Cooking Mama 3 Hands-On

Mama is a force to be reckoned with, especially after selling more than 4 million units domestically. We met with Majesco at the Electronic Entertainment Expo and saw that the fiery-eyed Mama was back in Cooking Mama 3. After her stint in the garden in Gardening Mama, it looks like she's ready to get back into the kitchen and help you hone your culinary skills.

Who's Making This Game: Like previous games, Cooking Mama 3 is being developed by Cooking Mama Limited, the Japanese developer known for this series. Majesco Entertainment in the last few years has focused on publishing budget titles, and Cooking Mama is obviously a hit.

What The Game Looks Like: Cooking Mama 3 looks exactly like the previous Cooking Mama games on the DS. It's cute, cheery, and colorful, and Mama's eyes will flare if you don't listen to her instructions.

What There Is To Do: Most of the time you'll be completing recipes in step-by-step minigames. There are a couple of new features, including the ability to mix your ingredients from different recipes to create your own delectable course. Ingredients also no longer come out of thin air. You can hit up the grocery store and stock your own pantry.

How The Game Is Played: There are more than 200 different minigames, so you could be using the stylus to control a hand mixer or tapping on the touch screen of the DS to fill a tray of heart-shaped marshmallows. There are also 80 new delicious recipes, including chili con carne, mushroom quiche, and pumpkin gnocchi. Mama has gotten fancy. There will be multiplayer functionality so you can play with up to three friends locally and face off in a timed cooking challenge. The usual modes are included. Mama will guide you through the steps, and you are graded at the end because your virtual friends are going to have to taste your concoction. A picture diary is also included so you can keep a scrapbook of your favorite dishes.

What They Say: Explore your inner creative chef with everyone’s favorite culinary cutie!

What We Say: Cooking Mama 3 looks to be more of the same. However, there's a good reason this franchise is still going strong. The same addictive gameplay and pleasant presentation are here, which is what people love and keep coming back for. Minigames are easy to pick up and play, making Cooking Mama an ideal game to take on the go. The new features are also interesting. We had the opportunity to play only one recipe and without the option of going shopping or combining ingredients. The recipes have definitely taken a step up, however. Even though the graphics aren't realistic, the dishes sound tasty. Cooking Mama 3 is scheduled to be released at the end of the year.