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Nintendogs U.S. Reviews thread

Alcibiades

Alcibiades

Member
Well, the Associated Press is certainly impressed, with what I think is the first review for the US edition:

"Nintendogs" Virtual Puppies Get Rave Reviews
By MATT SLAGLE
AP Technology Writer

From DigiMon to Tamagotchi, there are dozens of choices for the virtual pet lover. The latest, "Nintendogs," ($30, rated E) debuts in the United States next week, exclusively for the Nintendo DS handheld game machine.

...

It's a superb example of just how interactive the DS can be with its microphone, built-in wireless and two screens -- one of them touch sensitive.

As in the real world, obtaining a pet starts with a visit to the kennel. After toying around with several breeds, my wife and I settled on a Shetland sheepdog. She named him Huggy.

...

The DS touch screen and microphone are ingeniously used. You can "rub" your pet by stroking it on the bottom screen.

You teach your pet various tricks by speaking into the microphone, then rewarding your dog with a rub on the back or behind the ear.

...

The trick for owners is to say each command clearly and consistently. Barking orders, in my experience, prompted tail wags but not much else.

In "Bark Mode," your DS will scan the wireless airwaves for fellow pet owners to play with. (I never had the good fortune to bump into other players, however).

"Nintendogs" is real time, so it's important to frequently check on your pup.

I neglected Huggy for two days and returned to find him thirsty, hungry and in no mood to play.

...

After only a few weeks, I've already formed an emotional attachment with my pixelated pup.

It's this sort of bonding that ultimately makes "Nintendogs" the perfect test run for families considering a real dog -- or anyone uncomfortable with the thought of pet dander, pooper scoopers and veterinarian visits.
...

"Nintendogs" certainly won't replace our love and devotion for flesh-and-blood creatures -- but it's paws-down the cutest virtual pet I've ever cared for.

Four stars out of four.
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I just have one question, I ordered Nintendogs, can my girlfriend have her own dog or do I need two versions of the game then?
 
michael000 said:
Trusting Famitsu scores is like trusting a used car salesman with 2 first names.
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Well would you rather have the British reviewers who got paid off for Driv3r? The nice UK magaines are giving it 7's and mid to low 8's so it appears that Nintendo is not bribing them well enough.

Or perhaps the reviews from IGN/Gamespy who are developing the wireless DS netowrk?
 
acidviper said:
Well would you rather have the British reviewers who got paid off for Driv3r? The nice UK magaines are giving it 7's and mid to low 8's so it appears that Nintendo is not bribing them well enough.

Or perhaps the reviews from IGN/Gamespy who are developing the wireless DS netowrk?
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Personally i don't trust any score. No offense to any reviewer but what's to say that guys opinion is any better than my own heh, I'm more than capable of judging something right or wrong after i've played it :lol. The only thing i get from reviews are facts, stuff like descriptions on gameplay etc.
 
michael000 said:
Personally i don't trust any score. No offense to any reviewer but what's to say that guys opinion is any better than my own heh, I'm more than capable of judging something right or wrong after i've played it :lol. The only thing i get from reviews are facts, stuff like descriptions on gameplay etc.
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Smartest thing said on the Gaming Forum. Ever.
 
another great review, this time though the reviewer is giving impressions of how his daughter enjoyed the game...

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2005/08/review_will_nin.html

excerpts:

Review: Will Nintendogs Be Nintendo's Savior This Gaming Season As The DS Fights Off Sony's PlayStation Portable?

Dean Takahashi, 09:58 AM in Dean Takahashi, Gaming

(This review appears in the paper on Friday. I rated the game 3.5 out of four stars on graphics, play and overall).

Nintendo has another smash hit on its hands with "Nintendogs.'' I know because my 8-year-old daughter hasn't stopped playing it since I shared the game for the Nintendo DS hand-held with her. I can't say I've played it myself because my daughter hasn't let me try it. So this is an over-the-shoulder review.

...The animations of the dogs are stunningly realistic for a hand-held display, and they add to the cuteness of the game.

...

...This is another one of those virtual pet games where you have to constantly take care of the animal by feeding it and taking it out for walks. (This is one of the big parental objections to the game. Our daughter is so addicted to it she gets grumpy if she doesn't get to play it and is always saying she has to turn on the DS to feed it.)

...It's the next best thing to having a real one, and for now we like it that way since the droppings, dog hairs and other by-products of owning a dog are virtualized.

...

...

Nintendo has hit upon something brilliant. The game has sold more than 700,000 copies in Japan and it hits stores this week in the United States. It's just the shot in the arm that the DS needs to keep pace with the PlayStation Portable, which the Ziff Davis Game Group says tops the DS on the shopping lists for gamers. A last thing worth noting is that the game is a social one because you can put the game in bark mode so that it alerts you when someone else with a "Nintendogs'' game walks by. You can hook the hand-helds up wirelessly and let the dogs play.

My only question is how long this game will hold a gamer's attention, especially anyone above the age of 8. One thing is for sure. I guess I can kiss the DS goodbye. My daughter isn't giving it up.
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If this game really takes off, it will be interesting to see how much Bark Mode action you can get on a subway ride....
 
Unison said:
If this game really takes off, it will be interesting to see how much Bark Mode action you can get on a subway ride....
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Haha, yeah. Sadly I live in the suburbs.
 
http://www.fox11az.com/sharedcontent/ptech/gamereviews2/081905ccjrptechgamer.18be7b7a.html

somewhat less enthusiastic, but definitely still positive:

Not as nice to pet, perhaps, but easier to clean up after

August 18, 2005

By VICTOR GODINEZ / The Dallas Morning News

We've come a long way from the pet rock.

...

...

...

This is your chance to make a public idiot of yourself. When you're tapping the dog's name out on the screen with a stylus, you'll be tempted to name it something quirky and funny, possibly obscene. But, unless you only plan to play this game in the solitude of a soundproof room, try to resist the urge. Because when you start interacting with your mutt, you need to repeat his name out loud several times to get him to remember it.

Speak up: And each pronunciation has to be nearly identical, so you'll find yourself repeating the name over and over and over, trying to get that dumb fleabag – sorry, cute little doggy – to remember it.

The fun doesn't end once he learns his name since he can forget his handle if you don't repeat it often enough. If you're playing in public, you'll need to adjust your embarrassment threshold.

...

...Nintendogs is largely what you'd expect from a Nintendo pet simulator.

...

If your idea of a game is blasting aliens or slicing up dragons, Nintendogs may be a little too sedate. But if you want some digital fun without explosions and gore, Nintendogs is best in show.
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HEHEHEHEHE

wave_cat.gif


:lol
 
Seriously... this isn't a game. It's a toy, like a tamagotchi.

In that sense, it ranks particularly well against those kinds of toys...

When you understand that, then you can get on with your life and give less heed to nintendogs news.
 
So are people rooting for this to become a bit hit so that Nintendo will make more money? Not that I'm against the game but tons of people seem to have a vested interest in this thing succeeding.
 
I definitely want to see Nintendogs perform well, simply cause many people at GAF think this game will more or less bomb in NA and I wanna see what their reactions are if it does sell great(if it's similar to the reactions when it was released in JP, it'll be a great read :lol ) :)
 
Synth_floyd said:
So are people rooting for this to become a bit hit so that Nintendo will make more money? Not that I'm against the game but tons of people seem to have a vested interest in this thing succeeding.
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Or failing.

Welcome to GAF, btw.

Nintendogs may be exceptional in how closely its followed*, but vested sales interests accompany practically every game.

*The fans are rabid and probably only encouraged by the ridiculously aggressive detractors.
 
A last thing worth noting is that the game is a social one because you can put the game in bark mode so that it alerts you when someone else with a "Nintendogs'' game walks by. You can hook the hand-helds up wirelessly and let the dogs play.
Click to expand...



Yeah, while they sit on the park bench and watch their Nintendogs play, right? "Awww, how cuuute."

*smacks forehead*
 
Synth_floyd said:
So are people rooting for this to become a bit hit so that Nintendo will make more money? Not that I'm against the game but tons of people seem to have a vested interest in this thing succeeding.
Click to expand...

I think it's less about the money & more about proving / disproving Nintendo's reformed game design ethos.
 
All I know is I want a high-res version of the picture Nintendo put across the top of page 33 in the manual.
 
michael000 said:
Personally i don't trust any score. No offense to any reviewer but what's to say that guys opinion is any better than my own heh, I'm more than capable of judging something right or wrong after i've played it :lol. The only thing i get from reviews are facts, stuff like descriptions on gameplay etc.
Click to expand...

The difference is that you don't get kickbacks from the publishers.
 
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