Nintendogs + Cats

Overview

Nintendogs + Cats is the first sequel to the 4th-best-selling console game of all time, Nintendogs. The game, which falls into the pet simulation genre, is one of the many games developed by Nintendo. It was a launch title for the Nintendo 3DS in all major regions.

As was the case with the original, Nintendogs + Cats is available in 3 different versions: Toy Poodle and Friends, Golden Retriever and Friends, and and French Bulldog and Friends. All versions are identical except for the 9 breeds of dog initially available. All breeds can be unlocked through extended gameplay and/or StreetPass. The idea behind multiple version of the game is to recreate the feeling of choosing a puppy from a pet shop when buying the game to give the games better replay-ability. Also there is a demo available from the eshop to download for free.

Changes from series

Unlike its predecessor, pets are now shown on the top screen rather than the touch screen. A silhouette of the pet is displayed on the touch screen, which players can interact with while focusing on the 3D screen to allow full view of the pet without stylus obstructions.

The 3DS cameras are now implemented into gameplay: if the player moves their face close to the internal camera, the pet might move closer and interact with the player via face recognition - for example, by attempting to lick the player's face. The game makes wide use of facial recognition. If a stranger shows his face to a dog, it might growl at them in an act of hostility as the face is unrecognised.

Walking the dog in Nintendogs + Cats has also changed significantly; instead of having to draw and plan a route, players are free to explore the world, with only signs to recommend a possible path. Walks are no longer seen from a side-scrolling perspective, but from the point of view behind their dog. This allows for obstacles to walk the dog around. A present is awarded if the dog is successful in navigating the obstacle.

AR cards that come with the 3DS console can be used in conjunction with the gameplay. The Nintendo 3DS's external, 3D cameras must be able to "see" the card for this to work. Once the 3DS has recognized the AR card, your dog will automatically be projected on the card. Through the 3DS's microphone, the player can make their dog on the AR card perform tricks.

The game also makes use of the 3DS's pedometer. Putting the game into pedometer mode allows the player to take their dog for a walk while the console remains closed in sleep mode in. The number of steps are tracked. When the console is opened, a reward will be given. More useful rewards are given if the player has walked greater distances.

The game introduces cats which behave differently to the dogs. Cats cannot be taken for walks or entered into competitions but can go out on their own and bring presents back.

Gameplay

When first starting the game, players choose between one of nine different dog breeds, depending on which version of Nintendogs+Cats. Once the player has chosen his/her dog, the they are taken to a house and is given a mini-tutorial. Once the tutorial is finished, the player is free to do whatever he/she wants with their dog.

In the house they can play with their pet by stocking it or using toys.

The player can train dogs skills such as catching a flying disc or responding to spoken commands. These skills can be used to enter contests and win money.

Another option is to explore the town by taking a walk with the dog.

In the game, money is used to buy items from various shops, including home decor, clothing, toys. When walking the player can also Barc stores which all have different items for sale, depending on location and time. For example after playing the game for a week, rarer items appear in stores, such as Mario Kart RC Racers, which look similar to the final designs for karts in Mario Kart 3DS.

Money can also be used to buy new pets.

The player can care for up to three pets at a time, and can store up to three pets at the local Pet Hotel. The player's dog, will need constant attention, so if the player stays away from his/her dog for an extended period of time, the dog will get lonely and will suffer.

As the player progresses throughout the game, they will earn trainer points and their animals will earn animal points. The only ways to earn trainer points include buying more pets, selling items and taking part in competitions. You can earn animal points by interacting with your pet (e.g. petting them on the head), taking them for walks and taking part in competitions. As your trainer points increase, new items and animals are available for purchase- you can unlock more dogs when you earn more trainer points, you can unlock more items for purchase in BARC stores (e.g. the Mario Kart Racers are available at 3000 TP) and all of the other stores, and you can exchange collectable items at Mr Recycle's Store to create items (e.g. you can exchange stardust once you have gained 2000 TP). As well as items, more furniture and house types become available from the home decoration store (e.g. A mario themed house is available at 5000 TP).

Game Modes

Although these aren't specifically classified as game modes, they are the different aspects of Nintendogs+Cats:

Playing At Home

The house is the place where most of the game is spent with his/her pets. At the house, the player can bond with the pets by grooming, feeding, playing, and just showering them with affection. This is the place where most of the buyable toys can be used including tennis balls and frisbies. It is also possible to simply watch pets interact with each other. The house is also the place to teach pets tricks to be used in the Obedience Competition.

Walking The Dog

When walking the dog, the player is able to change go to different areas when they come across a sign post indicating alternative areas. Areas to explore include downtown, the mountains, and the seaside.

The player must clean up after their dog on the walk to keep the neighborhood clean. This means occasionally using the stylus to tap on little droppings the dog has left behind when walking. Players can also try and train their dog by tugging on the leash if the dog is behaving badly and giving treats for good behaviour.

As mentioned before, sometimes the dogs finds old items, collecting enough of the right items allows them to be traded at the second-hand shop for toys. There will sometimes also be mini-challenges which involve walking the dog between cones without hitting them. If the player is successful in this mini-game, they will be awarded with a present at the end.

Their are a variety of landmarks around town. A park is available to practice catching a disk with your dog. If the player wants to train their dog in lure coursing, another competition, they can go to the gym to practice. There's even a dog cafe; its purpose is to specifically provide gourmet dog food for the player's dog!

While walking the dog, the player may come across other dog walkers, who will exchange tips while their dogs meet. If the dogs like each other, a play-date can be arranged. Also cones are randomly generated in different locations and your dog has to weave in and out of them and if you complete this without hitting any of the cones, you will receive a present on completion- usually a material such as wood, metal, plastic, leather or rubber.

Using the 3DS's pedometer, the player can also earn hidden "presents" by walking around in real life; the more you walk, the further the player walks, the more valuable the reward given by the dog will be.

Also the game randomly generates a "Secret Path" after the player has visited has visited all other locations more than 10 times. In this path there are a collection of presents and cones- of which there is 1 present at the start and end of the path and there are 6 cone obstacle and a present will be received at the end of each of these.

Competitions

Competitions provide the main income in Nintendogs + Cats. Like in the DS version, there are three types of competition which which demonstrate how well the player's dog has been trained against other dogs.

Each of these three competitions has different levels increasing in difficulty and reward. The next level of any one competition is unlocked once the player gets first place in the previous competition level.

These are the three competitions:

Flying-Disc Competition

Taken from the previous iteration of the Nintendogs series, the Flying-Disc Competition has the player throwing a disc (or frisbee) and their dog catching it in a certain place and way. Scores are based on how far the disk went when it was caught, if the dog jumped when he/she caught it, and if it was caught in a bonus area. The winner is the competitor with the most points.

Lure-Coursing Race

The Lure-Coursing Race, new to Nintendogs+Cats, has the player moving a lure across a set track to lure their dog to the finish line. The player moves the lure by performing a circular motion on the 3DS's touch screen. The key to winning the Lure-Coursing Race is to move the lure at the perfect speed; if the lure is moved too quickly, the dog will become disinterested and will stop chasing the lure across the track. If the player moves the lure too slowly, their dog will have the chance to pounce on it, causing the other lured dogs to gain an advantage. The competitor who has their dog cross the finish line first - not necessarily the lure - will win the competition.

Obedience Trial

Obedience Trial, also new to Nintendogs+Cats, uses the 3DS's Augmented Reality cards as well as its microphone. Once an AR card is detected by the 3DS's camera, the player's dog will appear on the card (on the 3DS's screen).

The object of this competition is to get the highest score possible in the allotted time. The faster the dog reacts and obeys to the player's verbal commands, the more points are earned. In order to master this event, it is important to practice at home. Once you master any class of obedience trial, you will unlock a new set of tricks.

First your pet has to perform three different tasks- 1 trick, 1 trick which your dog should hold for a certain time and then 1 trick followed by another. Then the player has 30 seconds of freestyle where you can say any random combination of tricks to receive points.

Wireless Features

Although no local or Wifi-enabled wireless features are in the game Nintendogs + Cats, StreetPass is used. If the player StreetPasses another player with Nintendogs + Cats, on their next in-game walk, the player might meet the StreetPassed player's Mii, as well as his/her dog. The two players will be able to exchange presents, and their dogs can schedule a play date.

Breeds

The full list of starting dog breeds, by game, is as follows:

Toy Poodle and Friends

• Toy Poodle
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi
• Mini Schnauzer
• Boxer
• Bull Terrier
• Labrador Retriever
• Shih Tzu
• Jack Russell
• Pomeranian

French Bulldog and Friends

• French Bulldog
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chihuahua
• Dalmatian
• Yorkshire Terrier
• German Shepherd
• Husky
• Basset Hound

Golden Retriever and Friends

• Shiba Inu
• Golden Retriever
• Beagle
• Mini Pinscher
• Dachshund
• Maltese
• Great Dane
• Pug
• Cocker Spaniel

Only three breeds of cats are available, and they are identical across all three versions of the game, but they are not available at the start of the game, but they can be unlocked through StreetPass or in single-player mode once the user has enough trainer points and money.

It is possible to eventually unlock all 27 breeds in every edition of the game through StreetPass and/or extended single-player play. Here is a table showing how many trainer points are needed to unlock certain breeds:-

Development

The first demonstration of Nintendogs + Cats was a non-playable demo E3 2010. The first playable version of the game was shown at a press event on October 27, 2010.

Nintendo General Manager Shigeru Miyamoto has said that cats were included in this game because he bought a cat and wanted to make a game featuring them. The was going to be Nintencats but he felt it just didn't seem right so he brought cats into Nintendogs. Others speculate it was simply a logical progression of a profitable franchise.

Demo

A demo is available for download on the Eshop. You can only pick from 3 sets of pets and get to play for timed period until you return to the title screen. You only get 10 plays for this game.

Reception

Famtisu published a review of Nintendogs + Cats giving it 38/40. They praised the game's visuals, pointing out that "the fur is realistic." They also praised the the wireless elements while Famitsu dismisses the idea that this is a game aimed at a younger audience by saying that it can "be enjoyed by anyone." IGN, on the other hand, has given the game a score of 7/10, praising the game for its "lasting appeal", but knocking it for being "too similar to the original". Metacritic has compiled all critics' review scores, and has given the game a mean score of 71/100, with most reviews saying the game is "good".