Cooking Mama 2 designed for the west

I spent some time checking out Cooking Mama 2 and it essentially follows the same formula as the first game. You slice vegetables with the stylus, draw circles to stir and watch visual cues to see what you need to add to the mixing bowl. To keep things fresh there are a few new moves to learn and a mode where you can’t miss a single mini game.

With Cooking Mama 2 is Office Create is clearly thinking internationally about the series. The game focuses less on Japanese cuisine and instead it adds in Western dishes. I spent my first play session spinning a pizza, the next baking ravioli and the last making a salad (no Mama doesn’t pull salad out of a plastic bag). Other Western recipes I jotted down were Apple Pie, T-Bone Steak and Doughnuts. There is still some Asian flavor in Cooking Mama 2. You can learn how to make Kimchi and fry up Tempura. However, it felt like the majority of the recipes are geared for North America compared to the first game.

Majesco must be quietly smiling about this. The series has been a huge hit for them and a more Westernized version should sell even better in North America.