When you hear the phrase "dream resort", you immediately think of a lavish getaway locale that's so luxurious you could barely even dream of it, right? Well, that's not exactly the case in Chloe's Dream Resort, a new time management release from Fugazo. You see, instead of operating the resort of someone's dreams, you're operating the resort of everyone's dreams. In other words, when people go to sleep, they visit this resort to relax their mind, body and spirit. The problem is, the resort isn't working so well, so while Chloe slumber's on her work desk, her dream self is busily serving dreamers from around the world.

The set-up is outlandish (in a good way), but the gameplay is thankfully familiar. Dreamers arrive on the screen with a request in mind. Drag them to the appropriate location, whether that be the ski lift, hot tub, card table, or relaxation bench, then be prepared to serve their every need. Bring fresh newspapers, supply drinks and food, or simply turn up the massage function on the chair. If it's their dream, it's your job. After all, how else are dreamers supposed to relax?

Naturally, you must keep an eye on your customer's patience levels, as unhappy dreamers won't supply much in the form of monetary compensation. What's the currency of the dream world, anyway? Snooze Bucks? Dreams can turn into nightmares, too, so stay on the lookout for snow monsters or dastardly frogs who attempt to haunt the lives of the sleepy dreamers. A quick click sends them packing, leaving everyone else to relax in bliss.

Analysis: Chloe's Dream Resort is a phenomenal time management game. For starters, it looks gorgeous, with a smooth art style reminiscent of the Delicious: Emily series that's animated almost as subtly. But what really impresses is how finely-tuned Chloe's Dream Resort is. Every single detail was tended to, from the cost of upgrades to the method in which customers demand new items, and the end result shows a level of polish rarely seen in the casual gaming realm.

Moving from resort to resort (there are five in all, each with a dozen levels to complete), you'll upgrade structures to provide better, more expensive, and faster service to your customers. You can choose which items to upgrade, so if you tend to be a fast clicker, upgrading Chloe's movement speed is a good idea. If you like to let customers sit while you tend to other things, consider investing in rest areas that help keep them patient and content.

Finding fault with a well-tuned game like this is difficult, but something many players will find disappointing is the lack of additional modes. Chloe's Dream Resort is a 60 level run from beginning to end. Apart from a few mini-games and vying for the expert score on each stage, there's not much going on outside of the main game. While this may seem a detractor on the surface, you'll spend a good five or six hours with the game as is, so bonus modes aren't really necessary.

Never frustrating, never under-challenging, but always a pitch-perfect experience from beginning to end. You do not want to miss this superb casual time management game!

Windows:
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Mac OS X:
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