Children’s Software That Matters – Pet Pals for the Nintendo Wii

One of the greatest disappointments of the current video and
computer market is the lack of compelling software for children. While a few
standouts exists such as Nintendo’s Brain Age line, or the Lego Star Wars
series, far too many games merely exploit a well known license, or offer
sub-par gameplay. When compiling the weekly New Release list, we often
encounter a glut of derivative animal ‘simulators’ with names like The Dog
Island, Petz: Horsez 2, or Puppy Luv.

So imagine our trepidation when we visited the Legacy Interactive offices while attending E3. Legacy was showing Pet Pals, a veterinary
game designed for eight to twelve-year old girls. While we expected another
imitative pet-sim, we found an interesting, thoughtful game that deserves
attention.

Upon starting the game, we noticed the quality, high
resolution graphics. While many Wii games pale in comparison to the HD
counterparts, Pet Pals offered a detailed representation of a vet’s waiting
room, and examination table. While the animals were currently motionless in the
build demoed, our representatives promised us that each pet would move with
life-like accuracy in the final product.

The title strives for an authenticity missing from most
children’s software. The producer mentioned that each of the game’s thirty
cases were written by practicing veterinarians. Graphically, the title reaches
for realism rather than the typical candy-coated cuteness. Additionally,
players are introduced to scientific method; after an ailment is given, you
systematically check for additional symptoms, before giving a diagnosis.

Pet Pals gameplay seems modeled after the Trauma Center
games, with the tedious stretches of dialogue thankfully removed.  We watched as the producer used the Wiimote
as a magnifying glass to inspect a dog’s fur. Other mini-games included
twisting the controller to vary an x-ray wavelength, and then snapping a
picture with the “A” button, when the skeletal frame is focused.  Included in the game is a veterinary trivia
game that doesn’t pull any punches- we missed both multiple choice questions we
were shown.

Pat Pals is shaping up to be remarkable piece of children’s
software. It’s clear the goal of the title is not to create a watered down,
sloppy title to capitalize on the Wii’s popularity and demographics, but rather
to offer younger players a fair challenge. Let’s hope this game doesn’t get
lost in the excess of animal themed Wii titles when it is released this holiday
season.