Cooking Mama Cook Off - Complete package - 1 user - Wii

Sizzling off the Nintendo DS burner, Mama is back for second helpings with Cooking Mama: Cook-Off for the Wii. What can easily be called an import-with-modification, this kitchen simulation emulates the DS version almost identically and although several key distinctions can be made between the two titles, it's a safe wager that if you enjoyed the portable Mama, you'll love her just the same when grounded to Nintendo's new console.

The premise of the game is ridiculously simple which no doubt enhances the title's adorable flair as well as minimizes its already insignificant learning curve. Mama (a ridiculously excitable Japanese woman) has once again decided to open her cheery country-style kitchen to gamers who, under her unblinking supervision, will cook, slice, and dice their way through fifty-five international entrees and desserts.

Each of the missions is further deconstructed into several objectives, all of which can be successfully completed through simple motion-driven minigames. Say, for instance, a gamer chooses to melt and mold chocolate truffles. After confirming his or her selection, a screen will appear detailing the numerous step-by-step activities one must perform in order to properly prepare the cocoa-crunchies. Once briefed, the first minigame will begin with a simple 3-2-1 on-screen countdown. An unwrapped chocolate bar appears on a digital cutting board and the gamer is instructed to flick the Wiimote up and down rapidly to "dice" the dessert. Once chopped, the chocolate must then be boiled, an activity which requires the gamer to monitor oven settings and be vigilant against charring the mixture. After each minigame, a results screen appears, chronicling one's numerous successes or failures. From this evidence Mama renders her verdict which is relayed through a series of annoying, mispronounced "Engrish" phrases (`Better than Mama!,' `No Good!,' `That's Okay. Keep Going!'). Upon accepting her analysis, the instructions screen reappears and another minigame launches.

The title features three primary `game modes' - `Let's Cook,' `Friends and Food of the World,' and `Friends and Food.' In highlighting the first option, Mama's recipe book bursts open, thereby enabling the gamer to access a myriad of single-player entrée-selections, all of which can be independently prepared. `Friends and Food of the World' offers a competitive user-versus-computer challenge during which an exotic e-pal races you to prepare a specialty entrée from his or her own unique nation. The human contestant must not only cook quickly but accurately as both time and precision determine your final score. Lastly, "Friends and Food" allows two human chefs-in-training to compete against one another in a food preparation dual; utilizing a split-screen configuration, both players are given the same tasks to complete but, as expected, their performances can vary greatly.

As for its performance and execution, Cooking Mama: Cook Off provides gamers with a light-hearted, atypical experience, no more, no less. This isn't a game which enthralls its user at the onset and demands his or her undivided attention. You won't have to cancel your social obligations with the excuse that you've "just gotta create those virtual creampuffs." In the same breath, don't underestimate this title to be a useless throw-away deserving of dust collection; Cooking Mama can be a delight, in so long as one keeps his or her expectations in check. This game won't significantly impact your worldviews and mindsets nor will it violently augment your real-life culinary abilities; what it will provide is casual amusement and entertaining escapism from the harsh realities of life. When shoot'em ups get you down and puzzling mysteries confound you, Mama's always there with a gentle smile, sparkling kitchen, and exotic entrée to be prepared. Bon appetite!

PROS -

+ Effervescent environments, entrees, and activities.

+ Excellent and innovative use of the Wiimote as an all-in-one kitchen utensil.

+ Guaranteed to charm even the most cynical of gamers.

+ Easy to play but truly difficult to master.

+ Lovely soundtrack and realistic audio effects; battles between global e-pals feature music tracks unique to the given region.

+ Overall, an addictive oddity; how many cooking simulations have this much depth and diligence?

CONS -

-- Entrees and edible ingredients are beautifully rendered; environments and cell-shaded utensils however lack detail and definition. Too many jagged edges and not enough vectors are integrated.

-- Mama's vocalizations are annoying, repetitive, and sometimes incomprehensible.

-- Literally no "options" exist within the game's options menu; customization is oddly absent.

-- A few Wiimote movements are difficult to perform; mixing becomes exhausting whilst peeling virtual vegetables is actually more challenging than the real thing!

-- Niche-marketed; some gamers will adore this title but many will unfairly treat it with disdain.

Ok... what is that woman SAYING?!?!?
As many have said, Mama is very difficult to understand. This doesn't seem critical for gameplay... just.... weird.
Somewhere in the gaming world of Tokyo is a highly-caffeinated Japanese woman who thinks she has performed an Italian accent.
Anyway.
Moving on.
The game itself is very simple. Childlike. Yet I keep playing it. Why? I would love to know.
Maybe because it is so mindless that I really don't give a [beep] if Mama likes my cooking or not. It is just kinda fun to peel virtual carrots and wonder what the hell that red stuff is they want me to add to scrambled eggs.
And I can tell kids will love it. I haven't shown it to my 10 year old yet (off visiting friends) -- but I just know she'll be thrilled.

As some have also said, some of the controls are frustrating.
Something like "stir" shouldn't be difficult... yet for some reason - no matter which way I move the remote, it never works the right way.
Ditto with some kind of timing thing where I am supposed to add ingredients, change stove heats, etc. They don't really tell you what you are supposed to do, and the controls don't seem to work the way you think they should. I even think it once said "use B button" and "A" is what worked.
Nevertheless, for some silly reason I find it fun to swirl pretend butter around in a cartoon pan and here Mama say something that may or may not resemble the word "awesome."

First of all, when I heard of this game, I thought it would be fun. And I was right. Partially. The thing i didn't like was the actual length of the game. Cooking the dishes was fun, however. We spent a lot of time playing it at home, and also with friends. It was more fun as a multiplayer game. My sister liked it a lot so she played it often. But after about a week, we BEAT THE GAME!!!! BELIEVE THAT! I was cautious from the start, so I rented it first. We beat the game before we returned it! My sister was pretty bummed out. I was also kind of upset at how they could make such a fun game so short. 55 recipes seems like a lot, but it isn't. Each recipes is about a couple of minutes. After an hour of plying, you probably have ended up with 25% complete. And the graphics are okay, same with sound. BUT, for some dumb reason they decided to make "mama" speak some made up language, a cross between English and Japenese. Japanenglish! Half the time you dont understand a word she says. Like when you mess up on something, she says something along the lines of "good, not mine". The other half when you can understand it, she ends up saying something very repetitive. The actual idea of a cooking game for Wii is excellent, but this just doesn't cut it.

Pros:
-Fun and addicting
-Nice graphics
-Nice sound
-Fun multiplayer

Cons:
-Mama is not understandable
-Incredibly short
-Repetitive

Overall, this is not a very good game. Way too short and repetitive. However, very good idea to rent. DO NOT make the mistake to buy it. It will be lying at the bottom of your video game drawer after a week of gameplay. [...]

Lets hope the can make a Cooking Mama 2 woth much longer gameplay and way more understandable language.