My Animal Centre in Australia (Nintendo DS)

This game is the follow-up to My Animal Centre in Africa. Once again the player takes the role of a young, female vet sent to develop a new animal clinic in Australia. The vet's main tasks are healing and nursing sick and injured Australian animals brought to the clinic by the local ranger - 4 `land' animals: platypuses, kangaroos, wombats and koalas, and 2 `aquatic' animals: seals and dolphins. Also she needs to manage the finances, building and extending the animal enclosures, buying feed, etc.

There are 2 modes of play, plus a short tutorial to guide you through the 4 parts of setting up and developing the animal clinic.

Game mode 1 is `Scenario game' - this is a selection of 9 different scenarios which increase in difficulty. In each scenario you are asked to complete a number of tasks, e.g. 2 koalas healed, read 1st platypus book, etc.

Game mode 2 is `Free game' - you start from scratch with just the Platypus enclosure ready and a few basic pieces of equipment and furniture. The idea is to admit, treat, and care for sick animals for which you get rewarded with money. When you have enough money you can: build and extend the 6 different animal enclosures - each enclosure can be built and then extended twice to eventually accommodate up to 3 animals of one type (so you can have up to 18 animals in the hospital at any one time); buy normal, premium and extra premium feed for each of the 6 animals, basic and premium veterinary instruments, and 3 information books for each animal from the merchant; extend the house by buying furniture for the kitchen, living room, bath and bedroom; extend the hospital by buying furniture/equipment for the reception area, the land animal treatment room, and the aquatic animal treatment room;

When the ranger brings the sick animal to the clinic you will be given the choice whether to attend to it or not. If attending, you will use 6 medical instruments to determine what is wrong. Sometimes the animal will be able to be treated and taken away, in which case you will be paid a small amount for the treatment, but mostly the animal will need to be admitted to the clinic for a day or more to be monitored and treated. Admitted animals need to monitored in hunger, hygiene, affection and play - these four elements affect how quickly they resume their health. You can pet the animal (affection); feed the animal (hunger); play 2 different games with the animal (play); and clean the animals enclosure (hygiene) - all using the stylus. When the number of days have passed and the animal is healthy enough, the ranger will come to collect it and pay you - usually several hundred pounds.

The game is a sims style game - the vet will lose fitness and energy, and so you will need to monitor her and grab some food from the fridge for energy, or sleep/sit to gain fitness. The in-game clock is not in real time - 1 second of realtime equals 1 minute of game time - also it only takes 20s or so for the vet to sleep for 8hrs, so the player can proceed through the game quickly. The tutorial and both modes of play can be personalised with the player's name, date of birth, place of birth and hospital name. The `Free game' also has 3 levels of difficulty which can be chosen before you begin play. There are 4 save slots and the game will also autosave after the vet has woken from an 8hr sleep.

An enjoyable game, with fairly decent graphics. Nice music and realistic animal sounds. No verbal instructions - everything has to be read. Plenty of good information in the 'books' you can purchase from the merchant about the animals and their environment. Suitable for any DS gamer from about 7yrs+.

This game is great for all ages. You start off as a vet making your animal centre and you only have one enclosure of your choice. But as you proceed through the game, you earn money from treating pets and gaining reputation so you can buy other enclosures for the animals the ranger brings you. There are 6 animals in this game: platypus, wombat, koala, kangaroo, seal and dolphin!
Many people will wonder what an Earth a platypus is. I did when I first saw it! But as well as treating, playing, feeding, cleaning and looking after the animals, you also get extra education. There are 3 books for each of the animals and also books about Australia and about the medical instruments. So when you purchase the platypus book, you will learn what it is, which is very helpful.
You can purchase so many different things: animal enclosures, expansions of your hospital, house and enclosures. You can even buy furniture for around your house, including things for your kitchen, living room, bedroom, bath room and reception area.
The game keeps you very occupied and is destined for long-term fun!
I'm really enjoying the game at the moment. The wombats and kangaroos are so cute, but I haven't bought the aquatic enclosure yet, which you have to purchase before the ranger can bring you dolphins and seals.
You also have to read at least one book about the animal, as well as buy the enclosure for it, before the ranger brings you that animal.
Just one thing, there is only a female vet, not a male. Although I don't know why because being a vet isn't exactly a feminist job! But anyway, that doesn't affect me as I am a girl!
Overall, I rate this game 5/5 because it is fun, educational, occupying and addicting! Heather x x x

I got this game because i was going on a long trip.
Its the best game ever! You get to look after your own animals and upgrade your home and buy new instruments. You get dolphins, seals, wombats,kangaroos, platypus's and koals!
I love it! Its very addictive and i recomend you buy it!