Go Pets Vacation Island

We just got our Nintendo DS.
And by "our", what I should really say is Zach just got it.
However, he is nice enough to share, or what I should really say is that he was smart enough not to argue with me when I forced him to give the DS to his sister so she could play the Go Pets Vacation Island game.
Smart lad.
So, when I say we just got it, I mean I don't know how to use many of the features yet. But now that Sammie got this game and her birthday is coming up, she thinks she needs her own DS and has a dozen more games picked out.

Konami has created a game that is aimed for the younger set with the simplicity of the gaming options which is basically picking and outfitting your pet, playing games, venturing around Vacation Island and then you can make new friends. How, you say? Social networking, with your DS connected to a server you can find other people playing the game as well.
I must admit here that I did not know how to connect the DS to a server.

Yes, I will put the big "L" on my forehead.

But, it did not seem to matter in the slightest. Sammie played the game (over and over and over to the point of annoying the crap out of her brother because she wouldn't give back the DS) and found many features she enjoyed.
She loved picking and dressing her GoPet. This is the girl who's favorite show is Project Runway, are you kidding me that a game where she picks out clothing and accessories for a puppy isn't going to rev her motor? Totally.
She chose a lot of pink. For everything. As if there is any other color.
Then she sampled each of the games but she got stuck on one specifically that was really fun.
And this is where I admit, without shame, that I played it too.

The cooking game where you prepare spaghetti or stir fry. As you advance, there are more challenging things to make. It is super fun! And I say this from firsthand knowledge because I swiped the DS from her and played it. A lot. I am such a loser, I can't believe I made spaghetti on a video game, uh, a bunch of times.
It's fun though, the game starts alerting you to stir or you're going to burn something...I wish my stove would do that!

Here is the "real" scoop from the Konami website:

Make friends around the world with your GoPet! An irresistible blend of social networking and virtual pets, GoPets: Vacation Island for the Nintendo DS™ lets you create pets that travel the world, visit your friends, and find new friends. Dress your pet with fancy swag, compete in minigames for fun and bling, and design food and items to send to your friends!

As a first game for Sammie, this was a good one to start with because she could do some of the easier things over and over. It also gave her some great ideas for other games she wants to get when she has her own DS.

Good thing they make a pink DS. And a lot more dress up games for diva little girls.

***This review coming at you courtesy of the fine folks at Mom Central***