Zhu Zhu Pets is a popular toy line of battery operated hamsters that roll, chatter, and scurry around little connected playsets. Recently they’ve expanded into other critters as well. Called the Wild Bunch, they include animals like a beaver, rabbit, skunk, and many more. Now your kids can go wild with two new Zhu Zhu Pets games featuring the Wild Bunch on Wii and DS.

In Zhu Zhu Pets Featuring the Wild Bunch on Wii, the hamsters have been challenged by the Wild Bunch in a game of tag, and they won’t take no for an answer. The Wild Bunch can be a little rambunctious, so the Zhu Zhu hamsters are going to have to give it their all to win!

The game plays like a lighthearted 2-D platform jumping adventure. First choose your favorite hamster from more than a dozen. Hold the Wii remote sideways as you make your little rodent run, jump, dash, and slide through various levels. Collect coins and stars to unlock power-ups and other goodies.

Carrots and other food are also strewn about the levels, and if you nab them you’ll fill up a dash meter. When you want to pop balloons or bash crates, you’ll need to dash into them. And if you see a Wild Bunch friend, dash to catch them before they run off.

To complete a stage, you must find a hidden key and then unlock a door. You’ll get a trophy based on how many stars you’ve collected and how many of the Wild Bunch you tagged. Sometimes your hamster will hop in a little car and challenge the Wild Bunch to a race to break up the action. With the coins you collect in the levels, you can buy power-ups like a spring for jumping super high.

Zhu Zhu Pets on the Wii is great for young gamers because there is no way to ‘die’ or lose in the levels, and the challenge level is very light. Best of all, another player can join in, so siblings and friends can play together. Reading skill is helpful for some of the text, but not required as everything is easy to figure out.

The DS Zhu Zhu Pets sequel is totally different than the Wii version, but plays similarly to the first DS game. The Zhu Zhu pets are on a treasure hunt, but the Wild Bunch claims that they will find the treasure first!

There are two parts to the game: Nurturing Mode and Adventure Mode. In Nurturing Mode, use the stylus to drag your hamsters to their food dish, water bowl, potty, and bedroom when they are hungry, thirsty, and sleepy. Or you can drag treats to your pets for a snack or a cuddle. It’s your job to keep your hamsters healthy and happy.

When your hamsters are ready for some action, take them out to Adventure Mode. In this mode, you control the hamster’s direction with the stylus, as you help them navigate around race track-like mazes. Collect coins, carrots, and other goodies to increase your score.

The Limited Edition version even comes with a real life Wild Bunch toy. Only problem is that the box that the game and toy come with doesn’t have a hard case for the DS game card, like other DS games do. So it’ll be a little tougher for your little ones to keep up with the cartridge if they’re used to putting them away in the hard cases.

While Zhu Zhu Pets on the DS may bore older kids and hardcore gamers, it’s perfect for very young fans. Controls are easy, challenge is light, and all the instructions are in spoken voice. Also, the hamsters will tell you what they need with pictures cues as well, so reading skill isn’t needed. Both Zhu Zhu Pets games are rated E for Everyone.

Tags: Game Reviews