Post by Gilvan Blight on Dec 31, 2007 11:53:32 GMT -5
Got this one for XMas as I really wanted a ShiTzu puppy.
Quickly: very cute but gets boring quickly.
[glow=blue,2,300]Summary:[/glow]This was a DS launch (or near Launch) title that was the must have game back when it came out. This one is a pet simulation in the tracks of the old Dogz and Catz on the PC. You adopt a virtual pet, then take care of it. The biggest changes though is the use of more current technology.
You start off by going to the pound to pick out your new friend. Depending on what version of the game you bought you will have a selection of breeds to pick from. Mine included Pugs, Dachshunds, Siberian Huskies, ShiTzus and something else that slips my mind. Looking trough the pups you will see that each has a different personality and you should pick one that suits your playing style (or so the game claims). There seems to be three different models for each breed, and no graphical difference between male and female.
Once you pick up and pay for your pup you bring your new bundle of joy home. The first thing you do is name your pup. This is interesting as it's done using the DS mike. You call your dogs name a bunch of times until it learns it. Once it does you type in the name and can then call your dog by name from then on forward. After naming your dog you will teach them their first trick, sit. You do this by calling the dog (by name out loud) and then using the stylus to guide them into a sitting position. You then click on the learning button and say the command you want for sit. You repeat this until your dog learns the command, then going forward you can issue the sit command.
Once you get through those basic tutorial style session with your dog everything goes sandbox and you can do what you wish. The rest of the gameplay involves playing with your dog, feeding and providing water, playing with toys and teaching them new tricks. You have to buy the toys and the food and you make money by entering competitions. These are mini games that test how well you trained your dog. You can take your dog for a walk as well where you can run into other dogs, find randomized presents and even have to 'yank' your pup away from eating garbage. Once you have won enough competitions you will have enough money to go get another puppy and you can have up to three in your house at once. You can also store puppies at the boarding house in a system that reminds me of Monster Rancher.
There doesn't appear to be a way to 'win the game' though beating all of the contests is a definite goal.
[glow=green,2,300]The Good:[/glow]OMG is this game cute. The graphics are the best I have seen on the DS and are surprisingly realistic. I'm guessing they mo-capped some real dogs as the pups move around so realistically. The whole voice command thing is just cool. Calling out your dogs name only to have it run at you full speed tail a wagging is just awesome to see. The walking thing is neat and well done and something new to me as far as these pet Sim games go. The addition of having to keep your pup clean is a nice addition to feed and watered as well. The stylus controls are very well done. Tossing a ball and even trowing a Frisbee feel like fairly natural movements using the touch screen. Using the stylus to bathe and pet your pup also feels very tactile compared to other pet games.
[glow=yellow,2,300]The Bad:[/glow]Fun for only a short time. This game is uber cute but really there isn't much to it. You really don't have that much you can do. Feed and water your dog, pet it lots, teach it a few tricks and enter contests now and then, it's not exactly riveting. To add to the boredom you pet will only learn a set number of tricks each day before they 'get tired' meaning you won't be playing this one for extended periods, and won't keep you occupied for long if looking to kill time. This is more a pick it up, feed, water, walk, turn off kind of game, like playing brain age, only minutes a day. I expected a lot more, though I couldn't tell you exactly what.
[glow=red,2,300]The Ugly:[/glow]Unfortunately due to needing the mic to play the game you can't play it very well in public, plus it doesn't work well in a noisy room. Even when in a quiet room it can have trouble haring you if you don't hold the DS about 6 inches away. It's a great concept but one that doesn't work as well as I would have liked. This is one of those games that runs real time. Which means that if you are like me you have a life and spend days not playing games, which means in this one you come back to a parched starving pooch that won't listen to any commands as you 'miss treated it'. I'm sure this is great for teaching kids responsibility, but isn't so great for those of us that have responsibilities beyond our games
[glow=purple,2,300]Overall:[/glow]Probably the cutest game I will ever own. Very well done graphics and dog motion simulation. Some nice touches that go quite a bit above and beyond previous pet games. The addition of voice commands and the tactile feel of using the styles are very nice. Unfortunately there just isn't enough to this game to keep my interest. I think it would be perfect for a kid, especially if you are thinking of getting a pet and want to see if the kid has the dedication to take care of it. Other then that it's cute and all, and somewhat fun in short doses but doesn't have enough to it.
Quickly: very cute but gets boring quickly.
[glow=blue,2,300]Summary:[/glow]This was a DS launch (or near Launch) title that was the must have game back when it came out. This one is a pet simulation in the tracks of the old Dogz and Catz on the PC. You adopt a virtual pet, then take care of it. The biggest changes though is the use of more current technology.
You start off by going to the pound to pick out your new friend. Depending on what version of the game you bought you will have a selection of breeds to pick from. Mine included Pugs, Dachshunds, Siberian Huskies, ShiTzus and something else that slips my mind. Looking trough the pups you will see that each has a different personality and you should pick one that suits your playing style (or so the game claims). There seems to be three different models for each breed, and no graphical difference between male and female.
Once you pick up and pay for your pup you bring your new bundle of joy home. The first thing you do is name your pup. This is interesting as it's done using the DS mike. You call your dogs name a bunch of times until it learns it. Once it does you type in the name and can then call your dog by name from then on forward. After naming your dog you will teach them their first trick, sit. You do this by calling the dog (by name out loud) and then using the stylus to guide them into a sitting position. You then click on the learning button and say the command you want for sit. You repeat this until your dog learns the command, then going forward you can issue the sit command.
Once you get through those basic tutorial style session with your dog everything goes sandbox and you can do what you wish. The rest of the gameplay involves playing with your dog, feeding and providing water, playing with toys and teaching them new tricks. You have to buy the toys and the food and you make money by entering competitions. These are mini games that test how well you trained your dog. You can take your dog for a walk as well where you can run into other dogs, find randomized presents and even have to 'yank' your pup away from eating garbage. Once you have won enough competitions you will have enough money to go get another puppy and you can have up to three in your house at once. You can also store puppies at the boarding house in a system that reminds me of Monster Rancher.
There doesn't appear to be a way to 'win the game' though beating all of the contests is a definite goal.
[glow=green,2,300]The Good:[/glow]OMG is this game cute. The graphics are the best I have seen on the DS and are surprisingly realistic. I'm guessing they mo-capped some real dogs as the pups move around so realistically. The whole voice command thing is just cool. Calling out your dogs name only to have it run at you full speed tail a wagging is just awesome to see. The walking thing is neat and well done and something new to me as far as these pet Sim games go. The addition of having to keep your pup clean is a nice addition to feed and watered as well. The stylus controls are very well done. Tossing a ball and even trowing a Frisbee feel like fairly natural movements using the touch screen. Using the stylus to bathe and pet your pup also feels very tactile compared to other pet games.
[glow=yellow,2,300]The Bad:[/glow]Fun for only a short time. This game is uber cute but really there isn't much to it. You really don't have that much you can do. Feed and water your dog, pet it lots, teach it a few tricks and enter contests now and then, it's not exactly riveting. To add to the boredom you pet will only learn a set number of tricks each day before they 'get tired' meaning you won't be playing this one for extended periods, and won't keep you occupied for long if looking to kill time. This is more a pick it up, feed, water, walk, turn off kind of game, like playing brain age, only minutes a day. I expected a lot more, though I couldn't tell you exactly what.
[glow=red,2,300]The Ugly:[/glow]Unfortunately due to needing the mic to play the game you can't play it very well in public, plus it doesn't work well in a noisy room. Even when in a quiet room it can have trouble haring you if you don't hold the DS about 6 inches away. It's a great concept but one that doesn't work as well as I would have liked. This is one of those games that runs real time. Which means that if you are like me you have a life and spend days not playing games, which means in this one you come back to a parched starving pooch that won't listen to any commands as you 'miss treated it'. I'm sure this is great for teaching kids responsibility, but isn't so great for those of us that have responsibilities beyond our games
[glow=purple,2,300]Overall:[/glow]Probably the cutest game I will ever own. Very well done graphics and dog motion simulation. Some nice touches that go quite a bit above and beyond previous pet games. The addition of voice commands and the tactile feel of using the styles are very nice. Unfortunately there just isn't enough to this game to keep my interest. I think it would be perfect for a kid, especially if you are thinking of getting a pet and want to see if the kid has the dedication to take care of it. Other then that it's cute and all, and somewhat fun in short doses but doesn't have enough to it.