Hands on with Littlest Pet Shop on DS

Nearly every kid loves walking into a pet shop. The sound of fish tanks bubbling in the back of the store, while tropical birds caw during a quick stroll past the puppy cages. Even if you're only in the market for a hamster or gerbil, the excitement of picking up one of these cute critters is enough to make a youngster's heart explode.

It's enough to make a parent go nuts, too. For every adorable rabbit or slithering snake bought, it's also a slate of chores and care that come along with it. Considering how infrequently I cleaned out my hamster cage as a child, it's easy to see why Littlest Pet Shop would be an attractive option. Dozens of pets and no clean up – a workable substitute for a pet, even though cuddling with your DS isn't nearly as enjoyable.

Unlike the simulated care of Nintendogs or the upcoming National Geographic Panda, Littlest Pet Shop gives you all the best parts of having a pet without the frustration. You need to track your animals' mood and energy, but you're not saddled down by tedious bathroom breaks or flea scrubs. None of that here. Instead, the game hones in on playing games with your furry pals and dressing them up.

Various goals are tied to each of the game's 50-plus pets. As you explore three distinct worlds – pet garden, winter palace, and pet plaza – you compete in mini-games, dress up your animal, and other fun activities. Tonnes of customizable items enable you to throw on a special collar, shades, or even a fancy hat to any creature. Depending on how you raise your pets and treat them, they're automatically categorised according to a range of attributes, including fanciest and cuddliest.

The personalization elements will definitely pique the interest of any youth, but there's plenty of active gameplay to be had in the assorted mini-games. We tried out 'Balance Ball', which had us using the stylus to maintain our pet's balance while standing on a bouncy ball. The amount of kibble earned directly corresponds to how long you last standing on the ball. Naturally, you can use this kibble to purchase new clothing, accessories, and even toys.

Perform particularly well in a mini-game and you earn special coloured ribbons. These are great for showing to chums via the game's local wireless multiplayer mode. An impressive maximum of 15 players can link together and share pets, play together, and even swap items. It's surprising to see a game like Littlest Pet Shop undertaking such an ambitious design, especially when the target audience is so young.

Regardless, we're keen to see how it pans out. Although we think we've grown past the cutesy colourful style of Littlest Pet Shop, there's a charm and sophistication behind its design. No UK release has been announced at this time, but the game will be unleashed in North America before year's end.