For a long while now we have enjoyed spending some time in the kitchen with Mama in her various Cooking Mama titles. We learned a lot from this charming and cute Mama who somehow made making udon such a blast on the Nintendo Wii as well as on the Nintendo DS. Now, Mama takes a break from her cooking chores to get some much needed sun in her garden in the first Gardening Mama game for the DS.  

FUN IN THE SUN WITH MAMA 

Oh Mama, we knew your kitchen was always so full but nothing comes close to her happy acreage seeing as Mama just doesn’t have one garden but multiple ones. There’s the garden where she grows her flowers and another where she grows fruit and yet another where she plants the best vegetables (which explains where Mama gets all the ingredients for her specialized dishes).  

You can wander Mama’s garden all you like but to really bring it to life you will have to start the process of preparing the soil, finding the right seeds or buds, planting and the right tender loving care that goes into making sure your flowers, fruits and vegetables grow right and not wilt away. The process follows various different steps depending on what you grow and this leads to the timed mini-games that will take you through the simple basics to watering and caring. 

Ok, I’ll admit that this doesn’t sound like a perfect way to spend some time with your DS but some of these mini-games are actually quite fun. The preparing and planting mini-games don’t offer any instructions, though. It is up to you to find out on your own how to accomplish each individual step. This is actually far more effective than being told how to go about completing each task. Then it’s not hard to figure out that the arrows pointing to the right means you have to swipe the Stylus along the dotted lines to your right to rip open a small envelope filled with seeds. When you’re asked for five seeds, you’ll just have to tilt the envelope by gently tilting the envelope with the Stylus. 

MAMA ALWAYS SAID LIFE’S LIKE A BED OF ROSES. 

Each mini-game has a timer so you’ll be trying to complete each step correctly while attempting to beat the clock. The various mini-games have you go through actually make sense seeing as you’ll have to prepare the soil (with everything from gardening tools to using a finger to poke a hole in the soil), plant the seeds or bulbs (which leads to different timed mini-games) and adding the right touches such as growth formula and watering. Not all the mini-games are a hit, however, and some - like watering and dropping bulbs - are just a tad too frustrating. It’s a good thing Mama has your back with her comforting “Don’t worry, Mama will take care of it” but darn if you don’t feel like you’re letting her down at the same time. 

Much like the Cooking Mama games where you cook up some elaborate dishes such as fried octopus dumplings, you will - later in the game - plant a variety of different plants that require a different approach. Naturally, you don’t tend to roses the way you would a gladiola, right? Fruits and vegetables are planted and cared for differently as well but - in the end - the mini-games start feeling recycled throughout the game. How many times must we dunk a plant into a bucket or pad a mound of dirt? 

The good news is that the Stylus controls work well and the touch screen is responsive enough that you’ll be concentrating on the task at hand before the timer runs out. Flick the Stylus the wrong way and you’ll obviously mess up even the simplest task such as opening an envelope or shoveling soil on your seeds. The bad news, however, is that the multiplayer mode could have added more replay value but competing against a friend in the handful of mini-games can get old quickly. 

SUPER CUTE HAPPY FANTASTIC 

If you’re the type of gamer that likes the option to decorate then you’re in luck. The Decorate the Garden! and Make It Fancy! options allow you to decorate your garden with everything from unique vases to various floral arrangements. You can even change Mama’s outfits with the various items you earn while you play the game. Tired of seeing Mama wearing the same do-rag? Well, why not slap on a cute gardening hat on her?    

On the visual front, Gardening Mama looks delightfully colorful on the Nintendo DS. Mama’s expressions haven't really changed from the kitchen to the outdoors setting and that’s Ok with me since I do enjoy the twinkle in Mama’s eye when you get a Perfect. It’s also great to see that they didn’t change her accent either, which is still somewhat awkward but likeable. I even like the lively tune that plays, although it never changes as you play. 

Gardening Mama for the Nintendo DS is a worthwhile game that might not be overly stimulating as cooking with Mama but this one is still a fun game even for those who don’t have a green thumb. While the mini-games tend to repeat themselves throughout the game, you’ll find that the garden activities on the DS do have their own stylishly addictive nature once you get into the game. If you enjoyed the Cooking Mama series you will like gardening with her too.

Gameplay: 7.0
Growing different flowers, vegetables and fruits might not sound like a good time but Gardening Mama manages to pull it off nicely enough. Tending to the vast garden that requires constant attention will have you playing through various mini-games. It’s just too bad that sometimes those mini-games are repeated throughout.

Graphics: 6.5
The colorful visuals look great on the Nintendo DS and Mama and all the characters around her are just so darn adorable. 

Sound: 6.5
The music is recycled throughout the game but it’s actually quite catchy. The real treat is in hearing Mama’s charming accent. There’s just something comforting in hearing Mama say that your work is “even better than Mama!”

Difficulty: Medium
Some mini-games require a steady Stylus swipe that's more easier said than done. To top it all off, there’s a timer that adds to the challenge. Neglect your flowers and they’ll wilt so you’ll have to be on top of it.

Concept: 7.0
The garden offers plenty to do and those who like to add their own style will be happy to find that you can decorate your garden as well as fancy up Mama’s attire and accessories. The Let’s Play Together! multiplayer option could have been better but at least you can share items with a friend. 

Multiplayer: 6.5
You can play against a friend via multi-card play but the game offers single-card downloads for up to four players to play head-to-head mini-games to see who can harvest the most green. The Cute Treasure Chest option allows you to share items with a friend. Mama likes it when you share.

Overall: 7.0
While it’s not as satisfying as the Cooking Mama series, there’s a lot to love about Mama’s garden. Gardening Mama’s mini-games are fun in short bursts but totally cute enough to show you and your Stylus a good time.