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How Metascores Are Calculated
85
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
In Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends, players use the stylus as the ultimate kitchen utensil in 150 different cooking mini-games across 80 new recipes that range from cultural delicacies like shark fin soup to the all-American apple pie. However, this time around players actually have hungry mouths to feed since nine finicky dinner friends will be tasting and judging each meal. A new Challenge Mode lets up to four friends compete in a wireless cook off with only one game card, while players can customize their kitchen - and even Mama! - in the fresh Decoration Mode. [Majesco]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 82
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
While it's not a huge step up from last time, the added modes make it a more complete experience. [Mar 2008, p.72]
80
Worth Playing
Mama herself is a charming guide through the apparently one-room world of cooking, and each challenge she throws your way will have you poking and prodding until you're beside yourself with glee.
 80
Gameplayer
A sugar rush of mini-game madness.
80
AceGamez
Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends is much like its predecessor - it is perfectly tuned for non-hardcore gamers and therefore frustrating to those used to evaluating games designed with that audience in mind.
77
NGamer UK
An improvement on the first. [Feb 2008, p.63]
75
1UP
Even with its quirks, I find it hard to put the game down -- it's so easy and fun to hop back in and whip up a couple quick, satisfying dishes. In its silly simplicity, Cooking Mama does what many can't: keep me heading back to the kitchen for one more snack.
75
Electronic Gaming Monthly
In its silly simplicity, Cooking mama does what many can't: keep me heading back to the kitchen for one more snack. [Holiday 2007, p.86]
75
Gamers' Temple
Offering tons of variety and some nifty cooking controls, Mama is ready to challenge our stylus skills once again through her cooking mini games... and this time, she has brought along her friends to test us and see if her meal guidance is paying off.
75
Destructoid
As much content was added, it still feels like beneath it all, it's more or less the same game: High quality, but eventually, you're going to get over it. I'd say it's a buy it or rent it title based on your love of the series itself.
74
Digital Entertainment News
It’s the best game in the series so far, but it’s not really that greatly improved over the original, and it still seems like a missed opportunity to make something that really, well, cooks. It’ll be enjoyable for young food enthusiasts, but everyone else will probably want to wait until mama gets a bit more serious about cooking.
74
Cheat Code Central
There aren't a lot of major changes to the original formula. At its core, it's essentially the same game only a bit better.
72
My Gamer
Cooking Mama is not a bad game. In fact, it is perfectly suited for the DS as the mini games are fun, entertaining, and short.
72
Game Almighty
When it comes right down to it this game is perfect for the newbies out there that have only heard of Cooking Mama and have wanted to try it out. But for those of you that invested time in the original game, it may be best to stay with that one, as this offers nothing new for you.
72
AtomicGamer
Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends feels like a second helping of the first game, rather than a new dish, but that doesn’t make it any less tasty.
71
GameTrailers
Cooking Mama 2 doesn’t really bring anything new to the dinner table, but that’s not really a bad thing. It just offers a heaping helping more of the gameplay fans of the original game fell in love with, and chances are, most will find that filling enough.
70
NintendoWorldReport
A pretty likeable game. The presentation and gameplay are both simple and charming, and the budget price makes the shallow premise and minor faults completely forgivable.
70
GameZone
This is a cute game with a certain odd charm and players will have fun. However, there’s not a whole lot of meat to the game, and is really only good for short gaming periods.
70
GameSpy
The bad multiplayer choices compromise a game that's otherwise very enjoyable: Dinner with Friends is fresh and well-made, with responsive controls and lots to do, but when it comes to sharing it with friends it lacks even the basics of fun. The best thing is to play it alone, trying to unlock all the available items.
70
IGN
Cooking Mama 2 is just as fun as the previous game. In fact, it pretty much is the previous game. The new stuff in Dinner with Friends is so arbitrary that they don't warrant the purchase for people that already whipped up meals a year ago.
70
Nintendo Power
Lack of structure aside, Cooking Mama 2 is a tasty treat. [Holiday 2007, p.82]
70
GamePro
The game isn't perfect--the game still has trouble picking up your commands on the touchscreen at times and some tasks require numerous tries before you can even figure out what to do--but Cooking Mama 2 is a winner without a shadow of a doubt. Every gamer, from the hardcore to the casual, should put in some time with this one.
70
Game Informer
This is worth a look for Cooking Mama noobs, but veterans might find it a little stale.
70
Kombo
Cooking Mama: Dinner with Friends is not a bad game; it just doesn't expand on the franchise as much as a new sequel should.
70
Armchair Empire
Overall, Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends is entirely inoffensive fun, even if it lacks in the challenge department.
70
Pocket Gamer UK
More fried chicken than duck a l'orange in terms of sophistication, Cooking Mama 2 still manages to be a delicious distraction.
70
GotNext
It's best to get Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends for a younger relative, and then borrow it when they aren't looking.
67
Console Gameworld
If you’re a die-hard Cooking Mama fan, or are looking for a DS game for your 7-year-old daughter/niece who likes cooking, then I would heartily recommend Cooking Mama 2. Anyone else though would be better advised to save your thirty bucks for one of the many other good games that have come out in November.
60
GameSpot
Dinner With Friends tastes like reheated leftovers.
60
Games Radar
In small doses, Cooking Mama 2 is perfect for players of all ages. The improvements over the first game in the series don't lead to a significantly enhanced experience, but they ensure that it's a solid package.
60
GameDaily
All of what made the original great is still here, with lots of new recipes and new additions like a multiplayer mode, but it's really just the same game reheated.
58
GameShark
Those happy with the original and just looking for new recipes will find plenty to do here and may enjoy the challenge of cooking without Mama to help out. Those that weren’t impressed with Mama’s first outing won’t find anything here to change their mind.
40
Modojo
But as a return player, it barely added anything of significance to improve gameplay and the multiplayer they added actually worsened the overall value.
Tata A. gave it a10: Andrella L. gave it a9: [Anonymous] gave it a10: Sarah P. gave it a0: |
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