Woof Woof ! (Nintendogs: Labrador & Friends (DS))

Member Name: DocDan3

Product:	Nintendogs: Labrador & Friends (DS)
Date:	23/08/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Realistic, Graphics + Sound, Teach Tricks, Microphone Feature, Own A Few Dogs

Disadvantages: Replay Value...

I had this game since it came out as I have always liked virtual pets, like the ones you get on Tamagotchis. It's an excellent game but the replay value wasn't great as it gets a bit repetitive and boring. However, if you are devoted to your dog and teaching it new tricks and looking after it, this game will be a lot longer-lasting. I must admit, I still check on my dogs every few months, which is more than enough - haha!

You start by buying a dog and they all have their own genders and looks. You can name it and teach it it's name as this game uses the Nintendo DS microphone feature a lot. You can start to teach your dogs tricks too by using the stylus on the touch screen to touch your dog and play with it as well as speaking into the microphone the name of the trick when it pulls it off. In the future, when you name the trick, it should do it!

You can also take your dog for walks and meet dogs and owners along the way as well as receiving gifts. You can pop by shops and the local park to play with the flying saucer and practice for competitions. You can also go to the training ground to take your dog round the assault course for practice. The more walks you go for, the longer your dog can walk.

You can also look after your dog by keeping it clean with baths and also feeding it and giving it water. You must buy the equipment to do this at shops. You can also buy a range of other toys to play with your dog(s). The graphics in the game are pretty good and quite realistic but they could be better. The sounds are quite realistic too but not as good as the graphics. The controls are good as they give a natural feel for looking after your dog as you use the touch screen to interact with it. The replay value isn't great as the game is a bit repetitive and nothing much happens after you get your dog - you just look after it. However, you can train your dogs for competitions such as Frisbee catching and the assault course as well as an obedience competition where it must do tricks. Apart from this, there aren't really any objectives in the game, which leaves it rather open and limited in the way of replay-value. I'd recommend it for dog lovers and those who like realistic virtual pets. It can be bought brand new for £17.39 on amazon.co.uk currently.

Thanks for reading,

Dan ©

Summary: A good game where you can care for up to three virtual dogs at one time