"Brilliant! Innovative! Genius! T3h R0cks0rz! Read on to why Nintendogs will have you hooked."

Wow just wow. This is easily the most creative and innovative game out for the Nintendo DS right now. As you probably already know in this game you raise a dog or dogs as the main game play element. You get to choose your breed its gender and a dog that has a personality suiting you. That's just the tip of the innovation iceberg. You will be able to teach your dog tricks and other dog like activities. But enough of an introduction lets get to the real review.

Story N/A
Well umm, there is no story to this game other than you are you and you want a dog. You start out knocking on the door of a dog kennel to pick up your first breed of dog. Then the story is what you make of it. Weather your dog will obey all your commands or snarled at you depending on how you treat it. There really is nothing in the way of story here.

Graphics 9/10
The dogs look not only real but they also act real. There is so much detail in this game. Dogs will stretch after they take a drink of water. They'll scuff up the floors in your face when they are ticked off and do other things that you see dogs do, they'll get in fights with each other. The dogs are so well detailed and look so cute. My friends and I who are all 15 year old guys can still go, "woogie boogie doggie lobbie" or whatever idiot talk you can imagine. The only disappointment in the graphics is that you can't really tell how long or curly your dog's hair is (by looking at it) but that doesn't make a difference in the Game play.

Sound 10/10
The sound is also top notch as well. You get to hear the dogs: bark, growl, snarl, yelp, sneeze, and allot of other things. It all sounds very real and on the pinch. The music you play on the record player is also very good too. Your dogs even react to the different music in the game. While some might like it. Others will get annoyed by it. It always is pleasing to hear the nice melodies though.

Game play 9/10
Like I said earlier, you raise a dog by teaching it tricks taking it to the park or gym walking it feeding it and playing with it. The entire game revolves around the touch screen and the microphone. You can't even use the d-pad even if you wanted to. The game is insanely innovative as you teach you dog to sit, lie down, and roll over and all the other tricks you can think of. Plus some new ones that'll keep you guessing. You can even teach your dog to do something that looks like break dancing. Also after making your dog obedient enough you can enter him in competition (which you have to because it's the only way to earn money). There's also agility trials which are getting your dog to jump hurdles, run through tubes, run up and down see saws, and run through the slalom. The other competition is the Frisbee toss. Which is you throwing a Frisbee and your dog must catch it. You get ranked at the end and your ranking and class level (class level is; beginner, open, expert, master, championship). With the money you can but toys for your dog/s buy a new dog, upgrade your abode or buy food and care products. Walking your dog is also good fun because it opens opportunities to get new items and interact with NPCs.
The one thing I didn't like about the game play is that you really can only play in 30 minute sessions with your dog (I mean you can play as long as you want but your dog gets tired and teaching him your 3 tricks per day in 30 minutes is a really bad idea). Also there should be more places to go and interact with the NPCs and other DS owners. One thing that is very cool the is the ability to earn Trainer Points based on how well you treat your dogs and how advanced they are and what they can do. With the Trainer points you unlock new items in the shop and new dog breeds to buy.

Multiplayer 8/10
You basically just put your dog in bark mode (search mode) and search for another DS owner with Nintendogs. Your 2 dogs play in the park together as long as you want and can both be interacted with. You can bring gifts to other dogs as well which is cool. Also you can unlock new dog breeds by linking different versions of the game. Its still allot of fun.

Replay 6/10
If the game fails anywhere its here unfortunately. At first you're completely addicted you wait forever just to walk your dog again or to see what present you got. But after awhile you just kind off get bored after you find all or most of the items. I do enjoy getting new dogs and it is cool to teach them some "secret" or "advanced" tricks (there's allot of them). But after a month you just don't like to play as often.

Final 9/10
This game can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a must have for any DS unless you don't like dogs. But I love dogs and I love this game. If you like dogs go out and buy it now. This game is worth it. It outsold the PS2 and The PSP combined so well you know. Get it now. It's hard to find. And keep wagging folks. (You'll get that after playing the game for a day or 2).

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/06/05, Updated 01/28/08

Game Release: Nintendogs: Dachshund and Friends (US, 08/22/05)