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A Mom's take...Just give in and Buy it already!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 245 / 273
Date: September 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

My son actually had a "Dogz" and "Catz" game similar to this for our computer some years ago. Very fun...very cute but wow, how far the technology has come in a few short years! First of all, the images are amazing and very crisp and clear. Secondly, he'll play it for hours on end (if I let him) and really seems to be doing something constructive rather than just shooting things and running in circles finding coins. The voice recognition is really genius, he's the only one that can train the dog he's chosen, even if his friends decide they'd like to try the game. It also teaches responsibility before the fact if you are thinking of getting a pet. No...it's not "real life" but it's the coolest virtual thing I've seen in a long time! It's not a bad price as games go, and it really will keep the kids occupied for a long time. I just think it's really neat and hey, it's not annoying like a Furby.

This game is so much fun and adorable!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 77 / 88
Date: June 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

We are americans living in japan and currently have the japanese dachsund version (there are 3 different versions in japan). Each version allows you to own over 4 different dogs.
After figuring out how to use it (we don't read japanese) my daughter spent a lot of time teaching her dog his name and how to do tricks. The game incorporates a voice recognition function so the dog only responds to it's owner. The dogs act like real pets, it took my daughter a whole day to teach the dog it's name (like a real puppy) so it would respond to her. It gave her a taste of what it's like to own a real dog. She has to feed it and clean it's mess or is fined "money". There is not one problem my daughter has had with this game and it can be reset if you want to start over. This is such an awesome interactive game, the graphics are outstanding and the puppies are sooooo cute! You can also detect other DS puppies if you're walking around town with your DS on. The puppies start barking to each other then you can link up and let them play together....Well worth the money!

Great Responsibility Builder for All Ages

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 16
Date: October 02, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you've always dreamed about having your own dog, be sure to give Nintendogs a try for your Nintendo DS. The game helps to teach you the skills necessary to care for a pet!

There are three different types of Nintendog games out there - Chihuahua, Dachshund, and Labrador Retriever. Each game has a different group of dog breeds available in it. If you get all 3 games you get the full collection of dog types - but there are plenty enough to choose from with just one game.

You start out by choosing a dog and naming it. The simple interactions come first of course - tossing a tennis ball, petting the dog, teaching it to sit. Your pet learns to respond to your voice commands, and develops a personality depending on how you interact with it. You take your pet for walks, feed it, give it water, and most of all provide it with love and affection.

As you progress with your pet, you can teach it more tricks, play frisbee with it and enter it in a variety of competitions. You can earn money, buy new treats for your pup, and even customize the home you live in. If you have other Nintendo DS owners in your area, you can even share pet time together and exchange information!

I've played many pet games before this one - Catz, Dogz, Creatures, NeoPets, you name it. It's impressive how far the graphics have come in these games. The Nintendog pet is very emotive - from the hopeful eyes to the wagging tail, you really get a sense that this is a live creature anxious for affection. You can pet the pup, nuzzle it under the chin, tickle its belly. When you throw the ball or toss the frisbee, it really reacts the way you would think it should.

It's delightful to see a game that doesn't involve violence or destruction. Sure, if you neglect your pet it will get upset. But in general, you can go as slowly as you wish, caring for your pet, knowing that it will unashamedly love you back completely.

There are millions of people out there who simply cannot have a real pet. Some are allergic to pets, some have tiny apartments where there is not enough room for a pet. Some kids are simply too young for a real pet and have parents who will not take on the responsibility. There are many, many reasons that a real pet would be impossible - and the Nintendog is the perfect solution!

Highly recommended - 5/5

The new Pokemon, Furby, and Tomagatchi.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 22 / 29
Date: August 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is the new hype from Japan (sold 700.000 units so far before reaching USA) and is the best so far! It's as if u own a real dog. When i first played it i didn't think the dogs would act that much lik a real dog but to my suprise, they did! Their movements were random and behaved how a reguluar dog should. When u first get ur dog u first have to teach it its name which may or may not take a while. To do this you simply use the microphone inside your DS and eventually it will respond to it. The microphone in the Ds will be usual to teach ur dogs many commands and once you feel ur dog has been trained well enough you can enter your dog in competitions. Of course you'll have to assist your dog in the training but it heavely relies on how trained your dog is. If you win the competition you win money which u can spend on eithr items for ur dogs, or a whole enw dog!

You can also of course play with ur dog with a frisbee, chew toy, pet ur dog, and other stuff that u would normally do to paly with ur dog. You can also take ur dog for a walk and may even meet new friends (in game and real life friends!!!) You can meet new dogs in the game and ur dog can interact with other ppl playing the DS no matter wat version they own. By meeting an owner's dog from a different version u can unlock the dog in your very own version. There are 3 version of Nintendogs(much like Pokemon) and each include different dogs. You can check the box cover or read the detailed description on this site to find out what dog u DON'T need to unlock. The dogs named on the box are the ones instantly available. The ones not mentioned or are on other version u must unlock. But all Nintendog version contains all the dogs. U just have to unlock them.

To meet other Nintendogs player u set ur DS in bark mode and close your DS (ur not actually turning it off. it's sorta like a sleep mode) and ur DS will bark when another Nintendog player is nearby. You can exchange gifts and even send messages to each other!

f you have never owned a dog or wish you could take your dog wherever you go then this is the game for you! It's an excellent dog simulator. If you want to test it out before you buy it, i believe Toys R Us and Gamestop has a demo that you can try out. It doesnt allow you to do everything but it gives a great taste of the game. I already found it addictive when i tried just the demo.

As for the so called "PSP version" one will never exist. The keyword is NINTENDOgs. Its owned by Nintendo and its actaully one of them reasons its outselling the PSP. The graphics for this game are already great on the DS and i can't imagine much a change on the PSP. The PSP also lacks the touch screen which is used very well is used very well to interact with ur dogs and the PSP also lacks a microphone.

But overall this game is great and is actaulyl worth something to be hyped up about!

WALKIN' THE DOG, WALKIN' THE DOG.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 18
Date: November 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is one of those "love it or hate it" games, but the majority tends to be in favor of the "love it" verdict. But I can see why some people don't like Nintendogs. Yes, it gets repetitive after about a week. Yes, it's Tamagotchi minus the key chain. Yes, it'll make you constantly recharge your DS. But for the people who like simulation games, or just dogs in general, it's an automatic must-have, and the reason why the DS is doing well in sales finally. In fact, this was the reason we got a DS. After tons of pointless games that try to wow people with two screens, one that actually works came around and won our hearts.

There's no story to Nintendogs. None. So I won't waste time trying to describe its nonexistent plot. When you boot up the game, you're given one of several choices on what puppy you want. After selecting your favored breed, you take it home, give it a name, teach it tricks, pamper it, go for walks, and more. You know, the usual stuff you'd do with a real dog. That's all there is to the game. And it's a great alternative to those who can't afford a real dog, or have conditions that don't allow them to have one, be it parents or living environment. But, there's a lot to do for your dog. During walks, you'll find presents that are usually either new items for your dog to play with, or a new accessory to decorate them up with. You'll find shoes, tissue boxes, viking helmets, tennis balls, Santa hats, books, and much more. And this is 1/3 of the fun found in Nintendogs. The rest lies in training your dog. In order to make money for supplies, you'll have to enter him or her in contests, of which there are 3 types: disc, agility, and obedience. And each contest has 4 different levels, Championship being the hardest. You can practice for any of these competitions while walking your dog, taking it to a park to catch flying discs, and a gym to have the dog run obstacle courses. Obedience relies in your dog's ability to understand commands for tricks, of which there are a lot to learn. Sit, shake, lay down, spin, sneeze, flip and many more are here to learn. On top of all of this, you're given a score. Giving your dog a bath, walking it, and contest results boost your Trainer Points, which results in you getting a new house model to buy and a new breed of dog once a certain amount of points has been earned. This is the easiest way to get new dogs rather than buying different versions.

As you can see, it doesn't sound like there's a lot to do, and yet there is. I didn't think I'd have so much fun teaching my dog how to sneeze over and over again, only to take it out to practice catching a shower cap frisbee. All of this does seem like a chore after playing it for a while though. Which is why I can see a lot of people hating the game. That, and them not wanting to look stupid in public when trying to teach their dog tricks with the voice recognition. To teach it a trick, you'll have to say the name of something they just did after clicking the appropriate icon. This is a lot of fun, as boring as it sounds, and you'll get a kick out of seeing a pug do a back flip, only to stumble because you talked too quiet. Simply put, it's a lot like Animal Crossing- if you have the patience and time for a game like this, you'll love it. But if you want something that requires action, look elsewhere. This is one of those games that never ends. And with the added in Bark Mode, you can leave the game on while the DS searches for other Nintendogs on people, so you can exchange items with them, and maybe unlock new extras. It may not be much for the whole interactive thing Nintendo was going for, but at least they gave us something.

The game looks pretty good for just a handheld game. All of the dogs look realistic while having their own unique style of graphics. The way they react and move is unbelievable, and you can tell that a lot of time went into the production of this game. It's just too bad that not as much time went into the scenery. While going out on walks, the backgrounds change after a certain amount of feet, despite the map showing a big variation in the city you live in. For example, when you see that you're about to walk by a beach on the top screen, you can see it on the actual walking screen a good minute or two after walking past it. Backgrounds seem to change at random, and that's just lazy programming. There's also a bit of slowdown at times, like when you meet new dogs, the frame rate drops quite a bit. But other than that, it usually runs at 30 fps. As for the audio, there's not much in this department. A few little ditties, lots of barking, and some small sound effects don't give me much to work with.

I can easily see this being the must-have toy for the holiday season. Kids everywhere are loving Nintendogs, and it's causing a few adults to purchase a DS as well. If Nintendo would spend more time on making games that use the two screen gimmick like this, then they wouldn't be in the rut they're in right now. It took a year before we got anything really good for the system, but it's a hell of a must-have. Plus, if you're a guy gamer who's having trouble getting your woman into games, Nintendogs could be that quick boost you've been looking for. My girlfriend absolutely loved this game before I started doing more in it than her . It's that addicting. If anything, get it for cute puppies.

Nintendogs

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: October 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I remember when I first saw this game. I was bored and then my friend pulled out nintendogs and asked me if I'd like to try it. I had so much fun with it I wanted to get it right away, of course, if your like me, and spend your allowance on gum, that's just not gonna happen. So I had to wait for Christmas, figures, but the wait was deffinately worth it! Most people say things like " if you can't have a dog this game if right for you!" or "this game can get boring after a while..." but that's not true! I have a dog, so I should know... Anyway, first you have to pick which version is right for you, I picked Dachsund and friends because I had a Goldend Retriever, and I always thought those "weiner dogs" were so cute. And I got a dog that was simaler to my actual dog and named it Millie, the name of my actual dog. That way I could say that I was carrying my dog in my pocket all day. Anyway, here are the things that make nintendotgs so sweet:
*Bring it anywhere
*Many dogs to choose from
*Use bark mode to meet and greet other nintendotgs owners
*So realistic
*No two dogs are the same
*Respond to your voice
*Tons of things to do
*Really care your dog, feed, give it water, and pick up (eww) poo
*Teach it tricks
*Many Easter Eggs (AKA: secrets)
*Take your dogs on walks
*Enter competitions to make moola
*Too many dogs, drop some of at the Doggy Hotel
*Upgrade your apartment
*Many,many,many toys.
*Any questions, ask me!

The DS has gone to the Dogs!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: September 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I should first note that I'm an avid gamer. For the most part, my taste in games leans toward games like Mortal Kombat and Zelda. So, I was a bit skeptical of the chances I would really be able to get into a game like Nintendogs. It looked a bit childish. Nevertheless, I'm always looking for cool and innovative new gameplay experiences, and I'm starved for decent Nintendo DS games so I decided to pick up Nintendogs.

I'm glad I did!

The first choice you will need to make with Nintendogs is what version you want to buy. Each of three versions being sold in the US includes not only the dog in the title and cover, but also a lineup of breeds unique to that version. Don't worry though, if you are a fan of two breeds that are in different versions you will have the opportunity to unlock other breeds through a point system, and by playing with other DS owners who bought a different version.

I chose Dachshund and friends because I wanted the Husky, he is ubber cute in the game even though he looks a little terrifying and evil in the profile shot.

Those who imported the Japanese version of the game will note that the Japanese versions have a slightly differing roster of breeds.

Nintendo has said that they designed the DS with the intent to deliver a new, innovative, style of gameplay with the hardware. Something that would alter the way gamers interact with their system, and allow Nintendo to differentiate itself in the industry.

Well, with Nintendogs, I feel that they have finally achieved this in a strong way. To begin with, the game utilizes ALL of the DS's features including the touchpad and microphone (to interact with your dog), the dual screen layout (for maps, status, and various other features), and the wireless features (to play with other DS users in a close proximety).

They've not only used Nintendogs exhibit Nintendo's new strategy for innovative gameplay, but also Nintendo's strategy for attracting a larger demographic of DS users. How? Well:

When people ask me what the point of Nintendogs is, it's difficult for me to answer because the purpose of the game can vary depending on how you want to play it. Competitive gamers like myself will likely play to earn a high point and trainer status. Others might play just to master one, or a couple, of the competitions. Some might be drawn to the game to collect all the various items to accessorize their dog with, or buying larger rooms for their puppy to dwell in. Many will be drawn to the virtual pet factor of the game.

It all depends on how you want to play. In this way, I think Nintendo is reaching out to a broader audience of gamers by letting them define how they play, how often they play, and what they desire out of the gameplay experience.

So what can you do in the game? Well, I've listed some of the things, but primarily you want to take care of your pet by watering and feeding it, and taking it on walks to... do it's business.

You are given an alotment of money for care products.

Once you've got the basics down, you'll want to start teaching your puppy tricks to enter competitions and win more money.

Overall, I think this may be the best game to hit the DS yet. I did mark it down for a couple reasons though. First, it lacks the ability to allow gamers who aren't in the same room to play with one another, even though the DS has those capabilities.

Next, there's only so far you can get in the game before it starts to become monotonous and boring. Some seasonally-based events might be nice, or even the ability to interact a little bit more with other characters in the game.

Finally, I see the appeal of the dogs staying puppies forever... but it would add to the replay value of the game if the dogs did age.

Well, that's my view on Nintendogs! I'd just like to note a couple other games you might be interested in. Obviously the Sims, but Animal Crossing from Nintendo also comes to mind. In many ways it is similar to Nintendogs!

Thanks for reading!

It's a great game...but be prepared you may suffer guilt from bordom.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: April 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I loved this game,and when I first got it, I was totally addicted.But you see, I was prepared,as I had been practicing on my friend's dogs,and since,in barely 2 weeks,I had eight dogs..three champions,so pretty soon the game lost it's touch.I'm not saying it's a bad game, but soon,after you win contests,have a lot of items,etc,it does get a little boring.You can't get any more dogs without giving any away and the screen saying " You and _your dogs name_ has parted ways"and your dogs are looking terribly sad, therefore making you feel terrible about giving you dog away and you don't get a new adventure with a new dog.And worst of all, the dogs are so lifelike and you also have to feed,bathe and walk them,if you either get a new game you like more or you just feel like the game's lost it's touch, you feel bad for the dogs and end up wasting time (this is especially bad for me,as I have a time limit for electronics)on feeding,washing and walking your dog. Once again,it's a great and clever game for people who live in apartments and can't have a dog (like me),or can't afford one,has allergic reactions,or just wants it for fun,but once again,people should consider it first,as like all never-ending games like this, there's a simple concept.But I do admit,I hope one day to see a "Nintendogs 2",which doesn't exist,with newer things to do such as taking your dogs to other places(like a themepark),newer ideas such as your dogs can move ALL around the house and have their very own room that you can decorate,new breeds,contests and items,and,my favorite part,if you gave away your dog,being able to see it on walks.I still play the game a lot,but I as am waiting for Nintendogs 2,if it ever comes out. -Alexandra S.

NiNtEnDoGs RuLeS!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: January 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is a really great game! There are so many different things to do with your Nintendog.
1. Play fetch, catch, ball and other games with toys you can collect on walks or buy from the pet supply shop.
2. Take your Nintendog out for a walk! Make friends with other dogs, gain special toys and items, train for agility trails, find bargains at the discount shop and visit the dog park.
3. Enter your dog in a contest! Choose from Agility Trials, Disc Competitions and Obedience Competitions. Try your hardest to make it to the top!
4. Meet other Nintendogs trainers in wireless Bark Mode. Send trainer info, trainer gifts and recorded messages.
5. Take care of your dog! In order to be a good Nintendogs owner, you must keep good care of your dog(s)by feeding, washing, brushing and watering it.
6. Pet your dog and give it lots of love!

Since I have had Nintendogs for a while now, I have found successful ways to beat the system. Hope to be of help!

Nintendogs Cheats:

1. To find out if garbage or a present is approaching during one of your walks, look at the top screen. There should be a little dog symbol on the path that you drew. If the dog symbol stops and your dog is still walking, this indicates that either a gift or garbage is coming up on the floor. If it is a present, tug your puppy's leash back to make it stop and pick up the gift. The puppy will bring the gift over to you.

2. Prior to attending a competition, change your competing puppy's accessory (collar, hat, ribbon)etc. This will save your Nintendog's changes to the DS before you compete. Proceed with the contest. Make sure to pay attention to the leading dog's score and the placing score limit. If your Nintendog fails to score a place in the competition, immediately turn off the DS (press the power button) in the final seconds of the contest. This will cold boot the game giving you a free try at the competition again, not recalling your losing score. If done several times, this can help you avoid docking the daily contest limit!

3. Navigate to the screen where you brush your puppy. Instead of rubbing your puppy's fur with the brush, leave the brush over the center of your dog. For each real-time minute the brush stays on the dog you will recieve 1 trainer point!

4. While planning a dog walk, make sure you schedule a visit to the dog park (full or empty, it dosen't matter) as your last stop on your way home. When you arrive at the park, go into your Trainer Supplies and change your puppy's accessory to save any items you might have found or come across during the walk. Then, turn off the DS and then re-boot the game. Not only will you have your previously saved items, it will automatically restart your walk, allowing you to farm and re-farm the streets for gifts!

5. Unlockable: Dalmatian Puppy!
To unlock the Dalmatian breed, you must find a fire fighter's hat during a walk. Dalmatian puppies will then be available at the kennel for purchase!

GREAT GAME

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: December 28, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have been waiting since October for this game ever since I played my friend's version. It is now december, and I've gotten it! Now it is very very great. The contests are fun, and petting your dogs is fun, and teaching them commands through the microphone is fun too. I could go on and on, for there are 768,957,103 things I could talk about that are so great. One more thing is a DS comes with a recharger, so you never need new batteries. But every game has it's downfalls, and for this fantastic game there are 3 things I don't like. Now the first one is probably all for the better. it is that you can only enter your dog in three compotisions a day, and it has to be different ones. But, I suppose it prevents you from finishing the game in 3 seconds, for it is so good, I would. Next one is that when you first get a dog, and take it on it's first walk, you can't walk it to the gynasiam, where you practice for the Agility Trial, so basically, you can't enter your puppy in an Agility Trial until you've taken it on several walks, for every time you take a walk, you can go further the next time. thridly is the most bad one. it make's me sad. You can only have 8 dogs and there are about 50 dogs because in like Lab and Friends, you can get dogs from other games. So out of about 50, you can only have 8, and 5 of them have to stay in a Doggy hotel. But i know I'll want more, and I don't want to delete any poor doggies!!! So those are the bad things, but seeing my stars you know that I think this game rox the monkeys sox off, and if you are wondering wheather to buy it or not, get it; you'll enjoy it, ignore all the reviews who says you'll hate it, it's awsome! so if you have actually read my whole review, thnak you, I hope i helped you.

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