Dog's Life

"A bit "ruff" but otherwise "good dog!""

Dog's Life is a game that causes other genre fans to roll their eyes in disgust- no killing, no shooting, no stealth. Nevertheless, it's an original, fun experience & a fresh break from usual gaming fare- for awhile.

The game offers several areas which you, as Jake the dog, explore freely. Each area has tasks to complete, awarding you bones, a measure of status. Some are literal fetch-quests; others are simple "helping" jobs. You also challenge other dogs in minigames- victory allows control of that dog, often having a trait (jumping, speed, etc) needed to finish a task.

The most innovative part of Dog's Life is "Smell-o-vision": by the press of a button, the screen washes out, save for different colored gaseous scents in the area. Collecting all of a color awards bones, minigames, & challenges. Some scents are VERY well hidden!

Control is a bit loose- you'll find yourself trying repeatedly to line up Jake with a "target", & the camera here isn't exactly man's best friend. However, Jake's & other dogs' movements are smooth & look natural. The D-pad provides "doggy-do" moves: short combos for tricks/begging, including- uh, bodily functions. Other basic actions like digging, barking, etc are available too.

Visually, the game suffers from slight glitches but nothing that ruins the game. Areas are well-detailed & vividly colored, notably when exiting 1st-person (dog?) mode. Scenery is particularly admirable; reflective water surfaces are quite impressive. Human characters (NPCs) are sufficient but somewhat angular & can be downright goofy-looking.

Sound & music are also well done. Characters speak realistically & appropriately, but with limited responses. Catchy ingame music ranges from laid-back to urgent minigame tunes to "big city"-type selections.

Overall, I suggest Dog's Life for anyone into unique, different games or who wants a break in the action. Not everyone will like or appreciate it- if your idea of good gaming is bullets, blasting & blowing stuff up, maybe it's time to get a life- Dog's Life.

PROS: unique/original, value price, good clean fun
CONS: minor visual problems, a bit short, not much challenge, big (1MB+) save files

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/25/05