"Dora's backpack would say "YUM YUM YUM!!! DELICIOSO!!""

Who would've thought that Nintendo could regain the video gaming throne as it has in the recent years. Its portable entry into the current generation of handheld consoles has been more than rewarding. Yes, sorry to say, it IS beating out the PSP in terms of quality software (I DO own both, and I love both systems).

You must be curious as to why I say such a thing. Well... Cooking Mama is a prime example of what makes the DS the superior system:

- Good for gaming on the go (tons of short tasks to do for the person that plays in short spurts)
- Addicting gameplay
- innovation
- Just. Plain. Old. FUN!!!!

Cooking Mama is for the inner cook in you. Even if you can't scramble and fry and egg in real life, CM lets you become the Iron Chef, no matter HOW old you are.

The premise of Cooking Mama is simple. Just pick a dish and prepare it as mama instructs you. By using the DS's stylus (called the 'master cooking tool') and touch screen, you'll be performing a broad number of cooking techniques with finesse. From simple cutting, to chopping, grating, sauteeing, boiling... the list goes on. You name it, you'll be making quality dining in a matter of minutes.

Unfortunately, that's about as far as it goes. There ARE 76 distinct dishes to prepare. And... along with that you are actually given the liberty to switch up what you're preparing, after performing some of the more basic procedures (the Spaghetti Neopolitan can become Spaghetti Bolognese, if you so choose) There's even a mode that allows you to make combination plates.

In terms of DS WiFi options, it's rather shallow. The most you can do is send someone a demo of the game where they can cook a single dish. Other than that, it's rather short. It would have been nice to have some kind of a VS mode where things can play out Iron Chef style, but perhaps that has been saved for the upcoming Wii version, or a possible sequel.

Cooking Mama is yet another quirky sleeper hit that is bound to draw people Nintendo's handheld workhorse. This type of game may not be for everybody, but it is a good show of what kind of potential the stylus has.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/19/06