Nintendo 3DS: Nintendogs + Cats: French Bulldog & Friends Review

Nintendo have created a game that will capture people hearts but I was disappointed to find it falls a little short on content.

What’s so interesting about Nintendogs + Cats?

Nintendogs + Cats isn’t a game in the typical sense,  instead it’s a pet simulator with you taking the role as the owner of either a cute virtual dog or an adorable virtual cat. It’s not a hugely substantial title and it’s something that you will dip in and out off as you strive to make your virtual pet happy. If you can live without a structured mission mode and you’re a fan of animals then you’ll undoubtedly enjoy this game.

So what can I actually do in the game?

Firstly you’re given the torturous task of deciding which canine you would like as your companion in the game. There are nine dog breeds to start off with but this grows to 27. Once you’ve picked your friendly companion you’re given the chance to get to know the animal better by comforting it – this can be achieved by tickling, stroking it and then naming it.

Once you’ve got to know your animal you can then venture out to the shops to purchase an array of accessories for the dog to play around with. There are a wealth of things to purchase such as Boomerangs, soft toys, and shampoo to help keep your dog in pristine condition. You can either choose to purchase items or alternatively sell items that you no longer have use for.

What about taking my dog out for a walk, is that any fun?

One of the things you will naturally find yourself doing a lot is taking your furry companion on a walk, after all a dog needs plenty of exercise. Taking your dog out for a walk also allows you to practise your Frisbee throwing techniques at the various parks scattered along your walk.

When you embark on your walks you’ll encounter other dog trainers taking their pets for walks, it’s interesting to see just how well your puppy gets on with the other breeds of dogs that you’ll bump into. You’ll also find unusual items scattered around on your walk that your puppy will happily retrieve for you.

The walks themselves are fairly short and seem more of a necessity than an enjoyable task. You will bump into other dog trainers and maybe pass the odd cafe and gym which will keep you entertained for a short period of time. It would have been nice to see some rich and varied 3d landscapes for your dog to run around on, rather than the straight uninspiring roads you find yourself walking down

So where’s the actual content in this game; that’s the competitions, right?

The competitions are in reality the ‘meat’ of the game. You’ll find yourself pitted against three other canine companions who you’ll need to beat to win the competitions and gain yourself the all-important prize money to purchase new dogs and cats or items. The competitions comprise of Disc Competitions, Lure Coursing and an Obedience Trial. Sadly I found myself becoming disinterested in them rather quickly although initially they were fun.

Closing Comments

Nintendogs + Cats is an interesting game. Nintendo have given young consumers what they would want from a pet simulator but it is very similar to its predecessor and has not incorporated any new or interesting ideas. The dogs and cats look stunning in 3D and there’s a huge ‘that’s so cute’ factor but for me there just wasn’t enough content to keep me coming back once I’d acquired a new game.

If you haven’t played the original Nintendogs game before then you will most likely love this, but if you’ve played Nintendogs on the Nintendo DS then you won’t find yourself uncovering many new and exciting surprises. It’s a game that has bundles of charm but ultimately lacks the necessary depth for a full priced game.

7/10