Nintendogs Dalmatian & Friends (Nintendo DS)

With an initial choice of six breeds to own and a further 14 to be unlocked, Nintendogs Dalmatian & Friends Edition sees the previously hard-to-unlock Dalmatian amongst the initial choices, along with the most popular dogs from the previous versions - Dachshund & Friends, Labrador & Friends and Chihuahua & Friends. If you’ve missed out on the handheld phenomenon of the year so far or have just been as yet unable to unlock your very own spotted puppy, Nintendogs Dalmatian & Friends is the companion for you.

Just as cute as ever, Nintendogs Dalmatian & Friends also features all the fantastic ‘touch’ and ‘talk’ elements of the original series. Players get to purchase their favourite puppy, making sure it is fed, walked, cleaned, played with and taught various tricks and commands using the Nintendo DS’s touch screen and microphone.

Once players have trained their puppy, they can enroll their dog into competitions to show off their new talents and earn prize money. Three different types of competition are available: an obedience trial, a frisbee-catching contest and an obstacle course. With the competition earnings, players can purchase food, toys and accessories for their puppy.

The Nintendo DS’s Wi-Fi functionality also allows players to share their adorable new Dalmatian with friends through ‘Bark Mode’. Interacting with another puppy automatically unlocks that breed in another players version of Nintendogs, giving players the chance to share this rare new puppy with friends.

In ‘Bark Mode’, owners search for other Nintendo DS’s running in the same mode using the console’s built in wireless connection. If another console is discovered, the DS will emit a ‘barking’ noise, alerting owners that a playmate has been found. Both players then exchange contact cards, allowing them to interact with each others puppies and give exciting gifts if they wish to. With the phenomenal success of Nintendogs across Europe, owners shouldn’t have any trouble finding someone to meet in ‘Bark Mode’!

Features

Total of 20 dogs as in the other versions

6 different breed unlocked from the beginning: Dalmatian, Boxer, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, Beagle

12 other breeds can be unlocked in the game through collection of dog owner points

Plus 2 secret breeds that can be unlocked through finding the rare items; the Jack Russell Terrier (item: Jack Russell’s Book) and Shiba Inu (item: Japanese Collar)

When a Dalmatian is met in Bark Mode, it will be unlocked automatically for those who do not yet have Dalmatian available within their games rooms

Initial indoor room design of the flat is “Early American”

Rooms in the Reform Shop from the beginning of the game; Northern European Style, Designer’s Mansion, Japanese-style Room.

3 Hidden Rooms: Desktop Space, Seaside & Outer Space Items

Items available from the beginning: Fireman’s Hat (the US Best Friends version had a Santa’s Hat as a promotional item)

Over 100 items can be bought or found for the dogs to either play with them or dress them up. Overall probability of finding items remains the same apart from Santa’s Hat (Standard) and Japanese Collar (rare).

Players need to collect over 20,000 Owner Points to make available; Jack Russell’s Book, Rhinestone Collar and Pearl Necklace.