A great game that will entertain all ages, even though its primarily aimed at young children.
From the image on the game package, Dogz looks a lot like Nintendogs but in actual fact you don't really see enlarged images of your dog. The game is more of an RPG-Style experience than Pocket Dogs/Nintendogs and the Dogz/Catz for your PC. However, a lot of children will prefer this way because lets be honest, if you are looking for a virtual pet game where you sit and stare at an animal walking around a screen then just buy a Tamagotchi.
So lets talk about the gameplay, even though you obviously have to choose and look after a dog. Dogz is not wholly revolved around your new bundle of joy. You play as a child in the 3rd grade who is just getting his/her first dog, this happens at the very start of the game where mum and dad take you to the Pet Store to choose a puppy. There is actually a huge amount of different breeds to choose from, that many children will be stuck trying to choose one! You can pick from male or female and you give it a name. You are then told that you have three weeks to become acquainted with your new dog and of course look after it. This means you must feed and water it, take it out for walks, play with it, buy it gifts, brush it and teach it tricks. You have hours of fun ahead of you!
First things first, you have to teach your pup its name. This goes by calling it to you several times until the four question marks that appear above its head eventually fizzle down to none. This system of teaching your dog is how you will spent the next three weeks teaching your dog various tricks including, how to sit, go to bed, lie down and shake hands. Sometimes teaching your dog can become a little tiresome but there are plenty of other activities to engage in. Like I said before the game isn't wholly revolved about your dog. As the new owner of an excited puppy you must clean up after you dog using the Hoover, perform errands for your mother and a number of other interesting activities. The house which you live in is also very interactive, you can search through drawers and cupboards to find treats and toys, you can even turn the television on. After around two weeks is up you can start to take your dog for walks, this allows you to walk around the neighbourhood where you are bound to bump into friends from school. You are also able to go to shops where new toys, food and equipment for your puppy can be bought. Our favourite feature however is the ability to go to Dog Park where you can let your excited pup of its lead and play Frisbee. Sometimes they become tired and want to go home but there is always tomorrow!
You might think that all of this can become a little repetitive; keeping your dogs happiness levels, taking it for walks, feeding it etc. But after playing for the full three weeks, not once did I become bored. This is probably because every few days your mum or dad will buy you a new book or game or CD, it really is like having a little life inside your Gameboy Advance. There are plenty of things to do which will keep a child entertained for hours (If I was then they certainly will!).
I truly think most children will love this game so its unfortunate that there is a big letdown, the game really is too short. The three weeks you get to play for only last around 10 minutes for each day and most hours of the weekdays are skipped due to your character being at school. However for there to be so much detail into every single day you spend, it is a sad must that you have to let your dog go sometime. Any way, after the game has been completed you can visit your dog at any time using the 'Always Together' mode. Unfortunately there is not much to this and the only thing to do is interact with your puppy… or is it a dog now? This means there is no leaving the house, the time never changes and Mum and Dad seem to have disappeared. One final bad point is you can only have one saved file unlike most games, meaning if you have more than one child who wishes to play then you will either have to delete their siblings dog or buy another cartridge.
That almost sums it up, finally the technical stuff. The graphics to Dogz are actually quite good and the sound is also fairly nice, nothing spectacular (But it is just a simulation game). I wouldn’t say the value for money is particularly good considering the length of the game (However a younger child is likely to spend longer at the game than an older). Saying this, a lot of work has been put into this game and it shows. Just enjoy it while it lasts and you will have made the most out of it.
Perfect for ages 4 - 10, entertaining for everyone else. Dogz teaches children how to care for pets and is a lot easier than having a real one, the cute images and interaction will keep you coming back for more. They aren't just for Christmas they're for life! =]