One pig that isn’t causing a stink!
There’s a new hog down on the farm, and whether he’s going head to head with a wily wolf, battling a swarm of bees, or simply kicking it in his new leather jacket, he’s definitely causing a stir. There are no signs of psychosis and he’s certainly dementia free, but there’s no doubt about it; this is one Crazy Pig! For the first time, you’ll be in charge of the world’s most peculiar porker. And by combining a virtual pet with a whole truffle trove of mini-games, he will easily become an adorable addiction for younger gamers!
There are no signs of psychosis and he’s certainly dementia free, but there’s no doubt about it; this is one Crazy Pig!
As soon as you’ve chosen a name, you’ll be able to step into the sty and see your pig’s smiling face for the first time. From then on, it’s your job to look after him. This involves your basic tamagotchi-style responsibilities, such as using your stylus to make sure he’s well fed with flowers and water, (or occasionally ice-cream and milkshakes) and keeping the little scamp clean after his days of rolling in the dirt. But most importantly, he needs to feel your love, which means regularly scrubbing him with a spiky brush?whatever floats your boat, that’s all I’m saying!
Whichever craving you deal with, you’ll be able to watch your piglet savouring every moment in scenes that, graphically, look so realistically sweet that you may reconsider bringing home that bacon. But remember, on this farm it’s not just about how your animal feels, but how he looks!
From the sty to the street, you decide how you want your pig to drop the style. Whether you go for the classic cap and shades combo, or perhaps transform him into a seasonal Santa swine, there’s a modest selection of hats, glasses and jackets for your pig to try.
Unfortunately, life on the farm may not be as free-range as you would hope. Unlike your other Nintendo Petz, this pig cannot run around the sty at his leisure, and he’s too cool for tricks. You won’t even be dressing the pig himself, but rather a still picture of him that appears on the top screen. With this in mind, this game may be a disappointment for any fans of Nintendogs, Catz or Hamsterz (if it doesn’t fit with the word ‘Nintendo’, just add a ‘z’ and it’ll be cool).
However, the developers make up for this limited gameplay by introducing a new twist in the tail when it comes to looking after your pet. It’s an accepted rule of life that nothing comes for free, and if your pig needs more food or new clothes, you need to earn them. Fortunately, rather than having to go out and get a job, this problem can be solved with a collection of fun mini games!
Whenever you put your pig to sleep, he’ll dream a random variety of
mini adventures for you to choose from; whether he’s running off the barn roof with an umbrella parachute or perhaps guzzling honey from a hive bursting with bees. But don’t be deceived by the cutesy soundtrack and 2-D cartoon graphics, as these games aren’t as easy as they look. In particular, the winter sports game has given me a newfound respect for curlers!
The only downside is that, with releases such as Mario Party DS, any mini-game lovers may feel a little short-changed as there are only 8 games in total, and it will not be long before you have tried them all.
Nonetheless, younger players will become addicted to this combination of a typical cyberpet with a mini-game party. But, with limitations on what you can do with your pet, as well as only a small number of mini-games to play, older gamers may find that this Crazy Pig soon becomes a bit of a boar (I know, I know. That last one was genius)!
The Bad: There is not much you can do with your pet piggy, and with only a small number of mini-games, it may not interest older players.
