 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Petz Fashion: Dogz & Catz
- Nintendo DS
- Price: $29.99
- Genre: Simulation
Common Sense Media says
Cute, fun pet simulator has mild consumerism theme.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this simple pet simulation game focuses on dogs and cats entering pet shows, where they showoff player-created fashions and perform tricks. Players spend their time feeding, grooming, and dressing their pets, and consequently learn about some of the basic responsibilities associated with pet care. However, the fashion theme, which has players purchasing pet clothes and accessories, creates a mild, underlying message of consumerism.
What's it about?
PETZ FASHION: DOGZ & CATZ is the latest entry in Ubisoft’s successful series of pet simulation games. It allows players to select and bond with a cat or a dog, adopt it as a pet, look after its basic needs (food, water, grooming, poop-scooping), and then enter it in fashion shows. Players can select and purchase a variety of clothing and accessories, including hats, collars, tops, bottoms, and shoes, and then customize these items in a simple editing module, changing colors and adding patterns. Goals -- dubbed “ribbonz” -- encourage players to play with and dress their animals in various ways, and result in reward “coinz” which can be used to buy more clothing, toys, and food.
Is it any good?
There’s not much in the way of innovation here, but Petz Fashion: Dogz & Catz is nonetheless a polished and fun little pet simulator. The digital dogs and cats—a couple dozen breeds in all—are cute, animate beautifully, and react authentically when petted and groomed via the DS’s touch screen and stylus interface. They’re fun to play with, too. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself verbally encouraging them to chase a ball or play with a string toy.
The only downside is that the titular fashions are a bit disappointing. The DS’s limited graphical capabilities are partially to blame (the clothing hasn’t much detail or nuance), but it’s mostly a matter of the styles themselves, which seem rudimentary and lack personality. Still, the sheer number of items and the ability to customize them ought to keep most kids busy trying ensemble permutations for weeks.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the responsibilities that come with pet ownership. If you have a pet, try discussing how accurately the game depicts activities such as feeding, grooming, and cleaning up after pets. If you don't own a pet, talk about the differences between virtual and real pet ownership (for example, when you grow bored with a live pet, you can’t just snap your DS shut and forget about it).
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 11 years old
October 5, 2009
AGE
semira's insider
hi i love this book,i am writing a report about it it is the best best best
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
August 22, 2009
AGE
good for ages 8 and up
This is, by far, the best nintendo d.s game ever made.don't judge a GAME by its cover, well, not in this game ! :)
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Platforms: | Nintendo DS |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Developer: | UbiSoft |
| Release date: | June 9, 2009 |
| Price: | $29.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E for (No Descriptors) |
Contact us to give us more feedback on our learning ratings.
Review It
Screenshots
1 of 2
2 of 2
Tell us what you think about our new Learning Ratings. We value your feedback.
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already played it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
