Petz Fashion: Dogz & Catz (Nintendo DS)

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.