The Sims 2: Pets

The Sims 2: Pets for Nintendo DS is a charming life simulation game that focuses entirely on pets. Unlike the typical Sims games, everything here revolves around caring for, looking after and raising animals - and life as a vet in the small town of Paw Valley.

At the beginning, you create your own Sim and choose a pet - either a dog or a cat. You then take over your own veterinary practice, where you treat four-legged friends every day. Whether fleas, stomach pains, broken legs or swallowed objects - every animal illness requires a precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment, which you carry out using the touchscreen. This makes the game mechanics not only interactive, but also varied.

Graphically, the game is kept in the simple but typical style of the Sims series. The animations are functional, but not particularly elaborate. The music remains discreetly in the background and accompanies the gameplay with calm sounds - however, sound effects such as barking and meowing are repeated quite quickly.

The Sims 2: Pets on the Nintendo DS is aimed primarily at younger players and animal lovers. It offers a pleasant mix of simulation, care and mini-games. Although some sequences can become repetitive over time, the game offers enough variety to keep pet lovers entertained for many hours.