Dog’s Life
Rating: G
‘Join our mischievous hero Jake as he leaves his rural hometown and sets off on a daring journey across the USA to foil a gang of evil dog-nappers.’
Dog’s Life, most commonly known as the game that shaped my childhood. Was developed and released in 2003, for the entertainment use on Play Station 2 consoles.
This game is about the story of a Dog called Jake, while in his rural hometown his girlfriend Daisy is kidnapped by some evil dog-nappers, known as Wayne and Dwayne. Jake then decides to chase after these dog-nappers but unfortunately doesn’t manage to keep up with them. Needing to now figure out a plan to get Daisy back home to Clarksville safely and not turned into cat meat at Miss Peaches Crunchy Cat Food company. As well as having to watch his own back to make sure that The Dog Catcher and his dog doesn’t get him.
While on his adventure to getting Daisy back home safely, Jake has many tasks that he is to accomplish in order to gain a high dog status giving him the ability to control other dogs and step in their paw steps for a small amount of time. In the hopes of being rewarded with a bone, therefore gaining an even higher dog status as that’s what gives him the ability to control other dogs. He also needs bones in order to progress through the game if he wants any chance of being able to save Daisy.
Bones are given to Jake as rewards when he completes puzzles, challenges and some sub-games. As well as some humans who require the assistance of a dog to help them do something that they’re unable to do themselves. You can also find bones by searching around the place as well. The more bones you find, the better chance you have of rescuing Daisy. In order to play sub-games, you have to use the smellovision that Jake has. One of my favourite things about this game, as it really gives you the point of view from a dog and the kinds of scents they see as well as the perspective of the world that they see and we don’t. By collecting the scents of each level, once Jake has smelt them all he then gets a chance to participate in sub-games, to challenge other dogs and gain their respect.
These sub-games are:
– Dog Races
– Scent Marking Challenges
– Tug-O-War
– Digging Race
– Pursuit
Each of these sub-games have their own uniqueness depending upon which dogs Jake has decided to set the challenge up against. Which is always fun, and if you fail after your first attempt all you have to do is then collect the smells again and give it another go. It’s so much better than having to restart the whole game again if you fail one challenge. Following Jake on his wild adventure is truly the adventure of a life time, with so many levels to complete and challenges to have a go at, it is simply impossible to get bored of this game. Although the game may be old, and the graphics aren’t as great as what we’ve got in this day and age. I believe that nothing can beat the story plot of this game, especially since I’m an individual who embraces the well pieced together stories that then complete themselves at the end of the game. Either opening the game for a sequel or ending it with a nice happy ending.
Within this game you also develop an amazing amount of knowledge on other breeds of dogs. Being able to gain the ability to control over 15 dogs within the game. In my eyes it’s a true masterpiece. One of the best games and first ever console games that I ever had the privilege of playing in my youth. One thing you’ll never forget about after playing this game are all the catch phrases that the humans use when talking to Jake while he is out searching for Jake.
I’d like to give this game a 5 out of 5 game controllers, because it is totally worth the hours of play you’ll be using to get to the end of Jake’s adventure.
CLICK HERE: If you want to see the trailer for the game Dog’s Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiJ3Cg6BdPA
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