Cooking Mama: Cook Off highlights Wii Remote issues
by Tony Carnevale 
{ Apr 2nd 2007 at 9:35AM }
There are bigger stakes here than the occasional botched omelette. Over the months since launch, the unpredictable Wii Remote has led to a maddening dichotomy. Some games are too easy, while others are too hard -- for all the wrong reasons.
The easy games, like Wii Sports Bowling, let the most feeble grandma instantly taste sweet victory. But the player's actions don't seem to have that much impact on the results. Swing the remote more-or-less the right way, and you're almost guaranteed a strike.
Gamers who crave a deeper challenge have to settle for battling incomprehensible controls. Wii Sports Boxing is certainly "difficult," but that's because the best strategy is "Flail your arms like a Muppet on PCP." In Wii Sports Golf, you can take the exact same swing five times in a row and get wildly different results each time. And then there's Cooking Mama. Here's a tip: go into your real-world kitchen, and cook some actual food. It'll be about 9,000 times less frustrating, and might result in you eating something healthier than your regular diet of Slim Jims and Funyuns.
So far, the revolutionary controller that was supposed to be universally accessible is confusing, finicky, and imprecise. Maybe over time, developers will learn how to create challenging games that also have intuitive controls, not just one or the other. Until then, the Wii Remote is breaking more than just TV screens... it's breaking hearts.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
AirIntake @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:39AM
I should get this for my girlfriend just to see how long it takes for her to kick me in the nuts.
Cottonball @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:45AM
tongue?
Blah @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:47AM
Hey Tony maybe you just suck. No issues here.
Zelos @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:46AM
What about Excite Truck? Steering with the Wiimote was very good, better than a thumbstick I think.
Daryl @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:46AM
I agree. I've played the Wii at a friends and discovered the same things mentioned here.
It will probably take time to get everything right with the motion sensing remote.
Quaddw @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:47AM
I do agree with them on Wii Sports: Golf, it is highly unaccurate especially while using the putter.
Cottonball @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:47AM
"What else is new besides a joystiq writer bitching about the Wii and the Wiimote? God its pathetic how blantantly you guys favor sony and Microsoft over Nintendo. Cooking Mama is a sweet game with excellent controls and nice gameplay."
It is?
http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/933033.asp?q=cooking%20mam
WamBAm @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:47AM
"What else is new besides a joystiq writer bitching about the Wii and the Wiimote? God its pathetic how blantantly you guys favor sony and Microsoft over Nintendo. Cooking Mama is a sweet game with excellent controls and nice gameplay."
What else is new besides a fanboy crying because Joystiq criticizes their God?
AirIntake @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:47AM
I haven't played the game, but is it really more fun than real cooking (that everybody can already do in the comfort of their own home)? I have a great time making a good Vindaloo, but the real fun is in the eating.
ill trooper @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:48AM
I hate to see where this comments section is headed today...
I personally have had my share of bowling incidents where the Wii thinks I have the remote vertical when I've swung my arm, issues with the golf swing being delayed, etc... The best game control for me has been Elebits.
Paul @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:49AM
Airintake - I am just waiting to get my girl the vacuuming/laundry sim.
Matthew @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:02AM
So how is this any different than what happened with the DS? The system's only been out for about 5 months, I can't say it's fair to criticize the controls just yet. If we're having this discussion a year from now...okay...but until then I'm willing to be a little more moderate of the deficiencies. Same holds true for the PS3, it's much to early to draw conclusions about the system and the six-axys controller until it's been out on the market for a while and developers adjust to the system.
2ez @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:52AM
" Wii Sports Boxing is certainly "difficult," but that's because the best strategy is "Flail your arms like a Muppet on PCP.""
Uh-- no. Flailing your arms wildly probably is what makes it hard. If you just actually plan your punches and only go for your opponent when they're exposed, boxing becomes quite easy. Its dickweeds that take the controllers and flail them around who complain that the game isnt responsive.
samfish @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:52AM
I've had no problems ever in Wii Sports golf. Maybe you just suck at golf in general..?
Boxing's controls sucks, though.
Like someone else said, it'll take time for people to really figure motion controls out. Give it about another year or so and most of these issues will be gone, I suspect.
sheppy @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:53AM
"What else is new besides a joystiq writer bitching about the Wii and the Wiimote? God its pathetic how blantantly you guys favor sony and Microsoft over Nintendo."
You know, you almost had a case, until you said they favored Sony. Actually, scratch that, you never had a case.
But in all seriousness...
Everything that is wrong with the Wiimote can be fixed with three little words. Lethal Enforcers III.
Darkness @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:53AM
I think this is really a matter of opinion. I've had no problems with the controls for any game I've played so far. Even the much maligned SSX Blur is easy to use and play. I can do ubers without any real trouble. However, some people just can't "get" it. It's too much for them to handle, so the controls don't work for them. I just don't buy that it's the game especially with my own personal experience. There has to be something else going on.
It would be easy to understand if EVERYONE was having an issue, or even if most people were having issues, but that just doesn't seem to be the case. When people come buy the play games on the Wii, they generally get it without too much training. My personal feeling is that the "hardcore" guys are just having issues. You see it in the reviews and how they're all over the place. I've just come to the conclusion that reviews don't mean anything. We all just have to try for ourselves before we make a decision, which is why renting games for the Wii is a must.
Myke @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:56AM
Gauranteed a strike in bowling? Umm.....That doesnt mesh well with the fact that it took people awhile to even come up with a 300 score game, and the fact that I've never seen it done in person, and CERTAINLY not on a regular basis...I smell BS, or maybe it's just Tony I smell.
Champloo @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:58AM
Lol @ Joystiq favoring Sony and Microsoft. I've seen many editorials that suggest otherwise. In fact, I'd say they're pretty even with their criticism.
But I digress... the Wiimote isn't being used to its full potential yet. I don't think it's the consoles fault (although I could be wrong) I think it's that developers aren't fine-tuning their products enough. It can work amazingly well (IE Wii Sports Tennis) when enough effort is put into it. We'll see the controls start to be utilized to their full potential in the future. But as of now, a lot of developers are just tacking on the controls.
Additionally, I agree with the sentiment regarding Wii Sports Golf. That seemed to receive no fine-tuning whatsoever. Every other game in that title is a great deal more accurate.
P.S. - The best strategy for playing Wii Sports Boxing is to actually do what the game says and keep your arms/hands in and close to your chest, releasing punches in quick jabs. Flailing your actually arms around creates wildly inaccurate results.
jsn @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:58AM
Some games have good control, some not so much, but that's not the major problem with the games. The biggest problem is that most of the original games are nothing more than a lesson in "learn the motion, do the motion as fast as possible". The novelty is wearing off...
Jake @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:01AM
I agree with the author to an extent. It follows my experiences. Devs need more time with the remote to get it right. And, like always, almost all the great games on the system will be made by Nintendo.
On a side note, Cooking Mama is a dumb game idea, imo. I can't shoot aliens in the head, jump cliffs, and guard Carmelo Anthony, so I play games where I do that. If I get a hankering to cook, I go to the kitchen. This happens once a night at around 6pm.
jeremyorion@gmail.com @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:03AM
While i disagree that the control issues are as bad as you say, my question is about who we should blame? Is it a problem with the Wii remote and the Wii technology?
I doubt it. I think it is more likely that developers just need time and practice to improve the sensitivity issues and to create control schemes that work for everyone. Like Darkness, I too have had zero control issues. Boxing took me a while to "get". but once I did it was like riding a bike.
Anyway, I just think that too many commentators online wrongly associate these control issues with the Wii technology. It's not the Wii, its the games, and the games will improve. Further, not enough credit is given to the games that DO have good gameplay: most recently, Godfather: Blackhand Edition.
AirIntake @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:03AM
Ouch, the game got a 5.8 at IGN and a 5.5 at Gamespot. IGN and Gamespot are faily trustworth, so it's safe to say that this game is horrible.
(Fanboy disclaimer: I'm not saying it is impossible to have fun with this game, however the scores say most people will not.)
Player1 @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:06AM
Umm, no. Bowling acts like real bowling. The direction your wiimote is tilted when you throw is the spin, the velocity is the velocity of the throw. And here's the deal with boxing: It only let's you punch so frequently. That's why it doesn't respond to arm flailing. Punch less, and it will only punch when you do. And golf is only bad in the putting. I think what's happening is people are realizing that they aren't as coordinated as they thought they were. Pushing buttons and arm movements are very different.
jeremyorion@gmail.com @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:07AM
@AirIntake: "IGN and Gamespot are faily trustworth..."..???
Seriously, you have to be kidding. April Fool's Day is over. IGN and Gamespot?
That's like saying I can count on EB to have new releases in stock.
AirIntake @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:10AM
@jeremyorion@gmail.com
Um, yes, these sites ARE fairly trustworthy. I've been using them for over 10 years now, and they have rarely if ever let me down. They sure as hell ain't Gamepro.
Ryan P. @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:13AM
I agree there are issues with the remote, like the DS's speach recognition, it's like the Emporer's New Clothes. It's fine at having a pre-defined gesture TRIGER an action, like motion substituting for a button-press.
But when it comes to recognizing slow 1:1 movement's, where something moves AS you move the remote, it's like the recognition STUTURES. It's isn't delivering on that. How many games do you need to "shake" the remote? It's like blowing into the DS's speaker. Why not more subltle inputs on both fronts?
The pointing capabilities and how it's split into two parts, so your shoulders aren't always cramping up, are still enough to make it better than a traditional joypad though.
Ryan
P.S And no i've never owned an X-box.
jeremyorion@gmail.com @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:17AM
@AirIntake
IJS, I think that IGN is very poor and Gamespot is only marginally better.
I'm not a huge fan of reviews in general, and I certainly don't believe you should choose a game based on a single number. However, if you are going to use reviews to help you make your decision, you should use multiple reviews, and actually READ the articles (not just look at the scores).
Furthermore, I think if you look across sites like Joystiq (Kotaku, etc), you will find that MOST people don't put much stock in what IGN has to say.
Bluebreaker @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:16AM
Is there some sort of Wii criticism seminar that was held this weekend? Because I think all the major sites put out this same kind of article in these last two to three days.
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:18AM
"Cooking Mama is a sweet game with excellent controls and nice gameplay."
LOL. This game is worthless. For god sakes guys! What the hell is your problems????? I remember when people thought Mario/Zelda/Halo/MGS/FF were good games, but I guess this generation thinks cutting up virtual meat is better.
Darkness @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:21AM
Jeremy, I totally agree with you. I picked up The Godfather: Blackhand Edition recently, and that game rocks. Why aren't people talking about that? Great game and the controls are spot on. Lots of fun to be had with that game and I've just discovered "free aim"...imagine Gears of War with that control scheme. :)
Anyway, the problem I have with these reviews are that previews paint this rosy picture of the game, yet the review destroys all that. How about more critical previews? Considering most reviewers have played the game before, they should have known what to expect and wrote their previews to reflect that, which in turn gives people a better idea of what the review is going to look like. This idea of glowingly positive previews and overly negative reviews is getting a little old. Good thing I don't bother with reviews anyway. But for those who do follow the game (previews, reviews, early impressions, etc.), I feel like they're getting the short end of the stick. Sorry for the rant. Just something I've noticed after reading the reviews for this game.
Joop @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:24AM
Once people realize the controls aren't 1:1 movements, it's fine. The only problem with the controls is the expectation people have for them, which is as much a legitimate complaint as faulting the 360 because the A button doesn't make you jump in Gears of War. It's not a freaking magic wand. It only detects the motion your hands are doing, and any disconnect between that motion and what your brain wants to do is human error. Think about when you first tried using a keyboard and mouse on an FPS. Your aim was probably terrible, but is that the fault of the mouse or you? Same thing with the Wiimote, it's a brand new learning curve.
Speaking from personal experience, I can make exactly the right shot I want in Wii Golf every time. It's easy to not realize that your 5 shots yielding 5 different results are all quite different in motion simply because in your head they all 'felt' the same. The exact same thing would probably happen in real golf...but would you blame the clubs?
sheppy @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:24AM
What you have here is a budget release at a premium price. Naturally, the reviews won't give with that fact. It's very hard to rate a budget game as a budget game when you have to drop $20 on it.
AirIntake @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:25AM
@jeremyorion@gmail.com
I do read all the reviews all the way through, and I do check with other sites. But what I have found, over the last 10 years, is that IGN and Gamespot usually represent my tastes in videogames. They may not represent yours, but for me, if IGN and Gamespot give a game a low score, I can be almost positive that I'll agree. I purchase a large amount of videogames, and I wouldn't say this if their reviews consistently turned out to be way off.
sheppy @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:25AM
I mean, it's hard to think of a budget game when you have to drop $50 on it.
Finn @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:25AM
what the fuck??? I'm just kinda confused, as far as my expierence goes with the thing I find that even games I don't like, the controls work for me almost every time (or at least until I figure them out)... I do think there is a slight problem, which is that there is only 1 way to do things correctly, and sometimes you don't do it right on the first try, or mabey first couple of tries. And that screws with you
When I first started playing TP, I couldn't block with the shield for the life of me, but after reading from 1 place online I came to relize I was motioning incorrectly and now it works perfectly every time.
did anybody's review of wario ware have this problem. Or anybody who's played the game themselves, as far as I know there were no such complaints about that one.
And btw I sat down and played boxing for about an hour 1 day to try and figure it out. The problem with that game is that the character animations are at a speed a great deal slower than most people punch. I learned in order to properly have it recognize my punches I had to punch slowly as if punching at the same speed as the mii. And although the game is still crap, I can certainly control my character. The game just isn't made to flail in like your first instinct tells you
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:26AM
"So far, the revolutionary controller that was supposed to be universally accessible is confusing, finicky, and imprecise."
Everything Tony said is true thats why you Nintendo people get so upset. The controls are crap/unprecise.
The only thing it offers is easy-ass-cheap-gameplay that is only fun to ignorant non-gamers that have the attention span of a fly and fanboys. Go buy a PS3/360.
Flit @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:27AM
"IGN and Gamespot are faily trustworth, so it's safe to say that this game is horrible."
Ahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahah!
That's funny. That's really, really hilarious.
Back on topic: I don't think it's a Remote problem, is the developer not giving enough feedback/programming. The people who can't box, usually are throwing punches too quickly, and the wii doesn't pick them all up, and then it becomes unresponsive. Some games require the remote to be pointed at the screen, when that is unnessesary, so it's bad programming.
Here is the problem people are having. Instead of a little gage on the screen that you have to watch, and time a button press to get a good golf swing, you as a human actually have to change your physical movement to get a good response, which is harder than timing a button press. So games that are based on physical movements (ie golf), will seem harder to most people.
My $.02.
swerve @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:29AM
It works exactly as designed (connect it to DarWiin Remote on a mac and you can witness the remarkable accuracy with which it functions). It's just that it working as designed isn't necessarily enough. Similarly, looking at the output from DarWiin shows how hard it is to spot intentional movements from unintentional.
It's like an analogue stick with no auto-centering and no dead-zone. Somehow it has to know when you're just getting it into position, and when you want it to register your gesture.
Often, the problem comes from the impression (and this is partly Nintendo's fault, partly our 'I want to believe' attitudes) that the remote somehow knows what you're thinking. It doesn't, it needs to be learned, and importantly, really carefully controlled in all situations.
The problem for *developers* is how to use it effectively, and to counteract the problem of people moving it without thinking, when the game is reading input.
But it's not to be worried or heartbroken about. We'll get there. It's about appropriate usage, clever designs (a lot of wario ware gets it very very right), new ideas and players getting used to playing the game using controlled gestures, not expecting the game to do whatever they think only when they think it.
And the pointer. The pointer is key.
AirIntake @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:29AM
@Flit
I've justified why I think they are (to me). Why do you think they're not? And which sites (or mags) do you believe are better?
sheppy @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:29AM
@darkness
The only problem between critical reviews and critical previews is sometimes, games only start to truly gel during it's last 3 months. Take Saint's Row. Framerate was horrid and downright unplayable until the last 6 months. If the industry starts to treat previews like reviews, we'll start to see developers keep things closer to their chest.
Finn @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:29AM
@ Jack of No Trades
loser
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:35AM
"1. Joystiq often unfairly hates on nintendo."
Not really. There is more 360/PS3 hate. See, once someone points out the inaccuracies of the Wii everybody screams bloody murder.
@ finn
Im a loser because im truthful?
Well I guess you guys did only pay $250 for it. Sorry but you get what you pay for. A non DVD playing, cheap gimmicky controlled, mini games console that will fade out really soon.
Bluebreaker @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:35AM
@sheppy
Maybe they should keep it more hidden then. The only analogy I can think is (surprise) that cooks don't like other people breathing down their neck while they work.
jeremyorion @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:37AM
@AirIntake: Have you considered that IGN's scores might be influencing whether or not you like the game? I'd like you to buy a few games without reading the reviews, then compare your impressions with IGN's. I'd be willing to bet you wouldn't agree as much as you think you do. I'll be willing to admit that Gamespot isn't as bad, but I think IGN's reviews are either uninteresting (that is, they state the obvious) or unfair (that is, they're wrong).
That being said, if their opinion leads you to games that are fun for you, more power to you. Afterall, fun IS the point, right?
Oh, and listen to Darkness and I - If you own a Wii, go get Godfather: Blackhand Edition. Now. Even if you've played it on another system. They added some great controls (is jeremyorion gonna have to choke a bitch?) and additional content as well.
Darkness @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:36AM
Sheppy, I work in the business and know what you mean, but the previews these days really just generate hype and don't paint a good picture of what the game is like. All previews should give the bad up front (framerate sucks, lack of varied missions, etc.) so that the review doesn't to a 180. If that means that Capcom isn't gonna let me try their game for previews, then so be it. But at least the consumers don't get hyped up for a game that the guys writing the previews know is a bad game.
Having a bad review will just just as bad, if not more than a bad preview. At least in my opinion.
Finn @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:39AM
Im a loser because im truthful?
Well I guess you guys did only pay $250 for it. Sorry but you get what you pay for. A non DVD playing, cheap gimmicky controlled, mini games console that will fade out really soon.
HAHAHA lol no silly, your a loser because you critisize something you know nothing about. How the hell to you know the article is all correct, you clearly don't own a wii. Or mabey you do and you've been lying to us the whole time about that too.
I wouldn't mind you so much if you would just stop lying all the time. I can't stand when people make shit up.
AirIntake @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:41AM
IGN and Gamespot do not influence whether or not I like a game. Take a look at the high scores they give to the Metal Gear Solid series. I think MGS games are flaming piles of garbage that were surpassed in gameplay and plot by Splinter Cell years ago.
But their reviews are always where I start.
RoboSheep @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:13PM
"your regular diet of Slim Jims and Funyuns."
Hey dickweed, try to make your point without insulting your readers.
If you're mad you suck at the Wii that's your issue, don't take it out on your readers.
jan_halmes @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:45AM
I have had no problem with any Wii controls. They have a learning curve, so you need to be a little more "hardcore" about figuring out how to play some of the games, SSX Blur, Wii Boxing and Cooking Mama are three prime examples. You can't just casually start playing those games and expect to do everything right with in the first hour. And that is part of the fun. When you finally figure it out, it's a lot more satisfing.
I attribute most of the negative reviews of Wii controls to not be bias, but a honest interpritation of playing said games for, I don't know, 3 hours or so. It takes longer for many people to learn to play these games, even professionals.
The reviewers are clearly trying to warn us not to play these games because they are too hard to control. They would do better to disclaimer their warning with a statement along the lines of "But I only played the game for a few hours. It will take a bit more play before the jury will be out".
I think it's the ego of many a game reviewer that keeps this from happening.
jeremyorion @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:48AM
@ Jack: "A non DVD playing"...I own a DVD player, thanks.
"Cheap gimmicky controlled"...This is what we're debating. Good, at least you can follow a conversation.
"Mini games console" - Zelda, Godfather, Super Paper Mario. I won't even throw around the upcoming games.
*cough*MarioGalaxyMetroidManhunt2NoMoreHeroes*cough*
"That will fade out really soon."...How many articles did we read about the DS that said the same thing? Time will tell, Jack.