When Nintendo's more casual "Touch Generations" series branches out into Personal Trainer: Cooking, you better believe the IGN Nintendo team is all about it. More of a literal "trainer" than a game, Nintendo's latest DS offering is actually a really helpful product from what they have played so far, not only telling you how to make 245 recipes within the game, but also adding in a grocery list mode so you can check off what you bought, an area for excluded items if you hate bacon or are allergic to oregano, a cooking clock, voice activated controls if your hands are dirty, and much, much more.
Games and the act of cooking share similar structures. Both have rules to obey or steps you need to follow. They provide a challenge to the player or cook and provide an interactive experience. They both also feature a goal you're trying to accomplish. But do cooking games actually help us be better cooks or simply be better at cooking games?
I'm glad we're getting such strong news on the site at the moment.
I'm just writing a piece on "how to make Sackboy out of flowers"
Meh.
A look at the world's most popular cooking sims. Which ones will actually teach you something about cooking, and make you a better cook? Which ones were designed purely as entertainment? Which are good and which are bad? The article serves as a side-by-side analysis of all the top cooking games to figure out the above.
It's a light new video game release week, but most of the games won't break the bank. In fact, most of these games are all under $30 price point. Patapon 2 is available at retail stores for the PSP (includes downloadable code, not UMD) and from the PlayStation Network. Klonoa debuts on Wii, back from the PSone days. The new Nintendo DS Lite Green bundle with Personal Trainer: Cooking and a unique carrying case is available starting Sunday, May 3rd as well.
This week's new releases:
(subject to change)
Xbox 360
no new releases
PLAYSTATION 3
Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust
Wii
Destiny Of Zorro
Klonoa
New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
DS & DSi
Nintendo DS Lite Green, Personal Trainer: Cooking Bundle
Jagged Alliance
Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Puzzle Kingdoms
PSP
Patapon 2
I'll be getting Patapon 2 as soon as PSP Go! comes out. Otherwise the only other title of interest is Klonoa.
