The Video Game Critic

I rented Cooking Mama for the Wii today. My take:

Some people will enjoy the heck out of it, others will want to burn copies of the game.

In other words, just like most Wii games right now.

I'm in the former category, but I think I'm in an emerging new class of gamers: people who've had a Wii since roughly launch and have already played games like Rayman, Wii Play, Wario Ware that use the Wii mote in crazy ways. We are *used* to how it sort of "works," so some of the motions used in games like Cooking Mama are easier for us to handle.

I can see how some of the motions would be very hard for someone who just got a Wii to make heads or tales of. For instance, the stirring controls work by "stirring" the Wii-mote while holding it vertically, but there is a certain motion where you "feel" the accelerometer (if that's what it is) "wirring," and when you feel that, you know you've hit its sweet spot, thus making it much easier to stir.

You just sort of pick these things up after using the Wii mote, and this experience makes games like Cooking Mama easier.

I think that's why I enjoyed myself this evening, yet many critics complained about wonky controls (which I found to be accurate and responsive).

Anyway, I like the expanded menus, new multiplayer options, and "virtual kitchen" ideas. Probably the coolest Wii mote use is slicing meat, since it uses the 3D space aspect of the motion sensing, in that you saw it back and forth. It works pretty good and the added rumble features make the cutting feel better than on the DS version.

One complaint, though: a game like this shouldn't be priced at $50. Maybe $40 would be more appropriate, as the DS Cooking Mama was value priced at $20, and that's what made it a good buy despite being such a basic premise. $30 might be asking too much from Majesco, since there is more to this version than the DS game, but $50.... well, this is a solid rental title for me, until I see it cheaper somewhere in the future.

-Rob

I just don't see the point of a video game simulation for something as mundane as cooking, the best part of said activity is actually eating your food.

It may well be a very fun game, but I will never know, becausae I won't give it a chance. Plus the pastel art style makes me want to puke.

And you are right, it is unbelievably overpriced. The Wii needs some budget games that are not bundles, ASAP. You promised, Mr. Iwata, stand and deliver!

One interesting thing to come from this game: Cutting motions feel really good on the Wii mote. Action game designers should contact Office Create and try to get them to teach them how to implement some of the Cooking Mama controls!

-Rob

I would disagree. Cooking Mama is what it is (and should be cheaper, its main fault), but the motion controls work fine. The problem is in the english instructions; they often stink. The actual graphical representations of the Wii-mote are more accurate in describing what you need to do.

I still have some more gaming to go, but I'd score this a little higher than I scored the DS version (which I think was a C). I might give this one a C+. It'd be B material if it was cheaper.

I do like the simple, fast gameplay. It takes so much effort to play most games, that I find the friendly, easy going approach of a Cooking Mama to be a nice break from games that require at least several hours to even begin to enjoy.

And, remember, I just got done sinking probably 50-60 hours into Fire Emblem (since December, obviously, I do have a job!), so I will admit that I'm in the mood for a casual game right now.

-Rob

i think 50 is too much for this title as well, but at least nintendo didnt have the gall to raise their base game price to 60

This game sucks. My wife doesn't even like it. Sorry, I even wanted to like this one.

I heard the arcade version is better, but only works if it is 10 feet or less from the stove. We had to rearrange the kitchen to get it to fit. Oh well, thank God it's worth it.

Funkmaster V

[QUOTE=bluemonkey]

I too love the "simple, fast gameplay" but I have the arcade version in my kitchen.

[/QUOTE]

It's too early for me too laugh this morning.  Cut it out.

Looking at some of the semi-juvenile responses, methinks that the premise of cooking is just a turn off to certain gamers. Such a turn off, in fact, that one cannot get over that bias and enjoy themselves in a casual setting such as this (or even try the game).

To each their own. While not a great game by any means, I do find it enjoyable, perhaps because I don't have an aversion to the premise to start with.

-Rob