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Micro Dogs

It seems that the whole virtual pet thing is abit more prolific than you might have thought.
Just when you thought that it was only the realm of excellent NintenDogs and not so excellent Tamagotchi Connection, we have this to check out… Micro Dogs, for the GBA.

First off don’t be fooled, if you’re going to be venting money of a virtual pet (because for some reason one or the other you are seemingly not considering and/or not able to get a flesh and blood pet) save it for NintenDogs for the Nintendo DS or the recent Nintendo DS Lite.
While this game has a few quirks (sure), like a little Zoo Keeper slash Bejeweled mini game (which means you don’t have to pick up Zoo Keeper for the Nintendo DS) it is not going to keep you busy long enough to justify the purchase, even if you buy it for a low low price of under $20 a pop at a place like Costco.

The first thing that you’ll notice is that your virtual dog is NOT a graphic as it is an image of a real dog (dogs) in the game. This is not much to get all excited over because the dogs are mostly static images (stills) that are given a minimum of movement which just isn’t that good. I think I liked the virtual moving dogs of NintenDogs are better than this, this is abit weird to look at no questions asked.

Then there is the “world” of the game, which is a flat 2-D bland world which just doesn’t leap out at you to the point to add to any “reasoning“ behind you owning this seriously. I mean, well really, if you got easily bored of the world of NintenDogs world then you will be put into a comatose state over the “World” of Micro Dogs, which is far worse by far. I mean while the game has some customization (like a place to go shopping for your virtual pet), the stuff you buy sits rather blandly in the “world” of your virtual house, just as blandly as the pet that you can choose of (one of eight “micro” breeds of dogs). Also abit of the “action” of the game takes place “off screen” since there is not enough animation to show even a simple thing as playing with a ball (which you would have gotten lots of graphics doing that in NintenDogs).
Also interactions, talking to the pet (which, yes, you can do because apparently you opted for buying the intelligent human talking pet), and so forth has an absolute lack of interest to keep you playing.

The game does have mini games for you to play, which is sort of like work to earn you money to pay for stuff for your pet, but again that’s not so good. There is the Zoo Keeper game, but the second game (make an image from jumbled pieces) is hard to play, and a third game (I didn’t play it) I didn’t check out. Thing is there’s this, the house and your dog to take care of, shopping and… not much else.

If I haven’t convinced you yet of the failing “worth” of Micro Dogs I don’t know what else I could possibly say to convey the lackluster “game” that awaits you if you throw down money on this one. There is a reason why virtual pet games don’t go past NintenDogs in terms of gameplay and bells slash whistles, because it doesn’t go past NintenDogs in terms of gameplay and bells slash whistles! The game, NintenDogs, is the height of perfection when it comes to virtual pets, and everything else is at this moment games that just try to ride the coattails of the franchise’ success and fail to do so.

So, in short, get NintenDogs, play NintenDogs, love NintenDogs… then wonder why you’d want to do something past NintenDogs… maybe NintenCats, yeah, but that’s it. Breakdown time.

Micro Doggy Doo-doo Breakdown
What’s Hot?
Did I mention the little addictive Zoo Keeper type mini game in this game? Did I?
I did, and that’s about it as far as the memorable things.

What’s Not?
Most of the game. From the “intelligence” of your pet, to the “house” and the decorating and so forth. The game is basically a mediocre NintenDogs so forget it, get NintenDogs. Nuff said… except I have to finish this up so let’s finish this up.

Moments to Remember?
Did I mention the Zoo Keeper type game?

What to Ignore?
The other mini game, where you have to make an image out of jumbled pieces. That’s fricking hard.
Oh, and the talkative pet that seems to have lots on it’s mind, even some pointed personal questions that don’t seem capable of coming out of the mouth of a E for Everybody talking pet dog. No, no, nothing naughty or rude but just… should a pet really be asking me about my personal life or my dating practices? Damn! What a bothersome pesky personal minded dog!

Overall?
Pray for NintenCats or something better than games like this. NintenDogs. NintenDogs. There you go, get NintenDogs, nuff said.

Gameboy Advance - Pocket Dogs

Gameboy Advance Pocket Dogs Reviews

Micro Dogs

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