Top 5 Nintendo 3DS Launch Games - Feature

5. Nintendogs + Cats

Pet rearing on a handheld console may not be the average hardcore gamer's cup of tea but Nintendo proved its detractors wrong with the original Nintendogs for DS. It was a title that was both well developed and even innovative at times, making it far more than a fluffy piece of casual gaming pap for young children without a pet of their own (or, indeed, for young children with a pet that's now sadly neglected due to Nintendogs - virtual mutts are just much more interesting it would seem).

This latest instalment takes the winning formula of its DS predecessors and expands this across the 3DS' array of new features. Beyond the obvious addition of 3D (which is both well done and suits the game) players can also utilise augmented reality cards to project their dog into the living room, while Street Pass expands on similar wireless features from the previous DS versions by importing photos, new breeds, and even dog-walking Miis from passersby.

As always, a decent range of training tasks, competitions to take part in, and general pet care responsibilities keep the gameplay ticking along at an almost over-relaxed pace. It's by no means a stride forward in the Nintendogs series but it does at least fit the platform well.