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Animal Paradise returns to DS

Sequel to last year's super cute 'big nose' game is announced

Animal Paradise returns to DS
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DS
| Animal Paradise 2

DS owners clearly love animals. Otherwise various publishers wouldn't be bombarding them with the likes of Zoo Tycoon 2, Dogz and The Sims 2 Apartment Pets.

Right, right?

You know what we're going to say now. Yes, another animal game is on its way. Courtesy of Empire Interactive, then, comes Animal Paradise 2 on DS. It's the follow-up to last year's pet sim Animal Paradise (pictured), which you might remember featured photographer Yoneo Morita's 'big nose' fisheye lens visuals, and it should be just what any self-respecting lover of all things cute and fluffy would want for their DS.

Somehow, the game plans to up the cuteness factor this time around, with more interactivity and more animals promised. It also features a completely new game structure to before, with an emphasis on developing and managing your park and animals to create the greatest animal park in the world.

Even better than the donkey sanctuary in Sidmouth? Apparently so.

A new reward system enables players to unlock new animals and areas and there will be new mini-games, too. There's also an encyclopaedia of animals included, which lists all the creatures the player has befriended and gives information on them and their real-life natural habitats.

If all this is sounding better than an Andrex puppy tied up in a big red ribbon and lying on a bed of kittens then you'll be wanting to know Animal Paradise 2's release date, which unfortunately is some way off on the horizon: spring 2009. Still, at least it gives you some pigs to look forward to petting at some point in the future. Whatever gets you through the day, right?

Kath Brice
Kath Brice
Kath gave up a job working with animals five years ago to join the world of video game journalism, which now sees her running our DS section. With so many male work colleagues, many have asked if she notices any difference.