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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Anise Hollingshead

In HAMSTERZ LIFE for the Nintendo DS, these rather realistic-looking hamsters converse with their owners and even ask how they're doing. Players can talk back to them and teach them words and commands, which the hamsters will remember and apply. Players begin by choosing a hamster. Once it's named, it will appear in a cage and kids can then either train, feed, care for, or choose other options to interact with their hamster.

Toys, cage improvements, and decorations are available to add to the hamster's environment, but the choices are limited in the beginning of the game. However, by playing Mini games players can win points and use them to add more items to their inventory. You can tackle the seven colorful Mini games randomly whenever you see a "play" icon at the bottom of the screen. These are simple, fun arcade-style games like breakout (a ball-bouncing game), memory, and a sliding puzzle.

Is It Any Good?

3

On the whole, while Hamsterz Life doesn't offer the depth of play that Nintendogs does, this colorful, cute game isn't designed for that purpose. Since the game appeals to younger kids, it would have been nice to include more challenging Mini games or a broader educational focus. But as an introduction to simulation games, Hamsterz works fine.

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