Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop

 DS
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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  1. Game Informer
    80
    Anyone with a fondness for old-school RPGs would be remiss to pass it by.
  2. NintendoWorldReport
    80
    Cooking Mama 3 really extends the Cooking Mama series in a fantastic way, and this game is perfect for any fans of the series or for anyone who thinks they might be interested in what Mama has to serve up.
  3. Cheat Code Central
    78
    Lots of new recipes and activities are beefed up by the widest set of modes and features yet. A lot of re-hash material but it's a pretty big sampling of stuff to do.
  5. GamingXP
    75
    Cooking Mama 3 follows its predecessors. If you liked one of the other Cooking Mamas, you also will love this one.
  6. GameTrailers
    73
    While the lackluster shop mode doesn't deliver anything fun or engaging, the rest of the game is still just as enjoyable as its predecessors.
  7. IGN
    70
    Cooking Mama 3 delivers the same gameplay as the previous two titles, and while the addition of Let’s Shop is welcome, it’s too short to improve the game as a whole.
  8. GameZone
    70
    Leave it to Mama to make cooking fun again on the Nintendo DS and Cooking Mama 3 definitely has its share of really fun moments, but there is still much room for improvement.
  9. GamesRadar+
    70
    Obsess over all the game’s hidden trinkets if you want, but the main course of Shop & Chop is for people that value good cooking. For us folk that cannot cook but appreciate the craft, this is a treat.
  10. Worth Playing
    70
    It's a fun, quirky little game, but it's the same fun and quirky little game we've been playing for a while now.
  11. PALGN
    70
    In this hectic video game world of killing aliens, zombies and enemy troops, sometimes it's nice to just cook a lasagna instead.
  12. 1UP
    67
    While it maintains its easily accessible, casual gameplay, obsessive players (like myself) can still work hard towards getting 100% on all dishes. This blend is exactly what makes me love Cooking Mama in general, and Cooking Mama 3 is a great, if occasionally exasperating, addition to the series.
  13. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    62
    If Cooking Mama 3 were a steak, it'd be a medium-cooked one. It's satisfying enough, but it's certainly not rare and it's not exactly well done.
  14. Nintendo Power
    60
    Cooking Mama serves up another stew of culinary-themed, touch-controlled minigames in its third course on the DS, but the recipe needs more spice. [Dec 2009, p.87]
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  15. Vandal
    60
    Cooking Mama 3 doesn't offer anything really new in content, although it's true it has some more game options in comparison with the preview games, and a good number of new recipes, which fans series would appreciate.
  16. Cubed3
    60
    Cooking Mama 3 is a nice progression for the culinary mini-game series that has become a roaring success around the world.
  17. SpazioGames
    55
    Cooking Mama 3 is the classic "more of the same". There's really no good reason for getting this last installment, even of you are a big fun of the genre.
  18. Nintendo Gamer
    55
    You're basically doing the same thing. [Feb 2010, p.68]
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  19. GamePro
    50
    Just don't expect any plot to further motivate you through the game, and don't assume that lots of money was spent on localization (clearly a Japanese woman attempted to voice the part of Mama, and clearly she did not earn her paycheck). That being said, where else are you going to find a game that times how fast you can rip the heads off of shrimp?
  20. Level7.nu
    50
    The same formula as in the former parts in the serie. Chop, boil and rinse in different mini games to make a meal. Gets too repetitive before the dinner is ready.
  21. Metro GameCentral
    50
    At last, Mama gets out of the kitchen and... into a perversely unenjoyable shopping simulator.

Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Best DS Game of 2009
76
#76 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
72
#72 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 2 out of 12
  1. Weyfet18
    Jul 22, 2022
    10
    El juego simplemente es divertido, es un juego de simular cocinar distintos platos de comida y lo cumple con creces, en lo personal me tomoEl juego simplemente es divertido, es un juego de simular cocinar distintos platos de comida y lo cumple con creces, en lo personal me tomo unas 34 horas el completar el juego al completo, el juego nunca se siente repetitivo a pesar de repetir conceptos, una inclusion que me gusto bastante es el minijuego del supermercado donde tendras que comprar los productos asignados en el tiempo limite y sin perder todas tus vidas, las opciones de personalizacion son bastante extensas, en general diria que si hubiese comprado este juego en su momento lo habria disfrutado bastante por los proximos 5 meses hasta que mis parientes decidiesen que… Full Review »
  2. Qarren
    Apr 4, 2021
    5
    I verily enjoyed this game. No flaws. Cooking Mama is great. She is not holding me.
    I repeat: NOT holding me. Cooking Mama loves all...
    Play    I verily enjoyed this game. No flaws. Cooking Mama is great. She is not holding me.
    I repeat: NOT holding me. Cooking Mama loves all...
    Play Cooking Mama 3. It's perfectly safe...
    You'll have... fun.
    I thank Cooking Mama for her generosity in letting me spread Her word.
    Praise Cooking Mama and her delightful gospel - Cooking Mama 3 for the Nintendo DS.
    Cooking Mama 3 is the holy tale of you, an up and coming home chef, risking life and limb to make a decent meal.
    I mean not risking life and limb.
    Of course
    Sorry Mama
    You see, the game is made up of several modes which all function solely as context to a large number of small minigames. The main game mode titled 'Cooking with Mama' (which is an absolute honour, Mama...) sees you tackling 65 recipes all containing 2-10 minigames. That's really it. You won't see any amazing twists on the franchised gameplay loop here. Honestly, it feels like these games are actually a Stockholm Syndrome simulator for minigames.
    Of course no one has Stockholm Syndrome, Mama. I know I'm not a prisoner. I just love spending time with you...
    You'll do a great deal of swiping, circling and careful dragging of the stylus across the screen to cut, dice, mash, adjust temperature and so many other mundane... I mean amazing activities. There is actually simple fun to be had with this basic gameplay especially if you're the achievement hunter type. For those who are pro Cooking Mama 3 gamers, getting 100% on each recipe might just satisfy that itch. I didn't even bother, as this game taught me the unfortunate lesson that my old DS is starting to lose responsiveness on the touch screen.
    No Mama, I would never blame you for that.
    That is clearly my fault, and my fault alone.
    I am a professional, however, and won't let hardware troubles change my opinion of a game. Speaking of professionalism; one thing does bother me. If you beat a recipe to a silver medal standard Mama will applaud you, stating "Even better than Mama!" What concerns me is that you only need around a 70% to receive a silver medal. Making a meal that's only 70% good is better than Cooking Mama could do herself? Who is she to teach me then? Getting 70% isn't hard at all. Does Cooking Mama know anything about cooking? Who is this lady?
    Oh, Hi Mama. No, I didn't mean that. It was a joke. I am funny man.
    Mama, please. Put down the meat grinder.
    As I was saying, Mama is the perfect chef and she simply says things like that to encourage you; her young, stupid pupil who knows nothing of the art of cooking via DS stylus swipes. And I think we all can agree on that....
    I think what really helps sell this otherwise unimpressive, yet fun for a couple of minutes game is the style. It bears a cutsie anime art style and has some charming, if forgettable music. Being able to unlock customisation options for Mama and your kitchen adds a bit of longevity and creativity to keep you coming back, but mostly you will do that for a quick distraction here and there. Like I have over the years of owning this game.
    Oops. You're so right, Mama. Sorry.
    I did not mean to say a quick distraction folks. I clearly meant to suggest that Cooking Mama 3 is the only game you'll ever need. How silly of me. Maybe we can all just laugh it off, and put the kitchen knife back where it belongs...
    What does break the style of the game is Mama's voice. For a very whitewashed character, Mama's clearly Asian voice actress does pose an uncanny dissonance. But that's more so caused by the voice recording. You can tell immediately that the recording wasn't done neatly as Mama speaks robotically, as if from deep within instead of her vocal cords. Like she isn't quite human, but some cooking shadow demon who uses a cutsie aesthetic and encouraging words to lure the unwary Nintendo kid...
    MAMA NO!
    We all know you have a perfectly normal voice, and are completely human. Just a lovely MILF who likes to cook. There is no need to put me in the cold storage again. I promise.
    Here, let me make you yet another disgusting tofu dish.
    Most of these dishes may be recognisable to a general audience, but the recipes for making them and the pictures sometimes confused me. I've never seen shortbread made in a large block and covered in icing. That one's okay though, I can still imagine that happening. But since when did you put rum in shortbread? Isn't shortbread just very light cookie dough with extra sugar on top? You'd give it to kids. Not anymore, I guess. This shortbread would have those kids dropping likes flies. A useful recipe then, I grant you, but probably not one Mama should be spreading on family games willy nilly.
    I'm not suggesting anything, Mama. It's just that silly imagination of yours. We all know you looove the little children the most. You're such a swell old gal.
    The other modes don't change the formula any. It's more Cooking Mama for the sake of more Cooking Mama. The game's a fun cultural thing, but little more.
    WAIT MAMA, I MEANT    … Full Review »
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