GoPets: Vacation Island for Nintendo DS
Recently we were given the opportunity to review the game GoPets: Vacation Island for Nintendo DS and my girls were so excited. Since both of them love animals, the whole concept was an immediate draw for them.
From the GoPets site:
GoPets: Vacation Island goes beyond other earlier virtual pet games, by adding a social networking twist. Building friendships is the main goal. Players create customized pets that can travel the world, visiting old friends and making new ones. The game can be played either as a single or multiplayer title. Families need to connect the DS to a wireless network to enjoy interacting online with other players.
My 9 year old loved the game and even took some detailed notes as to why she loves it for me. These are the highlights:
- When you start the game you make a profile and design your GoPets bungalow.
- You go to the adoption center to interview a pet before you decide what you want.
- The game uses its own iconic language called IKU that you can use to send messages with.
- Princess Plumeria is your guide to Vacation Island.
- You get a tabbed “journal” to keep track of your buddies and other cool stuff. One of the tabs is a dressing room where you can dress your pet in stylish clothes. The green tab is the post office where you send and receive messages.
- Earn virtual cash in the form of shells by meeting friends, playing mini games and such. You can use the shells in the game’s marketplace.
- A passport helps you keep track of where you have been.
- The goal of the game is to travel around, meet friends, and unlock different features.
Overall, GoPets: Vacation Island has a lot of substance for the price and my kids played it for a long time before they needed a break from it. I will probably pick up another one so the girls can play the game at the same time and take advantage of the wi-fi features – especially on summer road trips.
