Nintendogs Labrador Retriever & Friends (Nintendo DS)

The lowdown:
Nintendogs is brimming with character. Each pup looks out from the DS touchscreen and paws longingly. You can respond to your virtual pet's need of attention by stroking the screen, using items such as balls and brushes with the aid of the stylus, and talking to your dogs through the DS's inbuilt microphone system. Impressive 3D graphics give lifelike animation to these canine wonders.

Most exciting moment:
After a few attempts to speak commands into the microphone, your puppy understands the meaning of "sit", barks approval, and sits down. It's good to talk.

Since you ask:
You can keep three pups in your home at any time. When left to their own devices, they'll play and play-fight together. And they call this 'puppy love'.

The bottom line:
A Nintendog is not just for Christmas.
Jonti Davies

It may sound cliched, but Nintendogs truly is a game for all ages. Hey, I can prove it. My dad's as tough as nails (REALLY!). He served in the army, and is very disiplanary. He hates it when I act immature, although he actually ASKED for a go on Nintendogs. And enjoyed it. That's quite an achivment; he would never DREAM of chosing, say, Mario over Halo. He says that Mario's a bit too childish for him. He's an IT specialist, so he knows what makes a good console (or, at least he thinks he does!). Anyway, let's not get too personal.

Nintendogs is a winner on all levels of play; it's addictive, it's clever, it's innovative, and most of all, it's fun. Play consists of training a puppy, teaching it commmands via the microphone and touch screen. It's all very sophisticated. You can enter your puppy in different contests; including Disk Catching, Agility, and Obedience trials. Another huge part of Nintendogs is walks. The walks are great. Map out the route you'll be taking using the touch screen, and then use a leash to control your dog while walking. It's pure gaming gold. On walks you'll expect to find 'presents'; this is to say, parcels, wrapped in paper. Not the OTHER 'present'. God, no. Most times you'll find an item you already have, such as the utterly useless bubble blower, or perhaps a shoe, and occasionally, you'll find the odd hat. Although the fact that somtimes you end up with a stick will annoy even the toughest of players. It makes me cry.

Back home, you get a full selection of toys and gifts you have collected in the game; items range from white leather boots to remote controlled Mario Karts. All Nintendogs have different reactions depending on which item is used; for example; my Golden Retriver; Lewie, hates the stick. He simply sits there and growls. While my sisters Chihuaua; Tom, absolutly loves it, but hates the dog photo (a personal favourate of Lewies', may I add). This is influenced by different personalities; some dogs are well behaved, some dogs aren't, and so on. The way you train them influences their overall personalities.

Now. The Microphone. Where to begin? Well, for a start, it's rubbish. It hasn't got a good enough frequency to be used properly. It's far too sensitive. It picks up FAR too much static. Even on low, the Microphone persists on being rubbish, although low works better than medium or high. The microphone is simply not good enough. Luckily though, GAME stores group Ltd. have realised this, bringing out a DS headset, which consists of an earbud and ajustable microphone. Imagine the Xbox Live headset, only smaller and weedier. You plug it into your DS, and you're away. No messing around. And because the GAME microphone picks up more Bass than Trebble (unlike the built in one, which does the complete opposite), it's much more efficient, too. It would be well worth investing in for Christmas. PLUS, GAME are flogging it for about 9.99, so you better get there quick. Trust me, gamers. I'm getting one.
(This was NOT intended as advertisment for GAME stores group Ltd. I was simply stating a fact.)

All this aside, Nintendogs has turned out to be an outstanding DS game. It uses the functions properly, and has a neverending replay value. That said; Nintendogs isn't actually a game. It's an experience. And one not to be missed, at that. This is what the DS needs to pull it out of the PSP's dust. Congratulations Nintendo, on what is, another truly outstanding game.


nintendogs! : )   November 25, 2006
 42 out of 44 found this review helpful

I have to be honest. I don't own this game. I am getting it for xmas and I play my friends all the time. She owns all the nintendogs games and three real labs so yay lol. Anyway this game is soooo much fun. It's like having your own little doggies!
*You plan a route and take them for walks
*You can meet other dogs and find things on your walk
*You can go to the kennel and look at or purchase new dogs
*You can play games with your dogs and enjoy feeding them, giveng them a shower, patting them ect.
*You can train them new tricks
*You can take them to dog shows and win awards
*You can choose cute lil names for them
*You can choose from labs, dalmations, dashounds and chiwawas.
*Buy items for your dogs including food, toys, water and collars.
*Its one of the best DS games at the moment so if you like dogs then just buy it!
*I like labs the best but you can choose any!
I hope this review helped you and enjoy the game (if you decide to purchase it!)
Lil Zo, 12 yrs old, big nintendogs fan!
:)
:)


How much is that Doggy in the window? - by Holly, aged 12   August 28, 2007
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Nintendogs is a fun and rather addictive game. You start off by choosing from a range of 6 cute puppy breeds (you unlock more breeds as the game progresses) and then take him or her home.
It takes a few minutes for your puppy to settle in and then you can name it. You use the microphone to say your puppy's name out loud (but speak clearly and at a reasonable volume or it will not work)
Once your puppy has learnt its name, you can take it for walks and enter it in competitions. Make sure you stroke your puppy and play with it regulary or it might get annoyed and run away.
Walking your dog gives it the opportunity to exercise, meet other dogs, train in the gym, play in the park and find presents on the street. Every time you take your dog for a walk, the distance that it walks is increased next time you take your dog out. The first time you take your dog to the gym, it will be slow, probably knock down jumps and be scared of the see-saw, but these things will gradually improve every time you visit the gym. Use your stylus to guide your dog through the obstacles and to indicate where the dog should go. Practising in the gym will help you when you enter agility events.
You can also practise for disc competitions in the park by selecting a disc to train with from your inventory in the sport section. Throw the disc by using the stylus and if the dog doesn't bring it back to you, tap on the bottom screen to make the dog come to you.
Obedience trials are usually difficult (especially when in the championships) You train your puppy for obedience trials at home. It is better to work individually with your puppy when training (because your puppy can get distracted), so it is best to leave any other dogs you have in the dog hotel. The only thing that annoys me sometimes about the game is training (obedience) because it's very difficult to teach your puppy the right commands, and sometimes if you say "sit", it might lie down, which can be irritating.
Once you have money (winning money in competitions or selling items in the second hand shop), you can re-style your house with lovely designs at the interior decorator's shop.
Overall, it is a good game with realistic graphics, good microphone and extremely cute puppies!!
I would recommend this game to younger players and dog lovers!
Happy Gaming!