Could You Be A Cookstar For Cooking Mama?

Another shout-out to our fellow 2000s kids coming up! I enjoyed playing the original Cooking Mama game on my pink Nintendo DS when I was a preteen [1] [6]. I especially liked making a sandwich and combining meatballs with spaghetti while many of us witnessed the horrors of PETA’s own edition of the game that was created to encourage vegetarianism and veganism [6] [20]. I was even aware of how Mama was also into gardening, camping, crafting, and babysitting as a teenager who played Cooking Mama Friends’ Cafe on Facebook and Cooking Mama Lite on an iPod Touch [3] [4] [5]. As a young adult in 2017, I was quite fascinated at Mama’s sweet shop business that must have stimulated the sweet teeth of many Nintendo 3DS players [15]. However, was it a sign of the franchise becoming quite stale like uneaten bread? If that was the case to some of you, perhaps preparing a meal with Mama on the Nintendo Switch can be almost as refreshing as a glass of cool strawberry milk before its expiration date on the carton [2] [9]. With high hopes for Mama’s first game for the Switch, I urge you all to remain polite. Otherwise, there will be no dessert for you!

The title of Mama's new chapter is "Cooking Mama: Cookstar Star" [2] [9], which sounds quite motivating. [9]

Is anyone up for cosplaying as Mama soon [19]? [9]

A few screenshots of the upcoming instalment were leaked back in 2019 [2]. I can say that the graphics look quite vibrant [9]. The textures for the foods may not be the most realistic at times, but they are at least convincing. The realistic texture on the chopping board, leaves on the plant, and so on in the gameplay meet up with today’s expectations of 3D graphics in video games. Strangely enough, the food’s textures are absent in the recipe selection screen, which must be just to make them look like selective icons [2]. I can tell since the large variety of recipes to choose in the selection screen in the original Cooking Mama for the Nintendo DS somewhat looked like what you would see in a 16-bit game [1]. Despite how blurry the view of the kitchen seems in the main menu of Cooking Mama: Cookstar, the colour palette of it truly brings out those family-friendly vibes for fairly causal gamers [2]. As long as the same graphics from the Cooking Mama games for home consoles are used to keep that child-friendly charm for casual gamers who enjoy cooking [5], the game ought to receive praise for its faithfulness to what the franchise recognisable.

Want a bite of rather realistic rendering? [2]

Oh. Did I mention that I also admire this clear view of the kitchen behind Mama? Thank goodness they did not drastically redesign her as we may not be ready for that yet. [2]

As shown in the trailer, the player who takes on the role of a chef will once again be presented with a variety of challenges when it comes to cooking a variety of recipes [2] [9]. The indication that would usually be at the bottom right corner during some of the tasks is solid evidence of the game featuring compatibility with motion controls [9]. An example of motion controls that can bring out the feeling of being a chef would be flicking the right Joy-Con left and right to tame fire under the grill with a fan [9]. Even though some gamers believe that motion controls are not as relevant as they were since the Nintendo Wii era [27], at least movements with the Switch’s Joy-Cons can still make gameplay feel active. There is also the challenge of pressing a certain button for a certain task at the right time [9], which reminds me of how I would follow instructions as well-timed as I can in the original Cooking Mama for the Nintendo DS [1]. At least the controls will be likely to be far more responsive than the wooden spoon in Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals [20]. Thank you for those splendid times, PETA.

Another example of motion controls in Cooking Mama: Cookstar is titling a chopping board as show here. [9]

When life gives you lemons, make motion controls. [2]

The most important aspect of establishing a cooking simulation game is, of course, the food. The new grilled cheese sandwich that consists of multi-coloured cheese and is one of the recipes the player will be able to cook in the game reminds me of iJustine’s green grilled cheese sandwich recipe back in early 2018 [9] [13], along with the rainbow grilled cheese sandwich her sister Jenna back in 2016 [14]. Could one of the unlockable recipes also be the pink heart-shaped marshmallows we prepared in a demo of Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop [12]? As much as plenty of us loathed PETA’s Cooking Mama game [20], at least Cooking Mama: Cookstar has been praised by the organisation for featuring a special vegetarian mode for vegetarian gamers [10]. Additionally, I also think the mode should also feature a few vegan recipes so that it can appeal to players who also do not eat any other animal products. Aside from a promising variety of recipes for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and possibly vegans, there is also an option to take a photograph of a finished meal and perhaps add a filter and some stickers to it after a series of challenges in the gameplay [9].

PETA’s Cooking Mama game
Was quite an online dud.
Player discretion was advised
As there was lots of blood. [17] [20] [28]

But this Cooking Mama game’s
New mode sounds pretty sweet.
It can appeal to gamers
Who simply don’t eat meat. [17] [20] [28]

There also seems to be more customisable features, such as the option to change Mama’s apron and kerchief [2]. I do not think she will wear other accessories as she did in Crafting Mama [7], but I can see it will help her maintain practicality when it comes to cooking. As someone who loves changing outfits of characters in video games, I am very pleased that the player will be able to dress her up again [8]. I like how you can also change several items in the kitchen [2]. Furthermore, the player can feel like Mama’s kitchen seems like their own once they change the appearances of the cooking items to their favourites. To be honest, I would like an option to change the interior decorating of the kitchen, similar to how I could change many decorative aspects of the rooms in Laura’s house once she waves a magic wand in Laura’s Happy Adventures [26]. If I ought to play the game later this year or two, my boyfriend might as well nag me to buy more aprons and kerchiefs for Mama like how I nagged him to buy more clothes for Travis Touchdown in No More Heroes [21].

Mama would be very delighted to have a fashionista in the kitchen. [2]

The player will also be able to share images of food on Facebook and Twitter [2]. Just look at how obvious the reference to Facebook is on the right. [2]

Looking back to cover, I can say the next chapter of Mama’s life as a housewife can look promising on shop shelves. I think the way Mama is holding a smartphone and taking a picture of the rainbow grilled cheese sandwich might be a sign of trying a bit too hard to appeal to the youth of today [2]. Nevertheless, I suppose it can be related to the option to take pictures of the recipes as shown in the gameplay. I also like how the word “Cookstar” is surrounded by a lovely palette of pink, purple, and blue that reminds me of the Crazy Eight’s design in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe [18] [24], as well as how its font matches the Cooking Mama logo. I think having one of the newest recipes as the one Mama is taking a photograph of makes the cover look more refreshing to those who remember playing any of the previous Cooking Mama games. It can also make the game already seem appealing to sims with the grilled cheese aspiration [11] [25]. With a promising cover, it ought to stand out in its own way as a new Switch game and an addition to the Cooking Mama franchise.

Grilled cheese! Grilled cheeeeese! GRILLED CHEEEEEEESE!!!!!! [2] [9] [11]

By the way, you can tell by this screenshot that the cover is definitely not misleading. I am just throwing that out there as if it is a bone to keep the dog out of the kitchen while I cook. [9]

Cooking Mama: Cookstar is to be released on the 13^th of March 2020 with the potential to continue Mama’s legacy in a new decade [2] [9]. Aside from how I think Mama’s new cooking experiences for the early 2020s can welcome new Cooking Mama players to the franchise, I also admire the colour of the new carol Nintendo Switch Lite [16], which is another great thing about 2020 so far besides the live-action movie based on Sonic the Hedgehog turning out to be enjoyable [22]. Unfortunately, the coronavirus outbreak is likely going to heavily affect the marketing of the new addition to the Switch Lite pack in Japan [16]. I sincerely wish those who have been affected by the disease a full recovery, along with several helpful ways to maintain positive thinking and good mental health, such as looking forward to upcoming films and such. Despite a rough start of the year for some of us [16] [23], we can still look forward to new things, such as a new addition to our favourite video game franchises. Once Cooking Mama: Cookstar is part of your Switch game library in your country, bon appétit after a few challenges for preparing a delicious meal!

Despite the mishaps that may have decreased our motivations at the very start of a new decade [16] [23], we can still look for positive vibes in quite a proactive way. [2].

References

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