Littlest PetShop is a game based on the brand of the same name. The title is targeted at young females and is available in three different versions just like the Nintendogs series. The game involves players unlocking pets, collecting items, playing mini-games and exploring worlds.

The use of worlds within Littlest PetShop is unnecessary. Whilst these worlds allow players to access various stores and mini-games with their pets, they fail to surpass the standard menu system due to the poor controls and hideous 2D backdrops. It would have been far more effective to use the standard menu style than the needless world system.

The mini-game section of Littlest PetShop is a questionable experience because there is an equal amount of good and bad games on offer. The games such as Colouring Craze, Dash N Dig and Pet Sets are all dull mini-games that utilise the touch screen in the most mundane ways possible. Colouring Craze, for example, involves players colouring in a drawing, and although this activity may be fun in real life for three year olds, it turns out to be more frustrating than fun on the Nintendo DS. Besides the substandard batch of games on offer, there is also a fair amount of playable mini-games such as Bubble Bounce. Bubble Bounce is a mini-game that is fun to play because of its simple and addictive formula which involves players blowing up bubbles with the stylus. All the mini-games in Littlest PetShop are sure to entertain younger audiences, despite the fact that they vary in playability.

Not even that girl from the ads would 'love the Littlest Pet Shop' after playing this game.

The lifespan of this title, just like many other areas of this game, is lacking. Thirty minutes into the title players will have experienced the majority of the game’s offerings. The flaw in the gameplay of Littlest PetShop is that the only objective in the game is to unlock and collect items, resulting in a repetitive and predictable experience from start to finish.

The sound effects in Littlest PetShop are a poor effort overall. The game’s animals make many indistinguishable noises and the musical backings follow the usual tradition of children’s titles – repetitive and irritating music.

The visuals in the game are also disappointing. Character models are pixelated and lack fine detail, and, as previously mentioned, the 2D backgrounds are poorly designed, but they do help to highlight the low quality of the title’s development.

Overall, Littlest PetShop can be easily classified as merchandise of the Littlest PetShop Brand. It is nothing more or less, and therefore this shows that there was very little effort expended by the developers when creating this title. Littlest PetShop for the Nintendo DS is nothing more than a cash cow for the Littlest Pet Shop Brand.

By Liam Doolan

Graphics: C-

The visuals in this title are lacklustre.

Sound: C-

Most brands aimed at young children always feature low-quality and irritating sounds, this title is no different.

Gameplay: C

The gameplay in this title is painful.

Overall: D+

A horrible game, but unfortunately the mindless younger audiences will lap up every second of this title.