Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends

Best For: Ages 6 and Up
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Genre: Simulation
Available For: Nintendo Dual-Screen (DS)
# of Players: 1
Fun Factor: 5 out of 5

Nintendogs debuted in 2005 and offered players a chance to adopt, train, and play with a cute virtual puppy. For 2006, Nintendo has released a limited edition of the title offering spotted Dalmatians, as well as a "cutest pups" selection from previous versions: German shepherd, boxer, Yorkshire terrier, beagle, and golden retriever.

The game plays the same as before. Choose, adopt, and name a puppy and then use the stylus to train, care, and pet the dog. By rubbing the screen, the pup responds as if stroked. It barks and jumps like a real pup, and you can buy all kinds of toys, take the dog for a walk, and manage a simple money system to keep the pup watered and fed. The game cleverly uses the built-in DS microphone to let players name the pup and teach it commands like: sit, stay, play dead, and more. The game works convincingly well (my 6- year-old daughter seems to believe the puppy is real) and it's fun to buy a toy, like a Frisbee, and use the stylus to fling it around so your pup can chase it. The pups are adorable, and each has its own unique personality. Some pups are willful, some fearful, and the game requires players to get to know their pup's personality, and adjust their training accordingly.

If you or a friend has another DS and copy of any Nintendogs version, players can use the wireless capabilities to let their pups play together. There's even a "bark mode." Turn it on, and if you approach another player with the game who also has "bark mode" turned on, and your DS system will bark to let you know there's another doggie nearby.

Parents take note: Nintendogs teaches kids responsibility, patience, empathy, and it doesn't require a pooper scooper. Given the wide selection of pups available (previous versions offered only three breeds at a time), Dalmatian & Friends is both a perfect jumping in point, and still well worth buying if you're a fan of the previous games.

More Video Game Reviews »