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Burger Time Deluxe
When food fights back on your lunch break
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PRESS START
An Introduction To Today’s Game
53 issues in and I’m just now getting to a GameBoy game. Don‘t put me in retro jail!
Today’s game isn’t about epic stories, learning new mechanics or combat systems, and there’s no princess to save.
It’s about simple and fun gameplay.
BurgerTime Deluxe landed on Game Boy in 1991, bringing Data East's quirky burger-building formula to Nintendo's portable powerhouse.
Unlike most arcade ports that simply shrunk down existing levels, this handheld edition cooked up something entirely new. Twenty-four fresh stages replaced the arcade's repetitive six-level loop, complete with password saves and a difficulty curve designed for commuters and classroom rebels alike.
The concept remains wonderfully absurd: you're a chef assembling giant hamburgers by walking across oversized ingredients while anthropomorphic hot dogs, pickles, and eggs chase you down. It sounds ridiculous because it absolutely is, and that's precisely the point.
BEHIND THE PIXELS
Let’s Dive Into The Game
BurgerTime Deluxe is an action puzzle platformer where you guide Chef Peter Pepper through maze-like stages built from platforms and ladders.
Your goal is simple: walk across every piece of every burger to make them drop onto plates below. Each burger consists of buns, patties, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese scattered across different vertical levels.
When you walk the full length of an ingredient, it falls one level down, and if it hits another piece below, that piece drops too. String together falling ingredients and you'll complete burgers faster, but planning these cascades while enemies swarm you requires quick thinking.
The Food Foes, Mr. Hot Dog, Mr. Pickle, and Mr. Egg, patrol the platforms with predictable but dangerous patterns. They'll chase Peter relentlessly, though their movement follows specific rules you can exploit.
Most enemies prioritize climbing any ladder they encounter, even if it takes them away from you, creating opportunities to slip past tight situations. Your only defensive tool is pepper, shaken from a limited supply that briefly stuns enemies in tears. Use it wisely because refills come rarely, appearing as bonus items like coffee cups, ice cream cones, and french fries that also grant points or extra lives.
What separates this from the arcade original is variety and pacing. The 24 levels span six worlds with four stages each, and you'll receive a password after completing each world.
Some stages feature enormous multi-tier burgers requiring careful planning, while others introduce wraparound screens where walking off one side brings you back on the other. Certain levels include trick ladders that only appear after specific burger pieces drop, forcing you to memorize stage layouts and think several moves ahead. Later worlds add new enemy types and increasingly complex burger configurations that demand mastery of the timing and spacing mechanics.
The graphics work within the Game Boy's limitations effectively. Sprites are clear and well-defined despite the monochrome display, making it easy to track ingredients, enemies, and your position during frantic moments.
Each world maintains a consistent visual theme, though backgrounds don't vary much within worlds. The soundtrack deserves credit for variety, cycling through three different tunes across the adventure. The opening theme sets an upbeat, peppy tone that matches the game's lighthearted absurdity perfectly.
Difficulty progression feels measured until World 6, where the game suddenly demands near-perfect execution. The unlimited continues system cushions this spike, though continuing resets your score to zero, preserving the arcade mentality of rewarding skilled players who minimize deaths.
Most stages can be cleared in one to two minutes once you learn the patterns, making this perfect for short sessions. The game has been one of my go-to games to kill time for years now. Just yesterday I fired it up on my Miyoo Mini Plus while at the pharmacy.
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WHERE TO PLAY
The game is on Nintendo Switch Online - GameBoy.
Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)
Loose: $30
Complete: $76
New/Sealed: $255
GAME INFORMATION
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Cover Art
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GAME OVER
Why You Should Play This
BurgerTime Deluxe proves that sometimes the Game Boy version becomes the definitive edition. This isn't just a competent port, it's a thoughtful reimagining that respects the arcade's DNA while fixing its repetitive nature.
The expanded level count, password system, and portable-friendly design make it more approachable than the quarter-munching original, and the core loop of dodging enemies while orchestrating ingredient avalanches remains genuinely engaging over three decades later.
You should play this if you enjoy puzzle platformers with tight mechanics and escalating challenge. The bite-sized stages work beautifully whether you have five minutes or an hour to spare. Fair warning though, World 6 will test your patience and reflexes in equal measure, so prepare for some legitimate challenge after coasting through earlier worlds.
Peter Pepper's portable adventure aged better than most early Game Boy releases, and its simple concept executed with precision makes it worth serving up for another round. Just maybe don't think too hard about eating burgers that someone walked across with their shoes.
RETRO HARDWARE
Reading about retro games is great, but playing them is the real goal. This new Retro Hardware section is about easy, affordable ways to get those classics running without the headache.
Miyoo Mini Plus
The Miyoo Mini Plus. My first retro device I ever bought. Slightly bigger than the original Miyoo Mini, the Plus model adds a larger screen and a more comfortable grip, making it easy to toss in a bag and take on the go when I dare to leave my protective man cave. (Still scary.)
The Miyoo Mini Plus is an entry-level retro handheld, but in the best possible way. It excels at playing classic systems like NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and a massive arcade library, all of which run great. It’s simple, affordable, and perfect for anyone looking to dip their toes into retro gaming without overcomplicating things.
My readers can use the following code for a 12% discount: NY12
Click either of the pictures to take you to the website.
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