Ever since the PSP was released, much to-do has been made about the longevity of the Nintendo DS. "If Nintendo wants to survive," opined self-anointed gaming experts, "the DS needs a killer app." Putting aside my own personal belief that Nintendo's ability to survive rivals that of cockroaches and Cher, it's still undeniable that the DS, though boasting some innovative and just plain nifty titles, didn't yet have that one game that would make DS units fly off shelves. Meteos was addictive and Kirby Canvas Curse was unique, but neither one had that something, that ohmygodIhavetohaveitnowwwwwww quality that would put them in league with Tetris, Halo, or Grand Theft Auto III. Every successful console must have at least one killer app, one title that will make consumers by the system just to play the game. Well, the Nintendo DS finally has its killer app. And it has floppy ears.

Nintendogs isn't really a game, it's a pet simulator, similar to the Tamagotchis that were all the rage a few years ago, but far more realistic and complex. Players begin playing by paying a visit to the local kennel, where they can choose from various examples of six different breeds of dog. Each of the three versions of the game—Labrador, Chihuahua, and Dachshund--comes with six different breeds, such as Toy Poodles, Shiba Inus, Welsh Corgis, Dalmatians, Boxers, and German Shepherds. All the puppies are mind-meltingly cute, though, so the breed is almost irrelevant. The kennel will have both male and female puppies, and each pup will have its own distinct personality, such as the boisterous type who just wants to play, play, play, or the willful type who requires an extra-patient trainer. Players start off with $1000, enough to purchase one puppy and a house full of supplies.

Every puppy needs a name, of course, and this is where Nintendogs really starts sucking the player into its little world. To name the dog, players call out the name into the DS' microphone. After a few tries, pups will learn their new name and come running whenever their master calls them. At least that's the theory. My little Corgi, Sam, usually just coyly looks at me over his shoulder and wiggles his little nub of a tail. I'm pretty sure he's laughing at me. Once the virtual pup is christened, players can have a little fun with their new pet, either using the stylus and the touch screen to give the poochie some welcoming skritchies, or by tossing a ball around the room for an impromptu game of fetch. All interaction between master and dog is done through the touch screen and the microphone, making Nintendogs feel less like a game and more like an experience. Even powering down the DS after saving the game is done via the touch screen, so that the player never feels like he's being pulled out of this doggie-filled world.

Players start with a small assortment of supplies and toys for their dogs, but more can be purchased from the local pet supply store. Balls, flying discs (that's Frisbees for those of us not concerned about trademarks), bubble blowers, and balloons are all on hand for fun times at home or in the park, and different types of food and drink are available to please the most finicky canine palate. New items are unlocked as the player earns Trainer Points by taking good care of his new pet, keeping it clean, fed, and happy, and by winning training competitions. There are three kinds of competitions: Flying Disc, Agility, and Obedience. They all offer prize money and have escalating levels of difficulty, but all require a fair amount of practice before a puppy can even rank in the top three. Puppies in the Flying Disc competition try to catch a disc in mid flight; the further away it is from the trainer, the more points the pup earns. Flicking the disc with the stylus is a cinch, although getting it to fly straight takes a bit of practice. (Though not as much as getting the puppy to bring the darn thing back after he's caught it. Sam is particularly fond of doing the "grrrrrr" head shake after he's successfully downed the rogue disc. Quite the mighty hunter, he is.) The Agility course is full of hurdles, see-saws, and tunnels that puppies can practice navigating at the local gym, with the player tapping the screen at the right time in the right spot to coax the pooch over the hurdles or through the tunnel. The Obedience training is by far the most difficult and takes the most practice and preparation. Using the stylus, players pat their pooch in order to get them to perform the action that will eventually become the trick; for example, a slow pet down a puppy's nose will eventually get him to sit down. When that happens, a little lightbulb appears in the corner of the screen, letting players know that they can name this trick. Hitting the lightbulb activates the microphone, prompting players to say the trick's name. After a few repetitions, a little tune lets players know that the dog has mastered the trick and will now perform it on command. How fast a dog learns depends on its breed, personality, and how well it feels it's being treated by its trainer. (All work and no play makes puppy a lousy student, after all.) At the competition, puppies must run through a series of commands with their masters, holding specific tricks for three seconds or more. Sounds easy enough, but these are puppies after all, and it's not uncommon for them to just plain not feel like performing. But they're just so darn cute, it's hard to get mad at them for plowing straight through hurdles on the Agility course, or wiggling on their backs when they're supposed to be sitting up and begging.

In between all of this playing and practicing, puppies naturally need to go for walks, which not only gives them a chance to do their business, but also builds up their stamina, confidence, and lets them meet other neighborhood dogs. Players can also use these walks to drop in on the local discount pet supply shops and snag some items that they can't get by shopping at home. During the walk, the puppy may scamper off for a moment and return with a gift for its trainer, although a puppy's idea of what constitutes a gift is rather wider than most humans'. An empty juice bottle or a box of tissues would not send the average person into gales of delight, but they certainly set a dog's tail to wagging, so be sure to thank them appropriately. Dogs may also bring home accessories, such as collars or sunglasses, or even one of the rare items that's unique to each version of the game.

Players who want more than just the six breeds that came with their version of the game need not shell out the extra cash to get the other two versions, they just need to make some friends. Nintendogs is WiFi compatible and comes complete with the insanely brilliant "Bark Mode": when the game is in Bark Mode, the DS is asleep, but if it passes close enough to another DS also in Bark Mode, it will, true to advertising, bark. At that point, players can exchange pre-recorded messages, or invite their pups to play together. Playing with breeds from other versions of the game unlocks those breeds in a players game, providing added incentive for getting out there and meeting fellow Nintendoggers. Boys in Japan rather cleverly figured out that Bark Mode was a great way to meet girls; a recent commercial here in the States made that same observations, so it'll be interesting to see if American malls are rife with barking on a Saturday night.

Nintendogs isn't just cute and clever, although it is all that and then some. The puppies in it are so realistic and life-like that forming an emotional bond with them seems perfectly natural and normal. Players will find themselves checking in with their pooches several times a day, to make sure they're not hungry or lonely, or even just to give them a quick pat on the head. Although even non-dog people will find the puppies of Nintendogs to be charming and endearing, anyone who even remotely considers himself to be a dog lover will go positively berserk over this game. The ability to use voice commands, unlock new breeds, and collect unique items just adds to the addictive and potentially obsessive behavior this title inspires.

Ok, gotta go. Time for Sam to go walkies.