A few weeks ago I ordered Nintendogs on eBay. I’ve been wanting this game since I first saw it previewed almost a year ago. Since I’ve had it, I’ve managed to become completely addicted.
There are three versions you can get, which each come with six different breeds already unlocked (there are about 18 breeds you can unlock in total). I got Dachshund & Friends, which comes with dachshund, pug, beagle, shi tsu, golden retriever, and husky breeds unlocked. You can have three puppies at the same time, and I currently have:
- Margot: beagle
- Bean: pug
- Ziggy: labrador retriever
You can unlock new breeds by meeting with friends’ puppies who are of a breed you don’t have, by getting lots of trainer points, and probably some other ways I don’t know yet. That’s how I have Ziggy who is a breed that didn’t come unlocked with my game.
There are loads of things you can do in this game, aside from the standard Tamagotchi-type stuff (feed, clean, play with, etc). You can take them on walks around the city where they will find you presents that you can use or sell at the store, buy new puppies, put puppies into the pet hotel, teach tricks with voice commands, and enter different contests (disc, agility, and obedience). You reward your pup by petting it, and it will eventually remember what you are rewarding it for and will be able to walk further, run faster, and be more well-behaved. You get money for winning contests and you can rise through the ranks from entry class to championship. There is just so much you can do!
I think the reason I am finding this game so addictive is that the dogs are just so damn cute. I mean, seriously cute. They do cute little barks when you open your DS up too – like they are happy to see you. It’s really sad, but you feel bad for leaving them for too long. I mean, seriously. It’s pathetic, I know. They also all have very distinct personalities, which is very odd, but true.
I don’t think there are any things that are annoying or problematic with the game. The touchscreen is awesome, but with a lot of use (like with this game) you might get some little scratches on it. The microphone isn’t the best and sometimes I find that it doesn’t register my voice commands, but generally there’s no problem. The only problem I have is that no one in town has it so I never find anyone when I put it in bark mode (this is when it constantly searches for a wireless partner to play with). Maybe after it’s released officially in the UK on October 7th, ooh!
This game is totally rocking my world right now. I think you know you want to buy this game now. It’s awesome.
our beagles are twins!
t has labrador and friends and his lab and my beagle play together in bark mode. soon i will buy a lab too.
i love this game so much!
my boyfriend keeps on telling me about the special edition pink version that will have all of the different varieties on it… isn’t he mean?! (unless he’s going to buy it for me, of course, hehe
I am getting this for my six year old daughter for Christmas. Reading this makes me think I’m the one who will be playing with it!
Just bought it, my daughter has sneaked off with my DS and my new game and I wont get it back for 4 weeks when I see her next. Grrrr…
DS ist starting to grow at me. Not that I’d have too much time for gaming though :/ I also wonder whether there are interesting action / racing games… I know, that’s PSP territory, but I like the DS better…
Castlevania DS will be cool as most likely Mario Kart DS. I’m sticking to the funky Nintendo titles and leaving the racing for the PSP – Wipeout Pure on PSP is totally cool…
Goodbye Ani.
I really enjoyed your blog while you were fun. Your blog jumped the shark a while ago and i’m finally coming to terms with it by removing you from my bookmarks. This straight-faced tamagochi entry is the lowest I want to see you go.
I suppose your journey is coming to an end as you go back home to settle down.
Unfortunately, it was the day you posted the micropatronage thing that the blog started to suck. Maybe the pressure of having to make it worth people’s while that stifled you.
There has been one bright spot in this descent… I love your conversation with your mirror self. It was the only ‘true’ thing you’ve written in a while. Aging is hard on all of us… and I really connected with that. (Check out “The Winter Guest” for more on that.)
So, with a tear in eye, I say: Au revoir and Bonne chance.
John, Ani is a person, not a professional entertainer.
oh how nasty.
some of us still love you ani…
It’s sucked since I posted the micropatronage because I’m still not getting paid to do nothing on the internet. Why hath God forsaken me!!!1
i want to do more than 3 compitions a day who nows how please if you do please email me to [email removed so you don't get spammed!]
The only way to do more than 3 competitions a day is to have more than one dog.
u can do more than 3 contests like this..
1. turn on and change the date 2 days back from the date it says.
2. change the time to 23:59
3. let it save and it will turn off.
4. quickly turn back on and go into nintendogs.
5. wait 1 minute untill the clock turns 0:00/12:00
THEN YOU CAN DO MORE CONTESTS AND TEACH YOUR DOGS MORE TRICKS!