse, bored. If you want to try before you buy, there's a stripped-down, free game online at Hell's Kitchen

Available on: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Windows, Mac
Not available online
Genre: Simulation
Developer: UbiSoft
Released on: September 9, 2008
Price: 39.99
ESRB Rating: T for Mild Language