Nintendogs: Lab & Friends

 DS
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 127 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 127
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 127
  3. Negative: 18 out of 127
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  1. MarkM.
    Jan 2, 2006
    6
    This game is fun at the beginning when you get to select your pup, but after they teach you everything you need to know, it gets boring because you can only take your dog for a walk every 30 minutes, 3 contests a day, (Contests and walks are the only way to get money) your puppy gets overloaded when you teach it 3 or 4 commands a day so therefore you can't do an obiedence trial the This game is fun at the beginning when you get to select your pup, but after they teach you everything you need to know, it gets boring because you can only take your dog for a walk every 30 minutes, 3 contests a day, (Contests and walks are the only way to get money) your puppy gets overloaded when you teach it 3 or 4 commands a day so therefore you can't do an obiedence trial the first day you get your dog. The games is exciting at the beginning, but later you go, "Welll, what do I do now." Also frustrating is the Trainer Points. It takes a while to get a whopping 50,000 pts for a dog. To me, this games is a bit fun.… Expand
  2. BenH.
    May 25, 2006
    7
    i give it a 7 because you can do more than 3 contests a day its 3 with each dog and if that still doesnt please you heres a trickk do do as many as you want : turn on your ds withoun nintendogs game in it change the time to 23:59 and put the date 2 days back save the settings and turn off the ds put nintendogs in and start when the clock goes past mid night youl get 3 more contests with i give it a 7 because you can do more than 3 contests a day its 3 with each dog and if that still doesnt please you heres a trickk do do as many as you want : turn on your ds withoun nintendogs game in it change the time to 23:59 and put the date 2 days back save the settings and turn off the ds put nintendogs in and start when the clock goes past mid night youl get 3 more contests with each dog but ull have to wait another 30 minutes after you've done this to take your dog for a walk again. a solid game worth its money.… Expand
  3. AlexV.
    Sep 4, 2006
    7
    A really good game but when you get bored of one dog in your family but not the rest you have to donate them or clear the game. Dontating them makes you feel so mean!
  4. RightousDude
    Feb 24, 2007
    6
    Although Nintendogs is a fantastic idea and great fun at first, your doggy may began a little boring and perhaps not like the real thing. When you first get it it's brilliant, and I admit, the graphics are amazing! but, realistically there isn't much to do. But even so, if you can blow 20 quid, I say get it, it'll be interesting to see what it's like and you might love Although Nintendogs is a fantastic idea and great fun at first, your doggy may began a little boring and perhaps not like the real thing. When you first get it it's brilliant, and I admit, the graphics are amazing! but, realistically there isn't much to do. But even so, if you can blow 20 quid, I say get it, it'll be interesting to see what it's like and you might love it, after all, it all comes down to opinion!… Expand
  5. SeanT.
    Dec 20, 2005
    7
    I like this game. No, I am not 3 years old. Not even close. The game is quite good, the thing is, people keep getting so hung up on "unlocking objects" and "getting money" and all that. The people who gave this game a low score, most likely did so because they were thinking of it as a game: something solid, with levels, that they can beat. But in fact there aren't levels, you just I like this game. No, I am not 3 years old. Not even close. The game is quite good, the thing is, people keep getting so hung up on "unlocking objects" and "getting money" and all that. The people who gave this game a low score, most likely did so because they were thinking of it as a game: something solid, with levels, that they can beat. But in fact there aren't levels, you just play with your pup. As you do so, you'll get trainer points and thus, unlock new items which you can use to play with your pup. There's pretty much one real downside to the game: The mike. The mike has three settings: "Huh?", "What did you say?!" and "Deaf". Needless to say, this isn't good for gameplay. Okay, it's not really that bad, but it gets annoying sometimes.… Expand
  6. BlogDog123
    May 25, 2011
    7
    The game that gave birth to the pet sim gaming industry, this game is FUN. Caring for a virtual dog might sound boring, but Nintendo makes it into something that is downright enjoyable. However, the same formula gets repetitive VERY quickly.
  7. PeppersReviews
    Apr 27, 2012
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A simple and fun dog sim. in this game you look after a virtual puppy (that never grows up). you can feed it,walk it,dress it up, bath and groom it,buy food,clothes,etc,. You can only keep three dogs at a time and if you want more you have to drop off/donate/swap a dog at the Dog Hotel. To earn money you enter your dog in three different types of competitions(disc,agility and obedience) that get more harder depending on the class (beginner is easiest, championship is hardest). You can also walk your dog and teach it tricks (at home). No matter what version of the game you get (Labrador,chihuahua,dalmation and daschund) the game is the same and you can get all the breeds (you unlock them by trainer points you earn by caring for your dog) and items. The game is fun and very cute and is recomended if you love dogs and is looking for a cute game.

    Final Score: B    … Expand
  8. robertredford
    Dec 19, 2020
    5
    This is a game for elderly people and young children, and at that it succeeds in spades. But for a core Nintendo fan, you either adore it or it bores you. I side with the latter. A solid game, but nothing that a hardcore gamer would freak out over.

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best DS Game of 2005
9
#9 Most Discussed DS Game of 2005
29
#29 Most Shared DS Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 54
  3. Negative: 0 out of 54
  1. Edge Magazine
    70
    There’s more to be got out of this new kind of play than Nintendo has found this time around, and some of it could be better implemented. But, for now, it offers an experience that can’t be matched. [July 2005, p.89]
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  2. Weekly Famitsu
    100
    10 / 10 / 10 / 10 - 40 platinum [April 2005]
  3. Game Informer
    80
    There's no denying how adorable the puppies are, how amazing the technology that runs them is, or how much stuff there is to find, but I can't help thinking that bending the rules of reality would have made for a better game, in the traditional sense. [Sept 2005, p.114]
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