National Geographic has finally joined in among others who have presented animal video games for the DS. This is more like one of the zoo sims that have come out on DS before. Though this one seems as if it was build on top of a Nintendogs game engine.

If you have played either of these types of game before you will do fine with this one. It is easy to understand. The person playing it does have to be old enough to read. If you think pandas a re cute and you want to keep a virtual one in your pocket then this one is perfect for that. It has gotten to the point where you can have just about any virtual pet you can think of who requires bowls of milk, bamboo shoots and a bubble bath in real time.

If seeing your panda’s status as “parched” gives your sensitive heart a pain then you are the perfect type to adopt these little guys. Naturally they are totally adorable with the cute factor ratcheted up as far as it can go.

One panda was wearing a pill box hat and a faux Chanel jacket. The other had a sunflower tucked behind one ear. The game has both the elements of being semi educational and funny too. Some behaviors and sounds from real pandas make them seem eerily realistic, just the way Nintendogs does.

The game isn’t all sunshine and bamboo either. The camera is problematical. The control of it feels fluid, but getting in the right angle isn’t easy. When you want to get in there to feed the pandas you may be able to get right there to see one of them. But then the second panda always seems to be out of the line of sight.

The object if there is one, is to train your pandas to do some tricks. You reward them with praise when they roll over on their own. When you pet them enough they radiate little flowers of happiness. You’ll unlock playground equipment for the pandas.

You need to go shopping and buy clothing, bath supplies, and toys. the game is a commitment. I couldn’t find a way to reset it and start over on a rented copy. Once you begin you can’t skip a day. It has an even bigger guild trip factor than Animal Crossing and the weeds. You only get paid everyday that you play the game. If you don’t take care of them every day you’ll run out of panda food. Every day $300 is paid per panda.

This game is everything it should be. They have done lots of pet games, and this one benefits from all of the software that went before it. It’s perfect for any panda lover you know. It is totally relaxing and non violent. I give National Geographic Pandas DS 9 bowls of milk out of 10.