New 'Burger Time' serves up a good time

— -- Who could forget Burger Time, that deliciously addictive '80s arcade game that challenged you to build hamburgers and avoid running into nasty toppings?

Hope you brought your appetite, because Namco Networks has resurrected this classic in Burger Time Deluxe, a downloadable PC game with new game-play elements, better graphics, bigger levels and minigames. It's not a perfect treat, but a tasty update nonetheless.

If case you've never played the original, you must navigate around various platforms, connected by ladders, and assemble hamburgers in order to clear the levels. You do this by walking over the parts of the burger — such as the bun, tomato, lettuce and cheese — so that it falls down to the lower platform, eventually making it onto a tray in the correct sandwich order. Sounds easy, sure, but keep in mind that you've got to deal with nasty foods that want to harm you — so you must keep away from them or use your limited pepper spray to stun them. Better yet, trap these ingredients onto one of the burger's layers and they'll fall down and become part of the lunch for extra points.

Burger Time Deluxe offers both a Quick Play mode and a Story mode. The latter, which includes a tutorial, lets you play as either Peter Pepper or Sally Salt. At the start of the game your uncle will tell you about the mean Vinnie Vinegar, a rival restaurateur, who wants to put your family's popular hamburger hut out of business. Vinnie's henchmen — which include a pickle, fried egg and hot dog — are dispatched to disrupt your progress.

As you roam around the platforms to assemble each burger, you'll encounter many of these foes, each of which have their own unique skills. The ham, for example, can speed up quickly when it's near you; the carrot can drill down a platform (without requiring a ladder); and the onion cries and leaves a white plume that can kill you.

Clever power-ups can help you in this remake, including hot sauce that temporarily sets foes aflame and an energy drink that makes you run faster. Some items, however, simply give you extra points, such as the teacup, fries, ice cream and spatula.

If you spell a word by collecting each letter scattered throughout the platforms (such as P-E-P-P-E-R) then not only do you finish the level without having to assemble every hamburger, but you're also treated to a hidden minigame. The first one you'll encounter is a maze-like puzzler that challenges you to reach the end point (and avoid the falling hamburgers) within a predetermined time limit.

The game isn't without its issues, though. The background art, for example, is very busy with dozens of napkins, dishes, pots and loaves of bread per level. Therefore, it's difficult to tell at first glance what you can pick up and what you cannot (tip: power-ups glow a little bit). Another oversight is not all items are explained by your uncle, such as the water dripping that can push you down the ladder or bubbles that can float you to a higher platform.

Speaking of your red-haired uncle, another issue is his silly profile in the corner of the screen that can obscure your view somewhat, especially when there's a tray hiding behind him that needs a burger built on it.

Despite these assorted issues, Burger Time Deluxe should satiate fans of the original game or those who'd like to snack on a silly arcade diversion.

Contact Saltzman at gnstech@gannett.com.