Dogz is a virtual pet and pet simulation game in the Petz series, released for the Game Boy Advance, in 2005, and Nintendo DS, in 2006. It is a localisation of the Japanese game Kawaii Koinu Wonderful (かわいい仔犬 ワンダフル, lit. 'Cute Puppy Wonderful'), released in November 2004, and developed by MTO as part of the Nakayoshi Pet serires. Unlike other games in the Petz series the player controls a playable character in an Isometric world.
| Dogz | |
|---|---|
 Game Boy Advance boxart | |
| Developer(s) | MTO Backbone Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | virtual pet |
It is a distinct game from the Catz games released on the Game Boy Advance and DS, as well as the previous Dogz game released of Gameboy Color.
Gameplay
edit
As in previous games in the Petz series, the player begins the game by adopting a dog giving it a name, and "training" it.[1] However, unlike other games in the series, it is one is presented in an Isometric perspective and with a player avatar performing the player's action.[2][3] The game also has dialogue with the player characters family, who coach the player in how to look after the animal.[2] The game's simulation runs with a daily cycle, with non pet related chores—changing music, switching on and off a television, tidying up, vacuuming—being included as minigames.[4]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| DS | GBA | |
| GameRankings | 66%[7] | 49%[6] |
| Metacritic | 48/100[5] | |
| Publication | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| DS | GBA | |
| Eurogamer | 2/10[1] | |
| Game Informer | 5.5/10[3] | |
| GameSpy |   [8] | |
| GameZone | 6.5/10[4] | |
| Jeuxvideo.com | 10/20[2] | |
| NGC Magazine | 38/100[9] | |
As the western localisation arrived only half a year after Nintendo's extremely popular Virtual pet game Nintendogs, many reviewers saw Dogz as Ubisoft's attempt to cash in a trend and thought it unfavourably compared that game.[1][9][4][2] Mark Green, of NGC Magazine, thought it was overly simplified, and about "as fun to pick up and play as a tennis ball sticky with dog slobber." He also felt the choice to have the pet be owned by an intermediary player avatar made it difficult to bond with the animals.[9] A review in Eurogamer found the interactivity and controls asinine.[1] Matt Helgeson, of Game Informer, opined while there was "a fair amount of depth" in the actions performable with the dog, the mechanics seemed "awkward and static".[3]
The DS port was seen as very similar to the GBA version, with Jeuxvideo.com, criticizing the lack of use of the two screens of the handheld.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Dogz: Dogz' dinner, more like". Eurogamer. 20 December 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e hiro (18 April 2007). "Dogz". Jeuxvideo.com. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Helgeson, Matt (February 2006). "Dogz". Game Informer. No. 154. p. 113.
- ^ a b c Hollingshead, Anise (6 December 2005). "Dogz". GameZone. Archived from the original on 13 February 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Dogz Reviews". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Dogz". Game Rankings. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Dogz". Game Rankings. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Klepek, Patrick. "Dogz (GBA)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 5 December 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Green, Mark (February 2006). "Dogz: How Much is that doggy? Too much...". NGC Magazine. No. 116. p. 51.