Charming yes, but you'd have to be blind to oversee the flaws this game has. It grows on you, but don't let the weeds t
Let's get one thing straight here: The graphics on this game are astounding. High framerates and convincing AI of the pups are some of the many pleasures of viewing this game on your duel-screened portable. However, that is not to say the visuals are absolutely perfect. Despite having full camera control over your living room, right off the bat you'll notice that backgrounds are merely rotatable drawings with low polygon furniture and objects thrown in to secure the illusion of a true 3D room. The same goes for outdoors, which is considerably worse, as you'll see whole buildings and waterfronts disappear before your very eyes when you turn a corner while out taking your pooch for a walk. It's nothing that'll make you forget about all the hard work the developers put into the rest of the graphics, but it's something I'm sure could've been done better. Other than that, most everything else, including unlockable items and play toys are in full 3D, even in the examination menus and shopping centers. When a handheld with 32 bit visuals can make a Dog look semi-realistic, you'd agree that it is pretty good for the most part.
Speaking of graphics, one of the more notable aspects of Nintendogs is the extensive use of convincing physics when hangin' with your dog. It's quite impressive to be able to throw your dog a stick or chew toy using the touch screen, and to have it feel like you are in control of how far it goes and where it lands. The same goes for frisbees and jump-ropes, which all have their very own real-life look and feel when you play with them. Even your leash you hold when walking your dog is very responsive with a complimentary 3D polygonal handle, and gives you the satisfaction of being entirely in control of your puppy. Although, my personal favorite activity is the pull rope, since you can have a blast dangling your dog in mid-air, and it looks and feels amazingly realistic. If there was one department I admire, it would definitely be the physics. Hopefully, future DS games will take a page from the nifty 3D touchscreen mechanics seen here and make something useful out of the DS to conquer its overabundant 2D library.
Audio, on the other hand, isn't quite as ground-breaking. Sure, you get to hear your canine pet bark your ears off, but outside of that, music and sounds are forgettable to say the least. You hear cutesy jingles when your puppy presents you with a gift, makes a friend or gets chased by a rival dog in the neighborhood. Music when walking your dog is catchy, but gets old eventually, as does most of the other tunes throughout the game. You do have the option of making your own music using a vocal sample in the microphone, but it is just a randomized remix that leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth instead of truly sounding good, and you only get to listen to it indoors. I can't say whether or not I would consider the audio "good", but it gets the job done as far as puppy simulators go.
All in all, the game has pretty unique ambitions, aside from taking care of a dog, that is. The built-in microphone can be used to teach your pet tricks, which is another innovative and much-touted feature of the game, but you are not forced to use it if you don't want to. Of course, You are expected to name your dog upon aquisition and teach it a trick or two, just to familiarize the game with its owner. You can enter your puppy into various contests and obedience trails, which is one of the main methods of attaining a paycheck. However, constant maintenance of your animals can be quite frustrating, as you'll need to feed and water them as well as bathe and exercise them. This is probably the games biggest downfall, though it can be avoided if you keep your number of pets down (preferably only one). You are penalized for not picking up your dog's "doo-doo" when out for a stroll, and other citizens may criticize your pet if it smells bad or looks malnourished. Thus, you are obligated to play this game at least once a day in order to maintain your status quo as an upright animal owner, and having multiple breeds in the same house is just asking for repetitious gameplay. Sadly, if your schedule does not have room for your virtual puppy in your daily routine, coming back to play this game over long periods of hiatus can be a BIG chore.
Unfortunately, where this game does begin to show its ugly side, is in its monotony. Along with all the fun and joy you'll have playing with your dog, you musn't detract your attention from the dog's physical well being. You must have a constant supply of food and shampoo in order to keep your dog well-groomed and healthy, and it helps to feed them milk and other snacks to keep their mood happy. However, if Fido is downright filthy and infested with fleas (a result of long-term lack of play), expect to spend much more time in the shower, scrubbing away at the mutt. This can be murder to your touch-screen, and it certainly isn't fun to scrub a dog for 10 minutes just to keep it healthy. What's worse, is that you only view ONE SIDE of the dog while bathing him, meaning you'll feel like you're cleaning only half the dog. It might have been a lot nicer to have a full 360 degree display of the dog while cleaning it, as it would've assisted in making the game feel that much more real. As for exercise, A lot of times you won't even feel compelled to take the Dog for a walk, since your dog's tolerance for total walking distance is increased ever so slightly every time you go out. This makes for long walks and short attention spans, not to mention you can only get so excited after finding a tennis ball for the hundredth time while out on your route. It will be difficult for anyone to not eventually get bored of doing this every single day, unless they establish a genuine connection with their cute widdle puppy-wuppy.
However, this game is meant for short bursts of play, not hours-on-end hardcore gaming. If you can restrain yourself and play this only a little bit every day, you'll find yourself satisfied. But if you jump in and expect to unlock everything while owning 8 different breeds at once, you may not be the target consumer for this game, and you'll feel cheated. I can't say I don't recommend this title, I just don't think it's for everyone. I guess the whole idea is to convert your love for hardcore gaming you would usually devote to "beating a game", into dog years. It takes a lot more of a down-to-earth lifestyle to truly find long-term enjoyment from this title. Nintendo themselves said this game was to attract casuals, and I can see how this game would appeal to that demograph. Nevertheless, with a few tweaks of your gaming habits, you'll find that this is the kind of game even core gamers can fall in love with. Sure it's cute and innovative, but you have to be a committed casual to even break the potential of this game. It grows on you, but don't let the weeds take over...