PixlBit

The three versions offer 27 breeds of dog, 3 breeds of cat, and they all take use of the various 3DS abilities.

Many can attribute the runaway success of the DS to the release of Nintendogs nearly six years ago. Up until its release, the DS still hadn't found a strong foothold with the market outside of gaming enthusiasts. Nintendo, recognizing the success of the game, has prepared a suitable follow-up for the launch of the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendogs + Cats takes the familiar formula established in the original Nintendogs, adds a new type of animal (cats), and takes use of the various abilities of the upcoming handheld hardware.

Once again, players will have a choice in which breeds they start with when they purchase their copy of the game. Three distinct versions will be available on day one: French Bulldog, Golden Retriever, and Toy Poodle. As with the original title, players will have a variety of breeds (nine in particular) to choose from within each of the titles.

Owners of the French Bulldog version of the game will have access to a Shetland Sheepdog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dalmation, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, and Basset Hound in addition to the title breed.

The Golden Retriever version will feature the title breed, Shiba Inu, Beagle, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Dachshund, Maltese, Great Dane, Pug, and Cocker Spaniel breeds.

Finally, the Toy Poodle version will feature Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Miniature Schnauzer, Box, Labrador Retriever, Shih Tzu, Jack Russell Terrier, Bull Terrier, and Pomeranian breeds, as well as the title breed.

All breeds of dog are available in all of the versions; however, players will need to unlock the 18 breeds not included by playing the game. Cats, while included, are far less prevalent in the game with only three breeds being represented in each of the versions. Tabby, Siamese, and Persian breed cats will be selectable from the get-go in the upcoming title, with no other breeds confirmed for inclusion, even through extended play.

At the start of the game, when choosing a breed of puppy, players will have pattern and color choices for their pet. Accessories are also available to deck out the furry stars of the game and add some further personality.

Given the array of new features provided by the 3DS hardware, Nintendogs + Cats takes use of nearly all of them to provide an interactive experience that meshes with the real world in a number of different ways. Using the Nintendo 3DS camera and facial-recognition technology, puppies will be able to recognize their owners. Additionally, the camera, touch screen, and microphone will be used to interact with the in-game puppies and kittens.

The outward pointing 3DS camera will be used in conjunction with the question mark block augmented reality card included with the system to project puppies into the real world. Upon appearing there, the puppies will play, but it hasn't been made clear if players can interact with them in any particular way.

The system's pedometer can also be used in conjunction with the game, allowing players to walk their puppy while the game is in the system and in sleep mode. StreetPass and SpotPass are both put to use as well, allowing players to exchange puppies and kittens and accessories for the fluffy digital pets.

The core gameplay seems to be in the same vein as the first title, allowing players to not only care for and play with their digital pets, but also engage them in a variety of activities and challenges. Each day's events are cataloged in the game's Journal, which can be looked over at later dates, and will be available to passer-bys in StreetPass mode.

At any point, players can quickly and easily snap photos of their puppies and kittens by tapping the on-screen camera icon. These will be saved to the 3DS picture album and can be subsequently shared with friends and family.

Come March 27, players can grab any one of the three versions of Nintendogs + Cats along with their brand new 3DS system. Nintendo has not released any further details on the game, but more information should become available after the game becomes available in Japan.