Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups

Today we are checking out Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups. This was released for the Nintendo Wii, DS, and the 3DS. Pretty much all three versions of the game have the same concept, but it is the Nintendo 3DS version that I am specifically talking about today. It is crazy how many Barbie games have been released since the days of the NES, I wonder if there is anyone out there that has a complete Barbie game collection? That would actually be kind of cool to see.

Barbie Dogs!

The best way to think of Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups is that it is a Barbie version of Nintendogs. Before you roll your eyes, this game is actually way better than it has any right to be! I would even go as far as to say that if you are not a Barbie fan, but you like Nintendogs, this is one of the better “rip off” games about looking after dogs that has been made.

Picking Your Pooch

When you start playing Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups, you will need to pick which breed of dog you want. There are six breeds in the game, Samoyed, Pomeranian, Bichon Frise, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, and Poodle. The dogs look super cute and the whole game has that cute, pink, and very girly Barbie aesthetic that you would expect from a game based on this franchise. You only start off with a couple of breeds, but you unlock the rest as you progress through the game.

Mutt Cuts!

A huge part of the gameplay of Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups is all about grooming and looking after your pooch! This works like a kind of mini game thing where you basically do quick time events to make sure that your dog is clean and happy. Interestingly, the level of grooming and care that you need to do differs from dog to dog which I found pretty interesting. You will also need to train your dog in various disciplines as well to try and get their stats up. There is more to do here than you would think.

Making Your Dog A Star!

There is more to this game than just making sure dog feels and looks great. Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups features a series of performances that you can put your dog through. This is really what all of the grooming and training is for! These performances range from a fun dancing/showcase type of thing. They will have to do random tricks and show off their training. There are doggy photo shoots that you can go on as well as funky doggy dance events. If you get into the game enough, you may want to try and get all of the breeds to the top of their class!

Pros:

• This is fun if you like dogs
• There is a lot to do in regards to training your dog
• I liked how you were training your dog to compete in various shows
• The game has that iconic Barbie style

Cons:

• Clearly, the game is aimed at girls who love Barbie so that narrows its target audience
• I think that they could have given the game a bit more cinematic flair as some of the other Barbie games have quite detailed cut scenes