Joining the bandwagon this time, though, is Gameloft. Released exclusively on the Nintendo DSiWare service, Me and My Dogs: Friends Forever is Gamelofts attempt at bringing the popular kid-friendly genre to Nintendos portable download service.
Like any other pet simulator where you take care of dogs, Me and My Dogs: Friends Forever allows players to raise their pet in a small village full of parks and scenery. Due to the size limits of DSiWare, you wont find as much content and variety here as you would find in a stand-alone release, but the amount of content packed into the game more than justifies the premium price.
One particular area that is particularly lacking compared to retail games is that players are limited to selecting one of three breeds of dogs: Labradors, ChowChows, and Beagles. Due to this limitation, players may not be able to fully connect with their puppy like they would in Nintendogs as the experience isnt as refined as Nintendos own creation, but for the audience this is aimed at, it shouldnt make too much of an impact on their adventure.
After successfully registering your new dog and registering yourself as the owner using the DSis camera, players can then begin their day-to-day life of raising it. Like real dogs, players will be faced with tasks such as feeding, washing, playing, learning tricks and competing in competitions like obedience contests, just like one would do with Nintendogs. Again though, due to the size restrictions on DSiWare titles, these everyday tasks arent as fleshed out as they would be in Nintendos own pet simulator, but whats present here proves to be more than entertaining.
Borrowing a page from Nintendogs , Me and My Dogs allows players to raise their dogs to participate in competitions. By heading on over to the playground and getting some one-on-one time with your dog, players can teach their dogs all sorts of neat treats, ranging from sitting to running, all of which are done by using the touch screen of the Nintendo DSi.
Another element of the game that adds to the overall atmosphere of the game is the visuals. As a whole, the game feels very entertaining and has a very relaxed feel to it, due mostly to the cute visual style. In the end, it was almost unbelievable to see how much the graphics added to the experience of the game. The cuteness and appeal really add a very relaxing feel to the game, despite being a little generic.
Me and My Dogs: Friends Forever is one of the more enjoyable titles from Gameloft on the DSiWare service. The thrill of raising a virtual pet will make some young gamers scream with envy, and for good reason, too. Compared to Nintendogs, Me and My Dogs: Friends Forever is a steal seeing as the game is only a quarter of Nintendos own creation. The lack of a fourth pet or the visual style may make some gamers a little turned off from the game, but dont be fooled - Me and My Dogs: Friends Forever is a great piece of software and a bargain . If you enjoy pet simulators, dont hesitate in giving it a try.
Pros:
Lastability: 8.0
The amount of content present is fairly large considering that the game is only $8. If youre into pet simulators, the game could keep you hooked for quite some time.
Final: 7.5
Me and My Dogs: Friends Forever is a good attempt at bringing a pet simulator to the DSiWare service. While not quite as well developed as Nintendogs, the game is entertaining and packs enough charm to appeal to almost any audience.
