K-9 Cyber Companion
Reviewed by Edward Fielding
Published by Fujitsu Interactive

Age Group: Age 4 to 8 Type: More Fun Price: Unknown

PC version requires:
Pentium 8 MB RAM, 19 M 2x, Windows 95, 640x480x256

Mac version requires:
Version not available.

Description:

Fujitsu's K-9 Cyber Companion (also known as Super Wan-Chan from Na Software) gives you the chance to experience the pleasure of owning a dog without the expense of buying food and the agony of the 5:00 am morning walk. You begin by selecting your doggie -- mutt, poodle, or boxer. You then follow your new best friend's accelerated lifespan from puppy through adult doggihood, playing with him and teaching him tricks along the way.

Training

To teach your puppy pal tricks, you have a few tools to use - a bone, a meowing flashlight, and your hand. The "thumbs up" icon rewards your dog with some positive feedback when he does a trick. Just wait till the pooch does what you want and give him the high five. You need to teach your pet three tricks every 24 hours or he won't successfully grow to the next age level.

Man's Best Friend?

Fujitsu should have considered giving you a fist icon instead of a friendly hand. Training my pet to come to my whistle and to bark were reasonable tasks, but I became frustrated trying to teach him to sit. My attempts to push his bubble shaped poodle butt onto the ground were unsuccessful. He was continually distracted by bees and airplanes in the outdoor scenario, ignoring my directing hand. While the FAQ section of the owner's manual cautioned me against throwing the dog around the screen and mangling his body, I came to find the concept of doggie parts strewn around the screen to be acceptable.

Give Me The Pooper Scooper!

Do you know the feeling you get when your brother's dog slobbers all over you with that kind of judgement free love only a doggie can give? Unfortunately, that's just the feeling that is missing from K-9 Cyber Companion. At least when a real puppy goofs up a trick, you can still rub his tummy and get licked in return. K-9 doesn't offer any such positive payback.

Back To The Pound

As a game K-9 is rather boring. It's really not much more than a screen saver. If my parents brought this game home instead of a real dog, I would pack up my Star Wars action figures in a red hankie, tie it to a stick and follow the railroad tracks out of town.

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