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DS | Simulation | Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends

Boxart for Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends
Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends 8 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 3.75
  • SOUND: 3.50
  • CONTROL: 4.00
  • FUN FACTOR 3.50
  • AVG USER SCORE 1.0
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 3.5

Review: Cooking Mama 2: Cooking With Friends

Review by Tae Kim | 11/13/2007 | 10:45:56 AM PST

I was a big fan of the original Cooking Mama when it first came out. The game was charming and quirky and took full advantage of the DS Lite's unique capabilities; it was, without a doubt, one of the better DS games I had ever played. The good news is that sequel is just as fun and improves upon the franchise's recipe in every way.

In case you missed out on the original, you use the stylus to chop, slice and dice your way through a number of dishes. Each step of the cooking process is laid out as a simple mini-game and you work your way towards a final product. It worked really well in the original and aside from a few quirks with the controls--the sensitivity of the touchscreen was an issue--the game was pretty awesome.

The sequel is much better because it incorporates more recipes, more tools and tasks, and more modes and bonuses. You can still prepare each dish with Mama looking over your shoulder but there is also a mode where you prepare specific dishes for a virtual friend: there are no instructions and if you mess up even one step, you ruin the entire dish. It can be frustrating to have to start over a dish just for one little mistake but it's also addictively fun.

There are also bonus stars which are earned by completing tasks quickly and perfectly. Accumulate five stars and you unlock little trinkets that you can use to dress up Mama or customize the kitchen that you cook in. It's a great little reward and serves as incentive to perfect your culinary skills.

The game isn't perfect--the game still has trouble picking up your commands on the touchscreen at times and some tasks require numerous tries before you can even figure out what to do--but Cooking Mama 2 is a winner without a shadow of a doubt. Every gamer, from the hardcore to the casual, should put in some time with this one. Just don't play it hungry or you will drool all over yourself. --Tae K. Kim

PROS: Quirky, charming fun. Improves on the original in every way.
CONS: Still retains some of the original's quirks.

One recipe I know I can get right.

One recipe I know I can get right.


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