Cooking Mama (video game)

Last updated
Cooking Mama
Cooking Mama.JPG
Nintendo DS cover art
Developer(s) Office Create
Publisher(s)
Composer(s) Masayoshi Ishi
Series Cooking Mama
Platform(s) Nintendo DS, iOS
ReleaseNintendo DS
  • JP: March 23, 2006
  • NA: September 12, 2006
  • AU: December 7, 2006
  • EU: December 8, 2006
iOS
  • WW: February 26, 2009
Genre(s) Simulation, minigame
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Cooking Mama [lower-alpha 1] is a cookery simulation-styled minigame compilation video game for the Nintendo DS, and it was later ported to iOS as Cooking Mama: Lets Cook! in 2015. It was developed by Office Create and published by Taito, Majesco Entertainment, and 505 Games. It was awarded IGN's "Best Of E3" award for 2006. It is the start of the Cooking Mama series, with 4 more main series titles on DS and Nintendo 3DS, two spin offs on Wii, and a spin off on 3DS. It also spins off into the Gardening Mama series. For later titles in the series, the publishers and Office Create joined together to form Cooking Mama Limited, which was made exclusively to develop the Cooking Mama series.

Contents

Gameplay

In Cooking Mama, the player is tasked with cooking various meals using the device's touch screen. Following the instructions of the titular "Mama", the player uses the stylus or their finger to perform different kitchen tasks, including chopping vegetables, slicing meat, flipping food in pans, and arranging the final items on the plate. The version of the game for iOS also takes advantage of the accelerometer in its devices with some similar gameplay to Cooking Mama: Cook Off . Each of these tasks is performed by completing a mini-game which usually lasts less than 10 seconds. The gameplay structure consists of the player progressing through a series of short minigames. The game features a total of 96 different dishes.

Each minigame represents a different activity in the meal preparation, such as mixing, frying, or chopping the provided ingredients. The minigame mechanics themselves range from quickly drawing parallel lines in order to chop items, to a rhythm game where ingredients are added to a skillet or the heat is adjusted at precisely the right time. In many cases, players must look at the top screen of the DS for guidance on what to do next and then perform the task on the bottom screen. If the player makes a serious blunder or time expires without sufficient progress being made, that step in the cooking process is considered a failure. When this happens, a graphic of an angry "Mama" with flames erupting from her eyes is displayed, along with the caption "Don't worry, Mama will fix it!".

Completing a dish can require playing one minigame, or as many as a dozen. The player's performance is rated when each dish is finished, based on the average result of each minigame. Depending on the final score, the game may award the player a bronze, silver or gold medal. The highest medal earned for each dish is recorded and displayed next to each item on the selection screen.

A screenshot of the "Let's Cook" mode, where a player is cutting a tomato for a dish Cooking Mama Tomato.JPG
A screenshot of the "Let's Cook" mode, where a player is cutting a tomato for a dish

Game modes

Let's Cook

The main game mode where players cook dishes. Players initially start with just a few simple recipes to choose from, with additional recipes unlocked as the earlier ones are mastered. Each recipe requires players to play through a short, timed minigame for each ingredient or group of ingredients. For example, to make a sandwich, the player would first be required to chop a cucumber into slices before the time limit elapses.

When cooking a recipe which has previously been mastered, the player sometimes has the option to change the dish being made "on the fly" between two minigames. If completed, this new recipe is then unlocked for future play.

A player also has a choice to practice a recipe.

Let's Combine

In this mode, players can take the recipes which have been unlocked and combine them to make something new. For example, the "Fried Eggs" recipe can be combined with the "Rice" recipe to make an entree.

Use Skill

In this mode, players put their minigaming ingredients, peeling, stewing, tearing, and more to the test. The player is ranked at the end of each task.

Reception

The DS version received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. [3] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of all four sevens, for a total of 28 out of 40. [5]

411Mania gave it a score of 7.5 out of 10, saying that "At $19.99 this makes yet another quality and affordable title for the Nintendo DS library." [16] Detroit Free Press also gave it a score of three stars out of four, calling it "a game best played in small bursts. It's perfect for waiting in line or during road trips." [14] However, The Sydney Morning Herald gave it a score of three stars out of five and said it was "A lot of fun but unlikely to satisfy your gaming appetite." [15]

The original Cooking Mama sold more than 500,000 copies in the United States as of August 15, 2007, [17] and sold more than 1 million copies in PAL regions. [18] It received a "Double Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), [19] indicating sales of at least 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom. [20]

As of January 30, 2008, the Cooking Mama series sold more than 2.6 million copies worldwide. [21] Majesco also credited it, among other games, for an increase in revenue in early 2007. [22] By May 2009, over four million copies of the series were sold in North America. Miley Cyrus was found to be a huge fan of the game, and even gained a large number of fans due to how much she enjoys it. [23]

Criticism

The animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) created a Flash game titled Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals [24] intended to both criticize the video game's use of meat-based recipes and to encourage veganism. [25] The creators of Cooking Mama responded to PETA in a press release stating that "I would never put rat in my ratatouille", and indicated that not all of Mama's recipes are meat-based. [26] PETA stated that they were happy with the release of Gardening Mama , a spin-off of the series. [27]

Sequels

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Cooking Mama (クッキング ママ, Kukkingu Mama)

Related Research Articles

<i>Nintendogs</i> 2005 real-time pet simulation video game

Nintendogs is a real-time pet simulation video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It was released in Japan, and was later released in: North America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and other regions. It was originally released in three different versions: Dachshund & Friends, Lab & Friends and Chihuahua & Friends. It has been re-released twice, first as a bundled release with a special edition Nintendo DS with a new version called Nintendogs: Best Friends and later as Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends.

<i>Mario Party 8</i> 2007 video game

Mario Party 8 is a 2007 party video game developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the eighth main installment in the Mario Party series, as well as the first title in the series to be released for the Wii.

<i>Cars</i> (video game) 2006 video game

Cars is a 2006 adventure racing game published by THQ. The game is based on the 2006 film of the same name. It was released for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable in June 2006, with versions for the Xbox 360 and Wii released later that year. The Wii version includes functionality geared towards its Wii Remote controller and was a launch game for the system. Taking place after the events of the film, the game follows Lightning McQueen as he participates in the new racing season with his goal set on finally winning the Piston Cup. While doing so, he races and trains with the local community of Radiator Springs.

<i>Cooking Mama: Cook Off</i> 2007 video game

Cooking Mama: Cook Off is a video game for the Wii developed by Office Create and published by Taito in Japan, Majesco Entertainment in North America, and 505 Games in Europe and Australia. It is a spin off of the Nintendo DS game Cooking Mama. The game was released in Japan on February 8, 2007 and in North America on March 20, 2007. In Europe, it was released on May 11, 2007, with an Australian release closely following on May 18, 2007. The Wii sequel to this game, Cooking Mama: World Kitchen was released in the US in November 2008.

<i>Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends</i> 2007 video game

Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends is the sequel to the Nintendo DS video game Cooking Mama and its Wii spin off, Cooking Mama: Cook Off. The game has twice as many minigames as the original, new recipes, and a new multiplayer "Cook Off" mode. The game includes voice clips similar to the ones used in Cooking Mama: Cook Off.

<i>Cooking Guide: Cant Decide What to Eat?</i> 2008 video game

Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat?, released in North America as Personal Trainer: Cooking, is a digital cookbook for the Nintendo DS. The game was released in 2008: the original, Japanese-language edition was released in Japan on December 4, in Europe in English on June 20, in Australia on July 3, and in North America on November 24. Cooking Guide is part of both Nintendo's Touch! Generations brand and a cooking tutorial software series started from a Japan-only title, Shaberu! DS Oryōri Navi. In North America, it is also part of the Personal Trainer series.

<i>Cooking Mama: World Kitchen</i> 2008 video game

Cooking Mama: World Kitchen is the second spin off game in the Cooking Mama franchise and it is the sequel to the 2007 Wii game Cooking Mama: Cook Off. The game was developed by Cooking Mama Limited. It was published by Taito in Japan, Majesco Entertainment in North America, and by 505 Games in PAL regions. The game was released exclusively on Wii in North America on November 18, 2008, in Japan on December 11, 2008, in Europe on February 6, 2009, and in Australia on June 4, 2009.

<i>Gardening Mama</i> 2009 video game

Gardening Mama is a gardening simulation-styled minigame compilation video game for the Nintendo DS, and it was later ported to iOS in 2010. It is a spin-off from the Cooking Mama series.

<i>Whats Cooking? with Jamie Oliver</i> 2008 cooking video game

What's Cooking? with Jamie Oliver, sometimes known as What's Cooking? Jamie Oliver, is a cooking video game for the Nintendo DS narrated by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. It was developed by German studio keen games GmbH & Co. KG and published by Atari Europe.

<i>Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop</i> 2009 video game

Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop released as Cooking Mama 3 in Japan, Europe and Australia, is the sequel to the Nintendo DS video game Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends and is the third installment in the Cooking Mama series. Developed by 505 Games, Majesco Entertainment, and Taito, Shop & Chop features five different game modes, including two new ones, over 80 different recipes, 200 unique mini-games, four-player multiplayer, and the classic gameplay.

<i>Ratatouille: Food Frenzy</i> 2007 video game

Ratatouille: Food Frenzy is a 2007 cookery simulation-styled minigame compilation video game developed by Helixe and published by THQ for the Nintendo DS. It was released in North America in October 2007, and in Europe in February 2008. It is based on the film Ratatouille.

<i>Babysitting Mama</i> 2010 video game

Babysitting Mama, known in Japan as Babysitter Mama is a babysitting simulation-styled minigame compilation video game released for the Wii. It is the third spin-off from the Cooking Mama series; the first two were Gardening Mama and Crafting Mama. It includes a stuffed toy human baby to play with and the player slips its Wii Remote inside. It includes 50 different baby mini games and activities, like playing, washing, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Majesco Entertainment</span> American video game publisher and distributor

Majesco Entertainment Company is an American video game publisher and distributor based in Hazlet, New Jersey. The company was founded as Majesco Sales in Edison, New Jersey in 1986, and was a privately held company until acquiring operation-less company ConnectivCorp in a reverse merger takeover, becoming its subsidiary and thus a public company on December 5, 2003. ConnectivCorp later changed its name to Majesco Holdings Inc. on April 13, 2004.

<i>Crafting Mama</i> 2010 video game

Crafting Mama, known in Japan as Craft Mama and in the PAL region as Cooking Mama World: Hobbies and Fun, is a crafting simulation-styled minigame compilation video game developed by Cooking Mama Limited that was released on Nintendo DS during October 2010. It is a spin-off from the Cooking Mama series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PETA satirical browser games</span> Satirical browser games created by PETA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights organization based in the United States, has released a number of browser games on its website that have parodied existing video games. Various PETA parodies have been made based on games such as New Super Mario Bros., Cooking Mama 2: World Kitchen, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Meat Boy, Super Mario 3D Land, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, and Pokémon X and Y. PETA creates these games to spread attention about real-life animal rights and animal welfare concerns and to advocate for vegetarian and vegan diets.

<i>Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit!</i> 2013 video game

Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit!, released in Japan as Cooking Mama 5 and in Europe and Australia as Cooking Mama: Bon Appétit!, is the sequel to the Nintendo 3DS video game Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic and is the fifth installment to the Cooking Mama series, the second on the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in Japan on November 21, 2013. It then released in North America on September 16, 2014 and in Europe on March 6, 2015. It contains over 60 recipes and new household activities/games.

<i>Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic</i> 2011 video game

Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic released as Cooking Mama 4 in Japan, Europe and Australia, is a 2011 video game for the Nintendo 3DS and it was the sequel to the Nintendo DS video game Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop and is the fourth installment to the Cooking Mama series. Kitchen Magic is the first Cooking Mama game to be released for the Nintendo 3DS and features 200 mini-games using the touch screen and 60 different recipes.

<i>Cooking Mama</i> Japanese video game series

Cooking Mama is a video game series and media franchise owned by Cooking Mama Limited. The series is a cookery simulation-styled minigame compilation of many video games and adventures for Nintendo gaming platforms. Generally, the gameplay revolves around performing different kitchen tasks, through the instructions of "Mama", to cook various meals. The series so far consists of five main games on Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, two spin-offs on Wii and DS each, as well as a spin off on 3DS. It is also a spin-off to the Gardening Mama series. The original Cooking Mama video game was also ported to iOS. A sixth main series game, Cooking Mama: Cookstar, was released for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in 2021.

<i>Cooking Mama: Cookstar</i> 2020 video game

Cooking Mama: Cookstar was a cookery simulation-styled minigame compilation video game, and the sixth installment in the Cooking Mama series of video games. The game was the first entry in the Cooking Mama series since Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit! (2014), and the first Cooking Mama game to release on a home console since Cooking Mama: World Kitchen (2008) or Babysitting Mama (2010).

<i>Big Brain Academy</i> Video game series

Big Brain Academy is a series of puzzle video games developed and published by Nintendo. Similar to the Brain Age series, each game features a number of activities designed to test, measure, and improve the player's mental skills. The first two games were released under the Touch! Generations brand, which has since been discontinued.

References

  1. ↑ "Cooking Mama for DS". GameRankings. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Cooking Mama for iOS (iPhone/iPad)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Cooking Mama for DS Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  4. ↑ MacDonald, Keza (October 10, 2006). "Cooking Mama (DS)". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Freund, Josh (March 15, 2006). "News - Latest Famitsu reviews - Yggdra Union, Ace Combat Zero, more". GamesAreFun. Archived from the original on March 20, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  6. ↑ Mason, Lisa (October 2006). "Cooking Mama (DS)". Game Informer . No. 162. p. 114. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  7. ↑ Ahoy And Avast (September 12, 2006). "Review: Cooking Mama". GamePro . Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  8. ↑ Navarro, Alex (September 18, 2006). "Cooking Mama Review (DS)". GameSpot . Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  9. ↑ Villoria, Gerald (September 20, 2006). "GameSpy: Cooking Mama". GameSpy. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  10. ↑ Harris, Craig (September 19, 2006). "Cooking Mama Review (NDS)". IGN . Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  11. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (February 27, 2009). "Cooking Mama iPhone Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Cooking Mama". Nintendo Power . Vol. 209. November 2006. p. 90.
  13. ↑ Castaneda, Karl (August 10, 2006). "Cooking Mama". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Gudmundsen, Jinny (February 25, 2007). "'COOKING MAMA'". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved February 4, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. 1 2 Hill, Jason (March 26, 2007). "Cooking Mama". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  16. ↑ Aranda, Ramon (September 20, 2006). "Cooking Mama (DS) Review". 411Mania. Retrieved February 4, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  17. ↑ "Cooking Mama Surpasses 500,000". IGN. August 15, 2007. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  18. ↑ Boyes, Emma (December 6, 2007). "Cooking Mama serves up 1 million". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  19. ↑ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Double Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association . Archived from the original on 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  20. ↑ Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra . Archived from the original on September 18, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Majesco Entertainment Announces Cooking Mama Franchise Sales Reach 1.6 Million Units Domestically". Majesco Entertainment. January 30, 2008. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  22. ↑ Seff, Micah (January 29, 2007). "Majesco Reports Increased Revenue". IGN. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  23. ↑ Fahey, Mike (May 11, 2009). "Cooking Mama Sells Four Million...Domestically". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
  24. ↑ "Cooking Mama, The Unauthorized PETA Edition: Mama Kills Animals". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  25. ↑ Inside Jersey staff (November 18, 2008). "PETA Burns Cooking Mama". NJ.com . Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
  26. ↑ Fahey, Rob (November 19, 2008). "Cooking Mama Responds To PETA". Kotaku. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
  27. ↑ Laughlin, Andrew (November 19, 2008). "PETA criticises 'Cooking Mama' games". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.