ResponseEve, a responsive template by SiGa

Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends!

The newest in the puppy simulation category comes in the form of Nintendogs. But will it fail because it's the DSs first simulator?

First Impressions: Whenever possible, we try to give our loyal website viewers the most video footage and most in depth unbiased reviews imaginable. Part of that development is our "initial impressions" where we offer up our first impressions of the title that we are playing.

This gives our website visitors more of clear understanding of what to first expect out of the game when they initially pop it into their consoles.

If you scroll to the bottom of the page in the Rent vs. Buy section of the review and do not see the "final impressions" assessment then it's safe to say that you are reading our initial impression of the game. Once the final impression is up, there will be no further video or review done to that particular title.

Final Impressions: The final impression is just that, our completed breakdown and overall thoughts on the game based off of our entire game playing time.

You can locate the final impressions assessment in the "Rent vs. Buy" section of the review (always located at the very end of all of our reviews). Here you will be able to read our final thoughts on the title and also see any potential grade changes that were made to the game as well (higher or lower). Should a grading change occur, it will be clearly noted with the previous grade, the new grade, and why the change occurred.

Although this approach is more time consuming and requires many more man hours, our entire goal has always been to provide the best and completely unbiased reviews possible and we feel that the inclusion of the Initial Impressions and Final Impressions sections will give you a better view of what to expect from a new game.

All that we ask in return is for you to continue to support Krakrabbit.com by visiting the site and letting others know about our cause. Together we can supply our fellow gamers with the most impartial information so they can make an informed decision on whether to buy or rent this particular title.

Welcome Noname: One of the best (and worst, strangely) things about Nintendogs is the fact the story is totally absent. There is absolutely no way to tie your name into the world, nor your various dogs either.

There is (somewhat of) a point of Nintendogs though. You take care of a dog, then enter him in Obedience, Agility, or Disc Catching contests (we'll get to those), then buy more doggy care products and sometimes a new house (that isn't any bigger, strangely).

Sit. Sit. SIT DAMN IT: Nintendogs uses the implemented DS mic to teach your dog various tricks. Some of them would be easy, such as sit, lie down, and the popular handshake...if the mic worked half the time. And that's where a big problem lies; the mic. When you try to teach your dog tricks, your voice will often become mumbled, or totally deformed, and sometimes all the dog will hear is heavy breathing.

Each time you talk into the mic at your dog, he will grow to understand what you said, and associate it with the command, but if you muffle your voice or don't have it exactly six inches away from your face, while hopping on one leg thinking about the next Nintendo game, he will become very, very stupid. Needless to say the microphone doesn't exactly pick up on your commands perfectly.

The reason he becomes so stupid is because he heard your voice as static or just your hot breath trying to talk from two millimeters away from the mic. When the dog becomes... "Mentally challenged" (you made him that way) you might as well donate him to the shelter because he is now useless.

Up Next...Forty-Time Champ Corndog: By far the biggest problem lies in Nintendogs' crushing repetitiveness. After you've taken your pup out for billions of walks, and bough every dog collar possible, its time for you to enter some contests. Oddly, the contest difficulty varies widely from one to another.

There are three kinds of contests (as aforementioned) but sadly; the contests are far too easy. The Disc Catching contest is no trouble at all once you train your pup for a little while, and the Agility Trials are nothing different. You will race around the track pushing those little puppy legs to the limit, then crush the competition in sweeping fashion.

The Obedience trials on the other hand are not so easy. I don't think its because the actual contest is any harder then the rest, but because the mic fails in this situation again. As I said before, unless you have the perfect alignment with the mic, your voice will become muffled and the dog won't understand you.

Rent vs. Buy: Nintendogs is a great game...but only for about a few hours, up until you do everything that the game offers. This is a great game for the younger audience, and I'm sure that they will see value in this game longer then more mature gamers.

The sickeningly cute puppy models and the fact that you can let your pups play with others on other DSs is great. In addition, there are several different breeds that you can unlock, and different game cartridges that feature others.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend this game at the price that it sells at now. If you can find it any cheaper then retail pricing, then pick this up for the young ones and watch them enjoy. Just think "discount", and Nintendogs and you will do fine.

Latest Headlines

Want to know which titles are booming overseas? How about patch notes and announcements for your favorite games? This is the place to get your daily gaming headlines from around the world.
Click For Latest Headlines!