Once upon a time, Shigeru Miyamoto took up gardening as a hobby. One thing led to another and, as the story goes, Nintendo fans were blessed with Pikmin. As we all know, history never takes long to repeat itself. The Miyamoto family recently came into the possession of some wonderfully cute puppies and, as luck would have it, the gaming community was blessed once again with the wonder that is Nintendogs. Quite the clever play on words, Nintendogs is the current generation’s reinvention of the Tamogatchi. If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, a Tamogatchi key chain landed somewhere beyond the pet rock yet not quite as high as your baby brother on the evolutionary ladder. With indicators to tell you when your digital pet was hungry, thirsty, tired, or bored, your task was simply to keep the Tamogatchi alive. Innovative? Not entirely. Addicting? Like a drug. Kids everywhere had to have one. It was one of the hottest toys of the 1990s. Like all fads, however, the Tamogatchi eventually faded into pop culture history. Or so we thought. Enter Nintendogs. In this beyond cute, highly addictive, innovative pet simulator for the Nintendo DS, there is on ultimate goal. There is no way to beat the game, and there are no high scores to rack up. So what’s the point? That depends on who you ask. With plenty of fun tidbits to unlock, 18 dog breeds to love, and a wireless multiplayer playground, Nintendogs offers quite a bit of content on that tiny DS cartridge. When you first power up the DS, you’ll be taken to the Nintendog Kennel. There, you’re given the choice of six different puppy breeds to take home. Which breeds are available at the start of the game depends on which version you own (Dachshund, Chihuahua, or Lab), although it’s possible to unlock all 18 breeds in each version through continued play. Each time you enter the Kennel, the available colors and sexes are randomly mixed. If you don’t like your first set of options, simply exit the menu and return. Once you pay the adoption fee, you can take your new pup home. He’ll need a name, which you can give him using the system’s voice recognition software. Train him for a few moments so that he recognizes the name, and then begin your quality time together. After you play for a few minutes, you’ll be able to teach your dog tricks using the stylus for control and the voice recognition to give your tricks any name you’d like. Once you’ve gotten to know your new pet, a number of options are open to you. You can go shopping for supplies, take your puppy on a walk around the neighborhood, or enter him in one of three competitions. To shop for supplies, simply go to the general store and pick out the food, toys, and other miscellaneous items you’d like for your dog. You begin the game with a budget of $1000, which quickly drops to around $500 after you adopt your new friend. You’ll find, however, that this is amounts to more than enough money to spend on supplies. To exercise with your pup, take him out for a walk. After selecting this option, you’re shown a map of the neighborhood with which to plan your route using the DS stylus. Once you’ve entered your course, you can use the stylus to keep hold of your puppy’s leash. Walks are typically the most entertaining aspect of this simulator, as you’ll encounter other puppies from around the neighborhood on similar outings, find presents along the road, and visit discount stores. You can also take your Nintendog to the park for some fun, social interaction, and training exercises. The only way to earn money in Nintendogs is by participating in one of three competitions. Your first choice is a simple game of catch, in which your dog has to catch and return as many throws of the Frisbee as he can in 60 seconds. The farther the throw, the more points you’re awarded. Your next option is an agility trial in which you guide your puppy over hurdles and through obstacles. Finally, the most financially rewarding and correspondingly difficult task is an obedience trial, where you can show off your training prowess in terms of how many tricks your dog can correctly perform and how long the tricks can be maintained. Nintendogs could only have been achieved on the Nintendo DS. The touch screen and microphone provide a level of interaction that is unsurpassed. You’ll find yourself quickly growing attached to your puppies, making sure they are well fed, rested, and exercised. Part of this attachment stems from the beautiful visual presentation Nintendo managed to squeeze into the title, making your puppies seem incredibly life-like and endearing. The visual quality is matched by the magnificent audio that so clearly describes each puppy’s unique personality. When your dog is hungry, tired, or mad, you’ll hear it. You can even use the DS’s wireless technology to take your puppy over to a friend’s house. Your pets will happily play together on both systems, and you can share all of your toys and supplies (if you so choose) with your new friend. The game’s only drawback is that it is best enjoyed in shorter, action-filled spurts. You’ll find that you can only play the game for 20-30 minutes at a time before your puppy gets too tired to learn new tricks or go for a walk. Overall, however, Nintendogs is one of the first must-have titles for the Nintendo DS. It appeals to dog-lovers of all ages, and both men and women will find the game equally endearing. This isn’t your big sister’s Tamogatchi. It’s a whole new generation of virtual pet.
Other Helpful Reviews for Nintendogs: Lab & Friends
nintendogs is the kind of game you shouldn't buy. Instead, you should rent it (if DS games are rentable) or play your friends copy of the game. At first, the game is pretty cool with the cute little dogs and you learn ... Read Full Review
Nintendo has made their new philosophy quite clear: in addition to pleasing their traditional audience with epic installments to the Mario, Metroid, and Zelda franchises, among others, they intend to attract non-gamers t... Read Full Review
