Cute, Fun, and Affordable
Written: Jan 03 '06 (Updated Jan 03 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Appealing to wide audiences, too cute, great value, innovative and long-lasting fun.
Cons: Hard to find and somewhat bulky.
The Bottom Line: Good, clean fun, enjoyable for all ages and both genders, fantastic value. Highly recommended for all!
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| americanbear's Full Review: DS Nintendogs Console |
An Introduction To The Nintendogs DS Bundle
The product I own and am reviewing is the Nintendogs Best Friends DS Bundle. This bundle includes: a special-edition Nintendo DS in Teal (pictured) or Pearl Pink (what I bought), a copy of the special "Best Friends" edition of the game Nintendogs, a bone-shaped screen cleaner, and Nintendogs stickers for your console. I will be reviewing each item below:
Nintendogs "Best Friends" Special Edition
For the uninitiated, Nintendogs is a very realistic dog simulation game, one which has received many excellent reviews. In the game Nintendogs, you can keep up to three virtual puppies in your home (which you must buy individually) at any one time. You get to raise and care for your puppies - and they must be loved and cared for, fed and walked. There's even a virtual pooper-scooper for when they decide the sidewalk is their bathroom.
Perhaps most innovative, this is truly the game the Nintendo DS was made for - it makes extensive use of both screens, uses touch screen input for everything, and uses the microphone for voice recognition and more. There's even a bubble blower toy you use by blowing into the microphone just like you were blowing bubbles! Talk about an immersive experience!
You didn't think caring for a dog was cheap, did you? You have to pay for your supplies. One way to earn money in the game is by entering your dogs in dog shows - there are disc competitions, agility trials, and obedience trials. All require extensive training to succeed.
If you fail to take care of your dog and show it the love it deserves, it may run away for awhile. You must be careful to check up on your dogs everyday. This is great if you want to teach your kids responsibility before they get a real pet!
There are multiple editions of Nintendogs available, in each one there are six breeds to begin with. In this special edition the breeds are:
Labrador Retriever
Miniature Dachshund
German Shepherd Dog
Golden Retriever
Beagle
Yorkshire Terrier
More breeds become available as the game progresses. The game also has a "bark mode" that I haven't had the opportunity to try where you can exchange and play with other players nearby to you using the DS's built-in 802.11 radio.
Nintendogs appeals to a wider audience than many other games - boys and girls equally, and a somewhat wider age range than typical (little kids on up to 20-somethings like myself and even older) Overall this is a fantastic game - but only a relatively small part of the bundle. Let's take a look at the DS hardware itself!
Nintendo DS Special Edition Console
The Special Edition Colors
This special edition comes in two colors Teal and Pearl Pink, both are likely long sold out except for Costco, which still had the teal last I looked. Pink was very hard to find, only Toys "R" Us and Target got them and there were far fewer made. By luck, I managed to get a Pearl Pink and I love it! I think it's far cuter than the Teal or any other American DS, but don't be confused: It's not the super-cute international "Candy Pink" - it's a darker, lilacish metallic pink with black buttons and back (instead of white). The teal is also very nice looking, and (I hate to say it) would probably be preferable to many.
The DS Hardware Itself
The first thing one notes about the Nintendo DS is that it is *not* the Game Boy DS. This unit remains separate from Nintendo's Game Boy series even though it can play Game Boy Advance games. There's even been a new Game Boy Advance (the Micro) released since the DS. The DS is a new generation of console. Personal, yes. Ultra-portable, no. The Nintendo DS is quite large for a personal console and unlike the Game Boy's, definitely not pocketable.
Compared to it's closest thing real competition, the Sony Playstation Portable, the DS seems lacking at first glance. It's processing performance is subpar, the wireless radio inferior, less applications are available, it's bigger, and the main screen in smaller.
Where the Nintendo DS beats it is in terms of price and innovation. While more expensive than a Game Boy, the Nintendo DS is half the price of the Playstation Portable and features truly innovative gameplay. It does not feature a web browser, movie playback, or an MP3 player. The PSP does not feature two screens, a touch screen, and a microphone. Therefore, I believe they're targeted to different markets.
Let's look at some individual aspects of the DS hardware:
Two Game Slots
On the top is a slot for the new memory-card style games while a large amount of the bottom is occupied by a slot for Game Boy Advance (though not older Game Boy/GBC) games. Game Boy Advance games can be displayed on the main screen or the touch screen.
A Touch Screen
The bottom screen is a touch screen and the device comes with a stylus. If touchscreen intensive games (such as Nintendogs) are in your future, use of screen protector's is a MUST. Nintendo's official ones only come with Nintendo cases, wear out quickly, and aren't exactly the most optically clear protectors on the market. I'm looking forward to receiving my non-adhesive ScreenGuardz protectors, which are supposed to be excellent.
A Wireless Radio
A built-in 802.11 wireless radio supporting 1 and 2 mbps (NOT Wi-Fi certified despite the term "Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection") can be used to communicate both with other DS units (such as the Nintendogs Bark Mode mentioned above) and with the Internet (in games such as Mario Kart DS) when used with a compatible wireless access point/router such as the SMC WBR14T-G. Compatibility is quite limited.
A Microphone
The microphone is made for Nintendogs :) Call your dog's name, teach it to respond to commands and perform tricks, and even blow bubbles! The microphone adds yet another new dimension of gameplay - user audio control!
Graphics
The graphics fall between the Game Boy Advance and the PlayStation Portable, somewhere around Nintendo 64 quality. They're 3D, but very low polygon count and pixelated (not antialiased like on the N64 unfortunately). Still very impressive for a handheld if you've not seen the Playstation Portable :)
Battery
The included battery lasts for hours of intense gameplay unless you use the wireless radio which, like any other wireless radio product, drains it down a lot. The average user can definitely manage a few days between charges! Unfortunately, the supplied charger is 120V only and you'll need a different charger or an actual voltage converter (not just a plug adapter) to charge the system in Europe or many other countries. A big disappointment for a portable, especially in the days of cheap, widely available 100-240V 50/60Hz switching power supplies.
Traditional Controls
Of course, the DS is setup for traditional push-button control as well for those games (like Mario Kart) best suited to such control. Controls include a thumb D-pad, four thumb buttons (A, B, X, Y), start and select buttons, and triggers on each side. Unfortunately, none of the buttons offer analog control (i.e. pressure sensitivity) which is nice in many games.
Sound
The sound, while tinny, is a huge step up from the Game Boy Advance. Headphones are a necessity for best quality though. Of special note is the extremely annoying slide-style volume control, instead of the more traditional and much easier to use control wheel. Why, Nintendo, why?
Hardware Conclusion
If you're looking for something pocketable, a Game Boy is likely more your thing, and if you want the latest and greatest graphics and multimedia - look to the Playstation Portable. But if you're after a unique, innovative, new form of personal gameplay, the DS is perfect.
Screen Cleaner and Stickers
Accessorize your Nintendo DS! Attach the included bone-shaped screen cleaner (little plushy bone, one side is dark brown and printed "Nintendogs", the other side is a lighter colored microfiber to clean the screen with - don't use it upside down or scratches may result!) to the unit, and stick on the Nintendogs stickers (pawprints to surround the screen and a nice "nintendogs" and doggy for the front). Delightful, and they really complete the whole package. I only wish that they could have printed it on the unit instead of including stickers, that would make it even more unique and Nintendogs special!
Bundle Conclusion
A fantastic value if you can find it. Considering that the DS along is $129 and Nintendogs is $29 or more, you're already saving $10 with the bundle. That's not even counting the pretty DS, the sitckers, the screen cleaner, or the special only-get-it-here edition of Nintendogs. A wonderful package for anyone looking a unique and incredibly entertaining personal gaming experience. Appealing even to many who don't enjoy traditional video games! Not kiddy nor violent, just plain good clean old-fashioned (well, new-fashioned and very innovative) fun. Five stars.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
americanbear
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Member: Mark Uhde
Location: Montana, USA
Reviews written: 67
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
Thanks for reading my reviews! Learn more in my profile or at markuhde.com
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