.jpg)
There have been many games with canine companions over the years (with good reason: which game isn’t enhanced by the presence of a dog?). Many games have taken advantage of man’s need to care for a dog, and owning a virtual pet has remained popular since the 1990s, with games like Nintendogs (and the petz series of PC games before that) still enjoy a devoted fan base to this day.
However, if players want to step into the role of dog themselves, there are fewer titles to choose from. Still, players can find a pretty decent number of dog characters to play as pets, from fluffy, bobble-headed pets to cheeky dog detectives to pipe-smoking, knife-wielding warriors. There are also some incredible games on this list, and some lesser known titles that dog fanatics may not have heard of.
7 The Dog Island (2007)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
Released in 2007, The dog island puts the player right in the shoes (or rather, paws) of a dog with a giant head. It’s a bit like Animal Crossing, but with 100% canines. Players must explore new areas, bark to defend against enemy creatures (including snakes, bears, gorillas, and bats), and complete tasks to ensure the happiness and well-being of the other bobble-headed dogs.
The story is surprisingly deep: the main character is on a mission to find a cure for their ailing sibling, but is then caught in a storm. They hear rumors of a legendary flower to cure disease, but it can only be found by dogs that are truly in touch with nature. It had average reviews upon release, but it’s very cute and especially appealing to younger players.
6 Tales of Vesperia (2008)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
Stories of Vesperia is an action RPG and the tenth main title in the Stories from series. A fan favorite of many players, it combines fun mechanics, an engaging story, and interesting, courageous characters. Includes Repede, Yuri Lowell’s sidekick. He fights with daggers and smokes a pipe. Pretty unusual for a dog.
Repede is an incredibly useful character. He is fast and agile and can dodge certain attacks. He can steal items from opponents and increase the effectiveness of those items. The fact that he is a dog is just a side effect.
5 PaRappa the Rapper (1997)
A familiar face to any 90s gamer, PaRappa The Rapper must be the coolest video game dog of all time. PaRappa is on a mission to impress his friend by rapping (of course), but this is a tough challenge, becoming more and more complex as the game progresses.
PaRappa is known for his iconic style, eccentric characters and sense of humor. It is also considered to be one of the first true rhythm games, and it sparked a spate of similar rhythm game titles in the years that followed. A tricky game to master, featuring a truly iconic dog.
4 Bolt (2008)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
The video game that ties in with the cute movie of the same name, Bolt allows players to control both the super dog itself and its owner, Penny. Players will complete missions based on the fictional TV show universe (as established by the movie), defeat enemies and unlock new areas.
Bolt is a fun dog to control as he has some pretty decent powers including Superbark and Laser Eyes. The game has mixed reviews and the storyline isn’t as exciting as the movie, but it’s quite fun blowing up enemies with laser eye power.
3 Sam & Max Go Out (1993)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
An iconic duo, Sam and Max, have been solving crimes for decades. In Sam and Max are on the road, players take control of Sam, a six-foot-tall canine detective, who solves puzzles in a point-and-click adventure. Sam is a little slower to use force than his partner, and his own sense of (relative) calmness makes him a good best friend to Max.
There have been several Sam & Max games over the years, from the early point-and-click adventures to Sam & Max: this time it’s virtuala VR adventure game released in 2021. That’s quite an epic journey.
2 Okami (2006)
okami is known for its painterly, cel-shaded art style, and it remains beloved by players to this day. The player controls Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, in her wolf form. Using the Celestial Brush, they have to ‘draw’ on the screen (using the analog stick on a DualShock controller, or pointing with the Wii Remote, Joy-Con or PS Move controller) using different shapes. For example, a line will cut off an enemy, while a whirl will summon a strong wind.
The interesting gameplay mixed with a touching story and unique art style makes okami a memorable game and considered by some to be one of the best Wii games of all time. In addition, players can control a literal goddess wolf. What could be better?
1 The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
Originally developed for the GameCube, but first released for the Wii in 2006, Twilight Princess is a beloved entry to the series and was the best-selling Zelda game to Breath of the Wild arrived in 2017. In Twilight Princess, Link must prevent Hyrule from being swallowed by the Twilight Realm, a dark parallel dimension. To do this, he occasionally takes the form of a wolf.
Playing as Link in brand new form is incredible and sprinting, jumping and attacking like a wolf in the Twilight Realm is a joy. No wonder fans are still begging for Nintendo to take them Twilight Princess to the switch.
0 Comments