Instead of the usual score a touchdown/bang the cheerleader or behead the bad guy/bang the cheerleader videogame, the original Cooking Mama was a quirky DS title that made us feel good about our culinary expertise, even if in real life that consisted of the ability to make popcorn via microwave. So Majesco's new sequel, Cooking Mama: Cook Off, should make our mom's all the more proud.

Because we can now explain that, no, we don't eat out 6 days a week (and order in the other 1). Watch mom, we'll make you dinner. We just fire up the old Wii, and presto! Set it and forget it. No mom, it's not real food. No mom, it's not HD. We have reservations. Stop crying.

Hit the jump for our Frankenreview: which, if we were feeling confidently metaphorical, would call an all you can eat buffet, or every flavor of ice cream, or something like that.

IGN
The premise is still the same - cook, cook, cook - but now the game has an overarching "battle" system as well. As more dishes become unlocked players can participate in worldwide battles with cooks from other regions, each specializing in their own key dishes. In addition, any dish in the game can be played in a two-player vs. mode, where the Wii pits chef against chef to see whose cuisine reigns supreme (thank you Iron Chef)...The general consensus: it works. Battles are fun, if not a bit hard for the casual audience.

Gamepro
[I] hate the fact that, no matter how inept you are as a chef, your dishes always come out looking great. It would be better if the end results actually reflected your performance, especially in the two-player split screen...[and] the lack of tactile feedback is strange given the Remote's built-in rumble; feeling the chop of your knife would have gone a long way towards making the game enjoyable...

Gamebrink
The graphics are DS quality and seem to be a direct port. The sound is exactly the same and you'll still be pulling out your hair as the annoyingly happy main theme plays in the background...While the first game was unique, quirky, and occasionally fun, the Wii version feels a bit old and tired.

1up
But ultimately Cook Off's combination of improved variety, a better interface and multiplayer gameplay were an easy decision over the DS's stylus controls, solo-only play and limited palette — and palate. And so a new champion is crowned... An upset victory for the fresh-faced Wii as the reigning champion is humbled in a landslide decision.


GameInformer
I kind of wish Cooking Mama had used some real recipes that you could try out in your own home. I don't know how many people would have actually done so, but it would have added a unique sense of validity to the game. As it stands now, the cartoony graphics don't really make you hungry or even make you feel like you actually made food, nor is the game ridiculous enough to give you that silly kind of fun like WarioWare.

Hmmm...controls that aren't quite precise enough to keep a game fun very long...I think I'm seeing a Wii bit of a trend. (Translation: flame away, fanboys). Mark Wilson