 Review By: Andrew Joy |
Developer: | MTO |
| Publisher: | Ubisoft | |
| Genre: | Virtual Pet | |
| ESRB: | Everyone | |
| # Of Players: | 1 | |
| Online Play: | No | |
| Accessories: | N/A | |
| Buy Now: |   |
Wow, it’s hard to imagine that it’s been over a year since we first posted our review of Nintendogs: Labrador and Friends, one version of the Big N’s first attempt at a puppy simulator for the Nintendo DS. Nintendogs was a fairly decent game, boasting impressive graphics, interesting controls, and other certain endearing qualities, but it also left plenty of room for improvement, and I think the score (which you can find in the full review) backed that up. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not just reminiscing for old times sake, but it’s hard to imaging that it has been that long because, given that amount of time, you would think that the competition’s answer would be just as good, if not better, especially considering the – pardon the pun - pedigree (more on that in a moment). Well, at least that’s what I assumed going into Dogz, but you know what they say about assumptions...poor, poor Umption.
Dogz is one of a handful of games based off of the Petz license recently released for the DS, with the others including such titles as Catz, Horsez, and Hamsterz. The franchise has enjoyed a long life, providing several iterations for a number of systems. To some, the Petz line may very well be considered the father of digital critters, assuming anyone still remembers them after the fad that was Tamagotchi, the sensational craze that followed and truthfully flung the genre into its more mass-market form. In that way, Dogz continues the tradition, offering just enough of everything to compete – or perhaps confuse – but not enough to standout among the likes of (oh, yes, I’m going to mention it again) Nintendogs. In this game, you play as a young boy or girl who is excited about getting their first dog, with various characters popping in to give you advice. The story is basic, but I have to give it credit for at least trying to provide one when past games in the genre have not.
Though games based on this series aren’t exactly a new thing, this does mark its first appearance on the Nintendo DS. About a year ago, though, the game did appear on the Game Boy Advance, but sadly I can’t say for sure that there is any difference between the two. In terms of its presentation, Dogz is particularly disappointing. Instead of being able to choose between the wide-view or close-up camera, like in Nintendogs, Dogz sticks you with a pulled-out, isometric camera to show of it’s bland visuals. You see, instead of the detailed models for each dog, again, like in Nintendogs, Dogz settles for simple, ugly, and pixilated graphics for the dogs and the main characters. Unfortunately, as for the sound, it is similarly unimpressive. Dogz uses only the barest sampling of music, effects, and sound bytes, which is truly a shame, since it's also lacking voiceovers that really could have a bit of personality to your virtual family.
Of course, the various characters do more than just move along the story; they also take you step-by-step through the process of raising a puppy. When you first get home, through a series of scripted events, your parents teach you about the various things you can do, how to keep the dog happy, and the various commands and skills like learning it’s name, teaching it to sit, using the litter box and more. To most, such simplified gameplay might make playing this game a very sad milestone in a person’s life, but it is really quite perfect for children. In fact, I’d venture to say that, while the older you get, the more you don’t want to be seen playing a game like this, but for those who still don’t care, Dogz probably caters to the youngest of you. Someone that’s old enough to walk into a store alone will probably pick up Nintendogs, but for those who have to have their parents, this is right up their alley and its whole design echoes that.
In keeping with that, the controls are also very apropos for Dogz’s target audience. From my experience with Nintendogs, I could imagine a younger player having trouble with the sensitivity of both the touch and voice controls. Though the game was much more interactive, a simple swipe of the touch screen in that game could do a variety if things, including petting the dog, getting it to roll over (or sit up, or lie down), or even pull its ear or tail. In Dogz however, if you are close to the dog, when you swipe the screen it will pet them, or, if you have a brush in your hand, it will brush them. It is all very simple, and in that way, perfect for the youngest among us. The game also lets you control your player with the stylus, which, with the isometric camera, is something I would have loved to have in Digimon World DS. And, the voice control is also very simple, as I don’t think the game really cares what you are saying, so long as it has enough syllables.
Apart from training, you can also shop for your dog and compete in events, but I really can’t see this title getting that much time in your Nintendo DS, and it won’t be long before you are looking for something more. With the highly scripted events that make up the story, it is hard to imagine anyone wanting to play through it again, as the only reason to do so would be to start out with a new dog, but they are all so similar it hardly matters anyways. In Dogz, though, there are a few mini-games you can try out beyond the main game, including a slide puzzle and a card matching game. The multiplayer also tends to be a bit limited, even if you could find another player with a copy of Dogz. If you can, then two players can do an item trade, gifting decorations and the like, and if you can’t, well, the game does include single card DS download play of the two mini-games I mentioned before, but it doesn’t add much.
Bottom Line:
If you are still at an age where you’re unashamedly willing to play a video game about puppies, it wouldn’t seem there would be too much of a diffference between Nintendogs and Dogz. However, Dogz is aimed at an ever-so-slightly younger crowd, unfortunately with mixed results. The graphics are decidedly simple, giving the players a mix between a Game Boy Advance and a child’s dollhouse. Dogz also tries to add a bit of story to the mix too, offering up the premise of a young boy whose parents have allowed him to get a dog. However, it isn’t there so much for entertainment as it is instruction. And, in that respect, this game tends to hold the player’s hand a bit more than some might like. On the plus side, some of the key features like interacting with your dog with your stylus, aren’t as frustratingly sensitive as they can be in Nintendogs, so the game should be more accessible to the young ones.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
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| 4.0 |
Posted: 2007-01-04 20:50:11 PST