It would be difficult to find a video game today that’s devoid of animals. Virtual constructions of domesticated pets, farm animals, anthropomorphic characters, imaginary creatures that borrow design elements real life animals — they’re everywhere. One of 2020’s most anticipated games features a menagerie of animals as neighbors, business owners, loan sharks, etc. and Nintendo’s series all about Luigi even includes a ghost puppy named Polterpup. You couldn’t escape these cute critters, even if you wanted to.
From the extensive Game Boy family to Nintendo’s consoles, it was when the Nintendo DS came out that a dog (and later cat) pet simulator was brought to the world. Say what you want about Nintendogs, but when it comes down to it, the series embraced the new features of the Nintendo DS and pulled on the heartstrings of anyone who couldn’t have a pet in real life. It’s also provided useful assets and renders for other Nintendo games, including Super Mario Odyssey.
Fun fact: The model of the dog in Super Mario Odyssey is a direct port of the Shiba Inu model from Nintendogs + Cats.
Left: Super Mario Odyssey (Render by me)
Right: Nintendogs + Cats (Render by Centrixe @ DeviantART) pic.twitter.com/T84I3Ol25D— 🌈 Master of Galaxies 🌈 (@CometMedal) June 17, 2019
Twitter user @CometMedal recently noticed that the Shiba Inu character, wearing a dapper hat, is nearly the same model from Nintendogs + Cats. Comparing a ripped model from the 3DS game (thanks to Centrixe on DeviantArt) to the Super Mario Odyssey model that CometMedal ripped. Acting as a cute little easter egg and serving as a nice way for Nintendogs to live on again in another game, this discovery brings an interesting counterpoint to Twitter’s Can You Pet The Dog? and the account’s claims about not having the ability to pet the dog in Super Mario Odyssey.
You cannot pet the dog in Super Mario Odyssey pic.twitter.com/pEoEh2khe3
— Can You Pet the Dog? (@CanYouPetTheDog) March 5, 2019
It’s true that you can’t pet the dog in this epic Mario adventure, but this dog was pet-able before in its own game — Nintendogs + Cats. So when you feel sad that a particular dog can’t be pet in a certain video game, then maybe it’s time to revisit an old friend on your DS or 3DS.
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Written by Jennifer Burch
Illustrator, designer, writer and big Nintendo geek, you can find Jennifer with an N3DS within reach 24/7. As the oldest of three, she has survived many Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart sessions intact in addition to getting her brothers hooked on some really weird games. (Cubivore anyone?)
