Majesco return with ‘Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends’, but are still unable to connect the

"The game still delivers a good helping of fan serving fun"

dots. Although each recipe collects together a unique set of activities, they never quite make the jump from mini-game to something more coherent.

Second time around for ‘Cooking Mama’ makes us realise just how much weight and expectation had been placed on the previous title. Released into a market where the jury was still out on the plausibility of the DS, they provided that magical combination of third party developer and proper use of the DS's touch, blow and dual screen features. We clamoured to get our hands on this odd Japanese game, even importing cartridges at extra cost.

However, now the hubbub around the DS has died down and Nintendo's latest handheld has established itself alongside the original Gameboy and Gameboy Advance, ‘Cooking Mama’ is looking more than a little jaded. That early enthusiasm of both popular and fan press has evaporated to leave a rather ordinary looking game. What appeared to be a paradigm shift in casual gaming doesn't seem as revolutionary in cold light of titles such as ‘Elite Beat Agents’ or ‘Phantom Hourglass’.