The Strangest Game I've Ever Played | Petz Catz 2/ Petz Dogz 2 [Wii/PS2] Review (Part 1) | GhotiBowl

It's NOT a Pet-Raising Simulator? I've played through this game several times in the last two years, and the fact that it even exists STILL blows my mind. This really is the strangest game I've ever played!
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This is a comedy/review video on one of the oddest games I've ever played, Petz Catz 2/Petz Dogz 2 on the Wii and PS2. This game actually bears little resemblance to the Petz franchise, instead being an obscure Japanese game known as The Kitten and the Magic Hat/The Puppy and the Magic Hat, which was a sequel or spiritual successor to The Dog Island, rebranded as part of the Petz franchise for reasons no one will ever understand. In this game, the main character is tricked into giving an evil wolf named Ivlet the island's magic hat, an artifact that will allow him to rule the world, and so they must team up with a small fairy-like companion known as Beat to recover the hat and save the world.
This series has been a LONG time coming. I initially came up with concepts for review series as early as 2012, back when I started LPing. I didn't get serious about making one though until September of 2015, and since then I've had different drafts and scripts and prototypes created for what eventually became the GhotiBowl series. I actually was almost ready to release a video as early as March 2016! It was about 95% done when I had a change of heart about how I wanted the series to go causing me to restart it yet again! There were various setbacks along the way, such as data loss and lack of time and loss of motivation, but in the end I'm happy to finally upload the first episode. A huge weight has been lifted off my chest, and I can finally start the process of rebranding my entire KZbin Channel around this series! Don't worry, LPs won't go away any time soon, since they are super easy and fun to make, but I want the GhotiBowl to become the centerpiece of my channel.
I hope you all enjoy this video, and thank you all for your patience in waiting for this series to premiere!
Animation by Catatouille101: / catatouille101 , catatouille101.deviantart.com/
"MOTHERFUCKER" (Ivlet's Theme Remix) by SenseiJosh: / @senseijosh , / senseijosh
"Epic Theater Song" (GhotiBowl Main Theme) by BrokenOreo: / thecrushedoreo
Petz 5 footage by Holly Stockport/PoppityPingPlays: / channel
Petz 2 (PC, actually a Pet Raising Simulator) footage by Game Grumps: / gamegrumps
Petz Catz 2 by Yukes, published by Ubisoft (though I really doubt those guys want credit for this disaster).

[@bupcorn4136]

PETZ CATZ TWO WAS THE BEST GAME EVER

[@GhabulousGhoti]

If you say so :P

[@bupcorn4136]

Ghabulous Ghoti aha well i was like seven when i played it but i still loved it

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I feel ya. Nostalgia's a powerful thing.

[@megalonk._.9728]

It actually wasn’t bad

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I would respectfully disagree, per the reasons I go over in this video. But you are allowed to like it regardless.

[@aranara_song]

This is the game of my childhood, and idk I can't say bad things about it because I have so many wonderful memories with it even though I do recognize that it does have a lot of flaws.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I totally understand that sentiment. So long as you recognize flaws where they exist, I have no problem with you enjoying the game, especially nostalgically!

[@aranara_song]

Ghabulous Ghoti 😆😆 I remember I did get upset with all the back and forth, but I that definitely wasn't that bad since I was absolutely in love with the adventure!

[@shatteredprism]

Same here

[@blue.phoenix]

Same here actually! Me and my siblings still love it.

[@PhantomVoltia]

Petz Dogz 2 was my GAME back in the day. GOD, I wanna play it again.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Best of luck. It's one of those games that may be very nostalgic, but returning too probably wouldn't offer too much :(

[@charkie5830]

I’m 20 and started playing Dogz and Dogz 2 for GBA again last week (I used to play it as a kid and wanted the nostalgia lol) and it’s 100% just as good lol. It’s kind of boring since the gameplay doesn’t last long and there are lots of those virtual chores, but it holds up for wholesome fun.

[@Slose]

@@charkie5830, I agree for me it was catz though just had to set up the emulator, very easy controls on pc compared to Wii when i mapped them

[@meepmew-mostlydeadaccount-6795]

I STAYED UP REALLY LATE JUST TO REPLAY THE WHOLE GAME THAT 1 DAY!!!!

[@iamnotaduck8964]

same.

[@catmerchant8699]

I DIDN'T REALISE I WAS ALONE. I was a naive child thinking it was about raising cats! But actually it was about going on a quest to defeat an evil dog who stole a magic hat...? I think this misunderstanding can be blamed on the cover art of the disc. I have a feeling that the original Japanese release had a different cover art and it was remade for the English release, meaning that we were all mislead... anyway, an amazing game

[@catmerchant8699]

Didn't watch your video when j wrote this. But that's right. The Japanese version is different

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Yeah, as you've now seen the game was marketed better in Japan, but the American/PAL boxart was a blatant lie. Can't say I would call this game even remotely close to amazing :P

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Honestly, like half my problems with this game are just the way Ubisoft lies about it. If it were branded as an adventure game, while it'd still be a mess, it would be SO much less infuriating.

[@CharidemosGeorgiou]

Wow I remember having so much fun with this game, when I was little (about 5) it was my first ever proper console game although I had played other games on my ds. Looking back on it, nostalgia aside the game does mostly look really bad and most things that you have to do in the game just dont look fun, but at the time as a 5 year old I actually enjoyed it and this was the first game that made me really get into gaming in the first place so I appreciate the game for that. I’m not gonna lie I barely remember this game but what I do remember was having hours of great memories with this game playing it with my mum and brother.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with that! Believe me, I loved so many games as a kid that, looking back now, really weren't that good. I still like most of them nostalgically, even knowing they were lazy or unfinished or otherwise bad games. I say, as long as you are mature enough to acknowledge flaws where they exist, there's nothing wrong with being nostalgic for this game, as I'm sure many other people are.

[@NazoCrystal]

Dear god im lucky i had Petz Catz 2... the ONE game... I had the PS2 and now i REALLY want to get another copy (Still have THE SAME PS2 BTW) and play it... I had weird dreams about this game.. maybe more than once... *NOSTALGIA!!!*

[@GhabulousGhoti]

+CrisCoolNoob My animator is quite nostalgic for this game, too! If you need another copy, they go for around $3 on eBay.

[@NazoCrystal]

Huh. I never got that far... all i remember is digging up eggplants on a beach... and for some reason a cat going to Antartica or something.. also GREAT THING I HAD THE PS2 VERSION, because I could use the analog stick.. thank god for that analog stick... I didn't know there was a Wii version, and that it was so bad...

[@NazoCrystal]

I'm leaving the video half way in to avoid spoilers..

[@GhabulousGhoti]

+CrisCoolNoob Agreed completely on the controls, the lack of an analogue stick completely kills the game. I can't say that the story is spectacular, but I understand not wanting to be spoiled. Glad you enjoyed what you saw!

[@WhereIFall]

I loved this game as a kid! it really got me into adventure games like zelda! I'm an adult now and I find myself wanting to play again

[@GhabulousGhoti]

My girlfriend was in the same boat. This game transitioned her from stuff like Wii Sports into adventure games.

[@mirandaangel5630]

Honestly thought I was crazy when I remembered this game but I loved this game 😂

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Not as crazy as the people who actually directed this game :P

[@alywayart]

Hearing the music of this game after all those years fills me with such joy Then I get frustrated with the game. This is just one of those games you can love and hate at the same time

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I completely agree. I honestly really enjoy this game, but it's such a love-hate thing where this game also pisses me off with all the bullshit.

[@Catatouille101]

I used to love this game... and I'm very embarrassed by that. So excited for part 2! Also, THANK YOU for talking about the original Petz series! I will go to my grave saying that the Petz series used to be good!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Don't be embarrassed, we all grew up playing our fair share of shit. Believe me, not every game I liked as a kid was good, or even passable. But there comes an age when those mature enough to must look back without nostalgia, and realize that when they were younger, they really had no damn taste. I look forward to the days when I make GhotiBowl videos on the things I liked as a kid that have held up worse than I'd like to admit!

[@3awkwardequestrians692]

Not gonna lie I found this game amazing, and I still love it 😂 i got it for my birthday when I was like 5. I remember being horrified of the wolf, and my happiness when I beat the game for the first time c:

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. Tons of people still like this game. As long as you acknowledge its flaws where they exist, I have no problem with it!

[@FrogRemi33]

Hmm... your mother, Ione, has a confusing capital I too. I and other people have confused this with the letter L to make her name “Lone.” Didn’t think about that that could happen to Ivlet as well.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I actually always refer to her as "Lone" for that very reason. Surprised I didn't draw attention to that in this video.

[@fbidumbbee]

"okay this cat has a prison fetish" is a sentence i'd NEVER thought i'd hear

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Me either, but I'm glad I said it.

[@Sara3346]

Wolfquest had a decent sniffing mechanic but I think the developers actually cared about that game.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

The Dog Island (by the same developer as Petz Catz 2) also had a way better sniffing mechanic than this game, but that's because the developers actually tried in that project.

[@pauqi9815]

i’ve been trying to find this game for the past couple hours, because i got a sudden flashback of playing this game many many years ago when it came out. first i found ”the dog island” on google, but noticed that the gameplay wasn’t right. so i got confused and finally found this game. AND I’M SO GLAD SOMEONE MADE A GAMEPLAY OF THIS. thank you so much, have a sweet subscribe.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

This isn't really much of a gameplay video, but I'm glad you enjoyed anyways :P

[@vanessamaybevanesa]

*mY chILDhOod iS ReBoRN*

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@keeley7528]

the dog version of this game was my whole childhood i even went and did the side quest and caught the rare rainbow trout in the icey area once i finished the story 💀

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I recently was part of a 100% run of this game, where it took about 10 hours to grind through all the items and fish. That was rough! :P

[@meepmew-mostlydeadaccount-6795]

I never did... IT'S BEEN YEARS.

[@WRobin-uh5hx]

​@Ghabulous Ghoti It took me on and off 2 years to find the gar and complete the game, as I had tried fishing in the little ice pool for well over an hour, found nothing, and fished in the large one blocked by the ice cube. Only a few months ago did I finally find a site on google saying it was in the little pool. Took me 20 minutes and I found it. I was PISSED

[@TomIannucci22]

That was really funny! And you illustrate the points so accurately. And the music at 27:14 was hilarious.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Why, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed! That music would be the Yakety Sax, better known as the Benny Hill Theme, quite a classic as far as comedy music goes.

[@BarsofMars]

This game is my guilty pleasure XD

[@GhabulousGhoti]

TBH mine too :P

[@BarsofMars]

Thanks for the heart! I really love Polar Fields, and the soundtrack is amazing. I was actually planning on making an animated series or comic based off this game, using the characters and areas, but a different story :p

[@GhabulousGhoti]

An animated parody would be a good idea. The game gives you more than enough weird characters to work with :P

[@BarsofMars]

By the way, Merry Christmas! 🎄

[@GhabulousGhoti]

To you as well!

[@spaceycowboy4514]

at the very end of the game after you beat ivlet there's never a scene where they let victor out of jail and when i was a kid i used to cry about it because i thought victor had to stay in jail forever

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Don't worry, Victor likes it in jail!

[@lulu-anidiot9411]

How have I just found your channel? I love it! I’m replaying this game of my childhood now- it does not hold up graphics-wise but my nostalgia still holds! I love this game still! I’m watching your let’s play of it too and others!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Nostalgia is just as valid a reason as any to like a game. And for all this game's faults, I find it kind of charming too. Glad you enjoyed this review, and I hope you enjoy the LP!

[@alexbenavidez4500]

Played this game when I was stuck at home after having my tonsils out as a kid It was so dumb and cringey at times, but I played the whole thing and completed it, and then spent fucking HOURS fishing for that one legend fish in the ice level I never caught it in the end. I love how Dogz is the exact same game, but obviously with dogs instead My biggest annoyance with the game stupidity though, is the scene at the start with your friend demanding to be swapped I'm jail for you Because both cats are fucking small enough to just walk through the damn bars and out the door. They wish not to, so they don't get in trouble But this essentially just turned a prison cell into a naughty step or time-out lmao Most epic final boss battle in history. Throw three stones at a wolf in a hat and you've won the game. Incredible.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

That stupid ice fish is one of the most poorly thought out side quests in any game I've ever played.

[@toddhoward5749]

I still love this game for nostalgia's sake but this was a really well made video. Made me lol. Good job dude

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed! Despite my criticisms, I actually really enjoy this game. I find it very charming. In fact, I was actually holding a copy as I saw your comment just now, 'cause I'm planning to play it again tomorrow (first time since I made this review, actually). There's a second part to the review if you haven't seen it yet. Either way though, thanks for your kind words!

[@SenseiJosh]

Your hard work really shows on this project dude. I loved it! So many killer jokes in the script that made me laugh out loud. And the animations are great too. I know these videos are a lot of work, but I'd love to see more. They are extremely entertaining and rewatchable. Great job! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WE GOT TO HAVE.... MOOOOOONEY.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Thank you! I'd love to get more up soon, but I spent like 30 hours in a period of about 4 days just editing this video, so I'd like to take a week off before part 2 comes up!

[@abetteryoutubehandle]

This is embarrassing. Knowing that I am not exactly a game enthusiast, nor at the right age to be looking at Petz Catz 2. With how obscure the game itself is, I think it's evident that I searched specifically for it. Shameful. But nevertheless, I wanted to point out that a lot of RPG games are similar to the Legend Of Zelda. Thus, I think that most of these similarities aren't directly related. Though, they are really similar, not any coincidence there. Another thing, the metal cover of Ivlet's theme works surprisingly well, but despite the links provided on SenseiJosh, I still couldn't find it. Mind helping me? Please, do not look down on me.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

+Yaoi Oppai No need for shame (and I'd never look down on you!) Everyone was a kid once, and I'm sure that everyone (myself included) is nostalgic for shitty games (or movies or TV or whatever kids are into these days). I see what you are saying about similarities in tropes, but I do feel some concepts were just a little too close fo not have been influenced by Zelda in some way. As for the metal cover, it is available on Josh's Soundcloud under the title "Motherfucker" (which is the official name of the remix). The song is used in its entirety in part 2 of the review as well. Here is a link: m.soundcloud.com/senseijosh/the-strangest-game-ive-ever-played If you'd like a download, let me know and I'll ask Josh about it.

[@ChaoticMushy]

The game is called Catz in my country, I don't even know what Petz even is. Also from the font, I always read Ione as Lone, not I-on. I also played on the PS2 which means I never had to deal with the difficulties of motion controls...

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Yeah, the game is called just Catz or Dogz in PAL countries. I'd still consider the PS2 version to be quite lacking, but it's significantly more playable than the Wii version where the control scheme is absolutely baffling.

[@ChaoticMushy]

@@GhabulousGhoti What's mostly lacking in the PS2 version is mostly the graphics, it's really hard to identify icons and stuff and as soon as the disc gets a minor scratch, the game kinda just gives up. It's pretty annoying but it's playable.

[@tnewm39]

i loved everything about this game. the mini games with the zoo animals, the fishing and filling up your aquarium, THE MUSIC!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I never thought I'd meet someone who liked the fishing in this game :P

[@NightimeDemon]

Petz Catz/Dogz 2 games on the Wii and PS2 were actually pretty cool with great music. I was pleasantly surprised as a kid back in the day. They are similar to The Dog Island, which is also worth a playthrough. Plus the boss music is badass.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I've played The Dog Island, I think it's a much better game than this but I still wouldn't call it good. Felt like genuine effort but by an amateur team.

[@NightimeDemon]

@@GhabulousGhoti That's fair. Dog Island definitely does this particular style of adventure game better than these Petz games. I wouldn't mind seeing a game that is kinda like it again but with the kinks worked out. Maybe some quality of life improvements and new stuff to do. Dog Island isn't fresh in my memory, so I can't point to anything specific. It's been a long time since I've played it or saw any gameplay footage.

[@cy4391]

I played this game as a kid. Thanks for making this video. It made me laugh at the game at points

[@GhabulousGhoti]

This game is certainly amusing :P

[@getalife214]

I have a bunch of old Wii games that I've been going back to play recently purely due to the nostalgia. I don't care how bad this game is, my previously established emotional attachment to it is enough to love it. I vividly remember parts of this game actually being *scary* to me because of how young I was when I first played it. This video gave an interesting perspective that I would've never seen (besides the game having too much running around) and it's great. Died when I saw "Orchestra Insect (Male)"

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I totally understand that. Nostalgia is a really powerful thing and I would never want to take that from you. Glad you enjoyed the video regardless!

[@getalife214]

Nostalgia can also ruin the fun of a game. I played pokepark again despite loving it as a kid and holy shit the game is cheesy. The entire game is centered around "making friends and working together" in such a way that it seems like a child wrote it. I would've never known it sucks if nostalgia didn't bring me to play it. Not to mention you are forced to do these time-wasting minigames with no substance over and over just to progress. "You can't go this way unless you beat me in a battle." Pretty much means "press the attack button a few times"

[@GhabulousGhoti]

There are a number of games I kind of wish I didn't revist because of stuff like that. Oh well, I suppose it was bound to happen eventually.

[@WRobin-uh5hx]

Oh my god, I was what, five, when I played it for the first time. The orchestra insect male task scared the crap out of me 😩

[@PizzablastCeo]

I got introduced to the game when I was young and watching my uncle play, I was so fascinated by the game.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I've played this game many times and it still fascinates me.

[@GrizaCat]

I randomly stumbled upon this and I'm not complaining. I ADORED this game as a kid and I still quite like it but I really like seeing a complete opposite opinion on it.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Hey, all I ask for is that you be respectful. Thank you for your maturity, and I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@MeMe-ts1dt]

That music at the end was way more epic than the original one😂😂

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Thanks! That remix was written by SenseiJosh, who's worked with the channel a few times in the past. He's a damn good musician.

[@MeMe-ts1dt]

Ghabulous Ghoti sweet I’ll check out his channel

[@Psychochotics]

My mechanic has a cat. It's one of those big ol' smokey cats. It just roams around the shop and sits in your lap. It's a good cat. Kinda sucks for anyone who needs an oil change that's allergic to cats.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

As someone with a bad cat allergy, I completely understand. This game probably made my allergy worse though!

[@savage7882]

I got this game for free from a friend at elementary school, they got it as a gift but they didnt have a wii. I booted it up expecting to see the Nintendogs game but with cats, and my reaction to the start of the game was literally identical to this one here lol. It didnt bother me afterwards though, game might be a bit off but to me it was a fun little wholesome world to explore, escapism.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I can see that. Despite my many issues with this game, I could see myself enjoying it as a kid.

[@kupkakes3866]

I mean, if you've never played this game before and play it at a certain age, you'll find it weird. You actually appreciate it when you first played it as a child. I played it when I was like maybe 7 or 8, I'm 17 now and still love it :3 The music is one of the best parts of this game too

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I'd present the argument that's simply because children don't really have standards, and that nostalgia's a powerful emotion. I don't think games like this are inherently bad, but this particular game is rather lazy and unpolished IMO.

[@Knura]

i played dogz 2 so many times when i was youngerr thanks to this vid i bought myself another copy in a second hand store and maaaaan for a kids game it actually plays rllyyy nice

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I'd say that's nostalgia talking. As far as kids games goes I'd put this as one of the worst I've played.

[@emilyjohn5598]

Catz 2 is exactly the same as dogz, I have it. It has the same charachters same story same music even same outfits, the whole thing is just a replica but with dogs. How lazy is that lol

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Agreed. It's stuff like this that makes me disagree when people say I'm being too "harsh" on the game. Sure, it's a low-budget kid's game, but it's also a rather lazy effortless one designed to scam kids out of $50. It's the same reason the box lies to you about it being a pet-raising simulator.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

@Olivia V. Mostly because Ubisoft doesn't actually give a shit about the quality of their published games :(

[@SixxIsTheMagicNumber]

Wow! I spent so much time on this tedious game as a kid. I had the gamecube version, so the controls were slightly more tolerable, but all of that back and forth and the useless tasks. i forgot just how frustrating it got. Yet, I still liked playing it for some reason! And man, I haven't thought about the original Petz games in a long time. I think I owned Catz 3, and the breeding mechanics were really intricate for some reason from what I remember? And when I got this game as a kid I thought it would be similar and I was pretty peeved when I found out it was nothing like the other petz games lol.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Most people have lower standards when they're young, hence why you probably didn't mind the tediousness. I actually haven't played the original Petz games, but I've heard and seen that they are far more intricate than the modern Petz games that most people know of. What annoys me isn't just how this game is nothing like the other Petz games, but how this game is advertised JUST like the others! Talk about false advertisement!

[@SixxIsTheMagicNumber]

Yeah, the game I had was actually super fun to play, and there was a lot of different game mechanics. I wish I could play it again now just to see if its really as good as my nostalgia wants me to believe it was. It really was some crazy false advertisement!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

At the very least, I think the original Petz games would hold up a lot better than this one, even if they aren't quite as good as you remember. But again, from what I've seen, they look solid.

[@NitroIndigo]

There was a GameCube version?

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I don't believe there was. Either Sixx here was mistaken, or had a super rare magic GameCube copy :P

[@messertk]

Petz dogz 2 was my favourite game growing up, me and my sister would play it on ps2 non stop.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

This game was surprisingly common in childhoods, it would seem.

[@MurderCrypt]

Broooo this game was my whole childhood. I remember being so scared of the part where ivlet destroyed the town and the part where the cat goes to jail. I also hated beat with a burning passion lol. Good review!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Glad you enjoyed! I have no idea why the town's destruction is so violent in comparison to the rest of the game.

[@MurderCrypt]

@@GhabulousGhoti neither did I, 5 year old me was terrified though.

[@LarkspurYT]

Dude, as a 15 yr kid I finished this game like, 3 times in a row because I enjoyed it too much. I bought it expecting it to be a pet raising simulator, but was given something SO much better. After watching this video I’m just now realizing all the flaws, but when I played it in the past all I saw was perfection. After I finished the game multiple times I went out and bought Petz Dogz, and….. uh, I was completely disappointed because it was the same EXACT game, but dogs instead of cats. All that aside, I actually enjoyed this game A LOT. I was glad to see a video that covers it though. Also, I wish there was a mobile version 👌

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Sometimes it's fun to laugh at the oddities we grew up playing, though I'd be lying if I said I don't have fun with this game and replay it every once in a while :P

[@meepmew-mostlydeadaccount-6795]

I thought it said Elvet... my childhood is ruined...

[@GhabulousGhoti]

:(

[@meepmew-mostlydeadaccount-6795]

@@GhabulousGhoti :(

[@kailey6851]

I’ve been looking for this game forever and after finding a random screenshot of the game on Twitter I found this video and my little 6/7 year old heart is so happy

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@BingusDev123]

This game was a huge nostalgic piece in my childhood

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I totally get that, nostalgia's a powerful thing.

[@acesomeji5099]

Are you planning to make more videos like this? This is so well made and entertaining.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I am, don't worry! These take a lot of time to make though. I'm like 75% done the next one, which I'm hoping will be up in the next few weeks. Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@Maruhodo]

Goddamn i was such an innocent little kid back then i loved this game so much

[@GhabulousGhoti]

We were all innocent once. Innocent and susceptible to false advertising :P

[@mooonmoon]

This game has such a good ost that I can't hate it. I'll boot it up just to walk around and listen lol.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

The OST's kinda generic IMO, but I know from experience that music can be one of the most nostalgic parts of a game.

[@dphmachine6276]

My sister got this for Christmas one year after we got a Wii. I must've been 13 at the time, maybe younger. Anyway she liked the PC pet simulator games so they got her this one. When we found out it was an RPG she didn't really play it. Ironically I was interested and played through the whole thing. All I remember is the boss battle was kinda cool, the quests going from place to place were tedious, and my dad saying "why is the wolf always the bad guy?" I had a little fun with it actually I'm deeply considering doing a let's play of it soon since it's such a weird game to do a video series on. Hacked ps3 and rca capture card, probably not going to be the best video. Unless I buy a good capture card then it'll be still bad

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I actually do think parts of this game are fun, if not just for how weird and absurd they are. Katie (the channel artist) and I are considering doing an LP of the game sometime this spring if we have time. Best of luck on your series!

[@meow4kitkat]

May I ask how you were able to run this game and where you downloaded? I haven't had any luck in running it ;A;

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I was using an original disc on an original console for 99% of this video. There's a shot or two from Dolphin but I dumped the game myself, so I'm didn't actually download it from anywhere :(

[@meow4kitkat]

@@GhabulousGhoti DaNGIT thank you anyway :"(

[@Wolfdog2416]

I was wondering why this game was so similar to THE DOG Island! Great video btw.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Glad to have helped clear it up! Between the two, while I wouldn't call The Dog Island a masterpiece, I think it had considerably more effort and care put into the game, resulting in a much more charming experience despite its flaws IMO. Glad you enjoyed the video! I uploaded a second part where I cover the second half of the game if you're interested.

[@Wolfdog2416]

@@GhabulousGhoti I'll check it out! I also found The Dog Island to be a cute and fun game with a surprisingly good story. I've played both games and I have to say I like The Dog Island more.

[@yunagamerz7336]

Honestly.. I loved this game as a child and played it again today and I still loved it. It's one of my favorite games and honestly I think it's actually a pretty enjoyable game.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I think that nostalgia's probably a big part of that, but who am I to stop you?

[@yunagamerz7336]

@@GhabulousGhoti Umm, maybe? for me I still genuinely enjoyed playing it. The tasks and everything. It's fine if it's not your taste but apparently my taste of games also includes this one.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

@@yunagamerz7336 That is fair too. I certainly don't see it at all, but again, I won't stop you from enjoying it if you do.

[@rowdyrepatillo3036]

I remember when I got to the cops and robbers part, I didn’t even chase whatever his name was in the dogs one- I explored and fought animals. I never progressed. But 4 year old me didn’t care, it was the best.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I feel that. It took me years to beat games because I never progressed in them.

[@camo2156]

This game was my childhood haha!! Upon replaying it years later, I definitely see its flaws- but honestly I did enjoy the play through even if it was just due to nostalgia lol The one thing I will argue for is this games soundtrack- honestly surprisingly good for what this game is in my opinion

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Nostalgia is a powerful thing, I can't fault anyone for that. Heck, I even enjoy this game, in a very ironic sort of way. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@peanut_butter_wizard1213]

I remember this game! The dog version was my first actual adventure video game (my mom thought, and still thinks that videos games are evil, so when my dad finally talked her into getting a Wii for our family we only had Mario kart, Mario party, and a High School Musical 2 karaoke game. We didn't even buy this game, I had a friend who didn't like this game and gave it to me bc she played it for ten minutes and didn't like it), and I've still got some fond memories of playing it with my younger siblings. Although, I remember being kinda salty that I couldn't actually use the magic hat after beating the game.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Lol, there's a lot I don't like about this game, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it evil :P Glad your mom eventually came around and let you play video games, it's always crazy to me to see some people so against them!

[@MegaMaxsteal]

I remembered this game and it sure was weird to learn it was an adventure. The game was bought from my older sister but I also got to play it.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Yeah, this game presents itself like a pet-raising sim. That's actually a big part of my problem with the game.

[@ordovicianinnova]

I actually liked this game, sure it wasn't what I expected, but since I like world building/adventure games and both cats and dogs this game actually brings Ina sense of nostalgia towards me. I remember playing this with my friends on a Wii back in the late 2000s - Early 2010s, back when we uploaded playthroughs to our own channel (inactive as of now).

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I can totally see that. I just wish the devs cared about this game as much as the kids who played it :(

[@moosey946]

Ik I'm late but... omg my childhoood! I was so afraid to actually finish it though but I can see why you feel that way about the game, when I was younger I didn't really care what I played but now I would never be able to pick it up cause it would be soooo boring. edit: oh, and it would hurt my damn arms!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

One very unfortunate part of growing up is finding that our childhood games don't hold up as well as we remember :(

[@goldenfire8117]

I’ve just been looking at random games from my childhood and remember playing Dogz 2 and taking a stool from the kitchen so I could actually move. Also I memorized where every item usually spawned.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Lol, how'd you use the stool to move? :P

[@goldenfire8117]

lol so that the tv would actually see me because I was short

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Ah, big RIP. Too bad this game couldn't use an analogue stick :P

[@goldenfire8117]

Yah

[@CheesyLizzy]

When I was 8 I loved this game to death, I tried to replay through the campaign as each cat because I felt bad that out of all the breeds only one would get attention, I think I only managed to get around to playing 8 different cats though 😆

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Jeeze, I can't imagine doing that many playthroughs :P

[@beepbopboop1603]

Okay this game might be really shitty, but it's also one of my FAVOURITE childhood games and I still go back and play it a whole lot. I love it with all of my heart

[@GhabulousGhoti]

That's completely fair, we all grew up playing some shitty games and being nostalgic for them isn't hurting anyone.

[@princessk5343]

I remember when I was a kid I thought this was gonna be a cute game about raising cats and then I got to the defeating the wolf part and cried my eyes out 🤣

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Aw :( This game fooled a lot of people with its blatant false advertising.

[@alvarochaves1999]

In Japan, these games are called 'Nyanko to Mahou no Boushi' and 'Wanko to Mahou no Boushi' respectively.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Yep, which I believe translates to "The Kitten/Puppy and the Magic Hat".

[@nightdrago9893]

Not everyone has a nunchuck, so I think it's clever

[@GhabulousGhoti]

First off, that's no excuse to not have the option. Secondly, the remote has a D-pad built in. Third, the majority of Wii consoles came with Nunchucks (though I do agree that all of them should have). Fourth, pretty much every game worth playing on Wii requires a Nunchuck. Fifth, even if the Nunchuck didn't exist, I'd still criticize the control scheme for being unintuitive and providing the player with zero physical feedback (in that case though, the criticism would likely extend to the bulk of the Wii's library and not just this game. But that's not the case because the Nunchuck DOES exist, and either way the control scheme is ridiculous).

[@Gkjhtdhfhdhf]

One of the things that has really bothered be about this game is how it would teleport you when you complete a task. It can be helpful when you are far away from who you’re trying to help, but a lot of the time it would teleport you at the most inconvenient times. I remember having to do two tasks at once when they both needed something from one place. I found one thing from a place and it teleports me back to the character that needs help. And the most annoying part is that I needed to go to the exact place I needed to be for another character again. So I had to go back and forth. One of the things that I would do is I would explore around and find different things before I need to do the task, because it annoyingly teleports you back. That was something I wanted to point out. I do have a lot of wonderful memories from this game during my childhood. I never noticed how many flaws there were until I played this again last night. It took me a while to realize that this game seemed so rushed because I loved this game as a child. I’ve actually watched a gameplay of the dog island recently, and I’ve definitely noticed that they’ve spent a lot more time on dog island than this game. I’m planing on buying it off of eBay so I can play it.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I would say that The Dog Island is a much better game than this, though it does share a lot of the same problems. At the very least, it feels like the team actually tried to make The Dog Island something good and just failed due to lack of experience, instead of... whatever this game is, where it seems like no one working on it tried at all. The tedious back-and-forth does plague The Dog Island as well, but as a whole the game is better thought out IMO.

[@Gkjhtdhfhdhf]

Ghabulous Ghoti yeah I agree

[@michaelgarcia1508]

I remember this game when I was a kid and getting scared for no damn reason. first I get scared of every single animal in the game. Except for snake because they are everywhere in the game. I even got scared when I do this one mission where I have to sneak behind a sleeping bear and then scream and cry like a 2 year old. I even get scared of the game over screen. Idk why but I just get scared of the damn music like it's just some creepy horror music. And the one thing that makes me mad was that I don't believe in the save file. I just play the game and then have to start from the beginning. I was said "save? Why would I need to save? I can make it through the hole game" *(I'm such a cry baby when I was a kid)* -_-

[@humblebee7205]

11:31 It's a very special kind of music. It's a mixture of jazz and funk. It's called junk!

[@Minguston]

I loved playing this game as a kid! It was my life as a child!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

It was my girlfriend's childhood too. Quite a... Unique game.

[@Minguston]

@@GhabulousGhoti yes

[@liamoleary8844]

I used to play this when I was little still like it

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I feel ya. Nostalgia's a powerful thing.

[@AllyBarkin]

I can’t find the outro music D: I will say though I’m glad someone’s actually talking about this game. I thought I was the only one who remembered it!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I believe the title of that remix is "Motherfucker", done by SenseiJosh.

[@adelaide428]

You have a lot of good points, however, I played the dog version of this as a kid after playing many games such as Ocarina of Time and I still loved this game!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Nostalgia's a powerful thing. So long as you acknowledge the problems with this game, I have no issue with you enjoying it.

[@adelaide428]

@@GhabulousGhoti yeah, I did hate a lot of the controls but I accepted the flaws because I loved the story and music...and the dogs

[@itsnotelsie3092]

i got the dog version of this game at a yardsale when i was little and it was and still is so dear to me

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I'd like to own the dog version too one day

[@littlebadwolf8129]

How dores one use the healing items? I go into the inventory and push select on the item I need but it doesn't do anything. Yet no button uses them on the game screen either.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Click it with the A Button on Wii and presumably the X Button on PS2. The same way you open submenus in the menu. The Select Button really doesn't do anything in pretty much any game.

[@littlebadwolf8129]

I know, the X is what I've pressed. It even says that's the selecting button on the screen, but it only makes a musical sound effect. The healing item's number doesn't decrease, and my health does not improve. So I was wondering if there was some needlessly complicated way to use them? Or is it possible that the healing item list menu is somehow broken? Because all other menus I have tried work just fine. For one I was able to select and buy a hat for my cat just fine.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

If that didn't work then it might be a bug. The game's programmed like shit.

[@littlebadwolf8129]

I realised that the healing items selection does work. It was just the antidote that doesn't. I thought it should be used for the snake bites but it won't so I suppose it's meant for that swamp section. So I guess at least that's not bugged. I haven't come across any bugs yet then. Perhaps the PS2 version is less buggy than the Wii version.

[@kylermayo1391]

This game is so weird now that I think about it, but it was totally normal to me when I was younger. Also it took me so long to find what the name of this game was...🗿

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I get you, I probably wouldn't have thought much of it as a kid. What makes this game difficult to find is that the title Petz Catz 2 is a completely unrelated game on every other platform, whereas there really isn't a Petz Catz 1 to correspond with... Whatever this is. More confusing is that the PAL release is just titled Catz (or Dogz if you've got the dog version), without a mention of the Petz brand anywhere despite using the same cover. This is a mess, they should've just stuck to the original Japanese title and box art, back when it was called The Kitten and the Magic Hat.

[@randalfthewizard6446]

I think I had both Petz Catz 2 and Petz Dogz 2, but my siblings and I only really played Catz and I played up until I got stuck at the volcano section. Kind of want to see if I can find an emulator for the ps2 version...

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I'd advise the Wii version, since the Dolphin emulator runs significantly better than PCSX2 in my experience. You can bind the cursor to the computer mouse - the controls will still be ass but it's a million times better than using a Wii remote.

[@somniscientblue]

The difference between the dog and the cat versions is the animals (dogs or cats) and the treats you make. (Spoiler warning) Example: You have to hand out donuts in Catz, but cookies in Dogz You make a homemade apple pie in Dogz, but cherry in Catz!

[@GhabulousGhoti]

That's still not enough to justify them being separate games. They could've easily both fit on the same disc.

[@somniscientblue]

@@GhabulousGhoti you give a good point

[@jayleebraly212]

Yooo I had the Dog version but this game was my shit when I was like 9 and under omg. I remember not being able to read yet and making my dad sit there and read to me what they were saying. The music brings back memories :’)

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I had similar experiences with other games as a kid, used to have my dad read the text boxes to me all the time when I was like 5ish.

[@its_not_magic9864]

Petz Dogz 2 was my childhood basically.....

[@GhabulousGhoti]

It was surprisingly common as a childhood game for whatever reason.

[@evaundertale2247]

The Nostalgia The Nostalgia I played the dog version because I had the PS2 but i could have played cat version I don't remember but God I feel old

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Both the Cat and Dog version were available on both consoles.

[@evaundertale2247]

@@GhabulousGhoti oof

[@evaundertale2247]

@@GhabulousGhoti then I just didn't have it or could find it

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Kind of silly that Cats and Dogs couldn't both be available on the same disc IMO :P

[@evaundertale2247]

@@GhabulousGhoti true

[@scarletscythe1351]

I went through this game again on Dolphin and even now it's still pretty fun. It's got some pretty obvious flaws, but I still love it to death. The fishing on Dolphin is horrible though, I'm literally going to go crazy when I go for that rainbow fish.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I actually enjoy playing it too, and still replay it every so often. I'm just baffled by some parts in this game and wanted to share it with the world.

[@scarletscythe1351]

@@GhabulousGhoti Yeah that's fine, it's a good game for some more relaxed fun and for messing about, and the Wii version honestly is a LOT better played on Dolphin since using a mouse makes controlling your cat really great in my opinion, I find it better this way over an analog and if you put your pointer at the very top you run faster than you could on the PS2 version, which lets you skip up enemies a lot easier too. The only issue with a higher res though is the sun for some reason murders the framerate, which is a shame.

[@rowdyrepatillo3036]

I would legit buy petz dogz 2 if it got uploaded on Nintendo Switch. I loved battling the bears in the forest. It was awesome.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

It likely never will since the game is obscure af and the devs likely don't care too much about it given the quality of the game.

[@bellabean1215]

THIS GAME WAS MY CHILDHOOD HOLY SHIT I PLAYED THIS SO MUCH

[@GhabulousGhoti]

This appears to have been a surprisingly common childhood game.

[@NitroIndigo]

That Amazon description sounds like the DS version of Catz 2.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Or the PC version. Though Amazon doesn't write the descriptions, they're sent by the publisher in a press release. And the game box is also pretty misleading, IMO.

[@NitroIndigo]

@@GhabulousGhoti I've never played these WiiS2 games, but I always found the synopsis on the backs of the boxes oddly-worded, specially the parts where they list dangerous and friendly animals. I also played a lot of Ubisoft shovelware games as a kid.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I'm under the impression that the Ubisoft Petz games (not the OG Petz series by PF Magic) are a bunch of unrelated games in Japan that are all localized under the Petz name for some odd reason. That would explain a lot of these oddities.

[@NitroIndigo]

I'm currently doing a let's play of THE DOG Island. I knew that Dogz/Catz 2 existed for years, but I didn't realise how similar all three games are until a few days ago. Maybe it's just my nostalgia talking, but this looks like a stiffer-animated version of THE DOG Island with none of the sentimentality.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I wouldn't call The Dog Island particularly great, but it's miles above this trash IMO. The Dog Island at least tried to be a decent game, even if it had some questionable design choices.

[@NitroIndigo]

@@GhabulousGhoti One of the reasons why I'm enjoying let's playing THE DOG Island is because I wasn't influenced by other people's opinions (I've seen fans of that game, but not for a long time), and I was worried that watching this would make me less enthusiastic about it by proxy. I'm glad you're not entirely negative. I know this is really minor, but the user interface in THE DOG Island looks much sleeker. This feels odd because it would have been so easy to reuse assets from THE DOG Island... but all the models are slightly different.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I hope I don't come off too negative! I actually really like Catz here, in a strange sort of way. It's charmingly bad, IMO, and I game I enjoy replaying from time to time. I wish you the best of luck on your Dog Island LP!

[@DalmationProductions]

You know as a kid I never understood why they went with the Petz title either since it had nothing to with the Petz series and when I first played it on my Wii (I had the Dogz version in this case) I knew from the start it wasn't a pet raising simulator and instead a adventure game Really wish they could've went with the appropriate name that was released only in Japan

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Yeah, that alone would have significantly improved my opinion of the game.

[@DalmationProductions]

​​​@@GhabulousGhotiAlso I agree with what you said about the controls As a kid I hated the controls too especially for the Wii version given that sometimes the cursor becomes unresponsive now I can see why the PS2 version was the better version because it had a better control scheme

[@GhabulousGhoti]

@@DalmationProductions For sure, the control scheme is by far the most baffling part of this game to me. I don't know what they were thinking.

[@DalmationProductions]

@@GhabulousGhoti Couldn't agree more I don't even know why Ubisoft chose Yukes to develop it like have they ever seen the Petz series before I don't think so and probably the most inexperienced developer I have ever seen like they could've had a Ubisoft studio develop it and would've been better from there Then again this is why they should've kept the name The Kitten and the Magic Hat or The Puppy and the Magic Hat when they released it worldwide not sure why they thought the name "Petz" would get people's attention and even lie about it being a pet raising simulator on the back of the cover

[@DalmationProductions]

@@GhabulousGhoti and ngl I loved this game as a kid but for some reason looking back at it now as an adult I can definitely see why it was badly developed

[@Angeleg121]

This is interesting...the closest game I've played to this would be Dogz for the GBA, whih isn't related to Petz. The original (in Japan) was apparently Kawaii Koinu: Wonderful (Cute Puppy: Wonderful). Weird. But that was a pet raising sim.......where you raised your puppy for like a month and then you had a cutscene about how well you raised your puppy determining the ending.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Odd that a game not related to Petz is actually closer to Petz than this is. Also odd that it's "Dogz" with a "z" like a Petz game. Glad to see that you are still alive!

[@SKYGAZE]

My Childhood game! ;)

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Certainly an interesting game to start on :P

[@oniisnotanartist9560]

I love this game so much both of them

[@GhabulousGhoti]

That's fair, nothing wrong with that.

[@YonderYoshi]

I played this game on the Wii when I was 12 years old. I was extremely bored and since I had a softmodded Wii with a billions of games on external, I decided to say "fuck it" and chose this game. I was totally fucking surprised! I did complete most of the game but never really got to beat it. Which is sad. I need to get back to playing it.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

If you want to. I feel there are much better games to play on the Wii though.

[@YonderYoshi]

@@GhabulousGhoti Yes, there are a bunch of hidden gems on the Wii. I know its mostly nostalgia talking. Thanks for reviewing this game though. Even with its flaws, it really blowed my expectations away of being another shovelware game, aside it being a ripoff.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I don't blame you. Everyone's nostalgic for their fair share of games that don't hold up particularly well (I know I sure as hell am!) I'm glad you enjoyed the review. Despite my criticisms, I'm happy I have experienced this game, even if just for how bizarre it is :P

[@spaceycowboy4514]

PETZ CATZ 2 WAS MY FAVOURITE GAME I WOULD PLAY IT EVERYDAY

[@GhabulousGhoti]

This game was surprisingly common, I'm amazed at how many people knew it existed.

[@greekfreak1436]

My entire childhood

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Oof :P

[@CheezandCrakas]

this game was my childhood

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Sorry to hear that :P

[@incrediblenyan1.]

This game was my childhood

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Yours and many other's.

[@gh0stqu4rtz]

awww i had so much fun playing this game as an 8 year old

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I could see myself enjoying this a lot if I were 8 too, kids tend to not really have standards :(

[@TamsmitSam]

Petz dogz 2 is the best, worst game to ever exist

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I can fully agree with that. It's awful in the most charming way.

[@Tr1Dylan]

Honestly my parents got this for my sister, I saw it one time and played it. I never read what it was, and it was awesome. I showed her it and she loved it to. This game is truly one of the best I’ve ever played, you can disagree but I find getting everything more fun then ending the game. So that’s what I do. I started playing it again today, and it was still just as great. I think the beginning is a little tedious, but I always have thought that. The game has great development and does not feel like a rip off, as I never even liked Any Zelda game.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

That is all fair, but I'd like you to consider the possibility that nostalgia is a huge part of your love of the game. Also, I can see when you're liking your own comments :/

[@Tr1Dylan]

I thought everyone likes their own comments 👀

[@GhabulousGhoti]

Nah, that's only something I've seen kids do. It's kinda cringe so I tend to call it out :/

[@jamie4275]

@@GhabulousGhoti you don’t have to call someone cringe for liking their own comment... literally who cares lmao

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I cringe because it looks dumb. It's something kids do to try to make their comments look more popular. It's just kinda stupid.

[@royalzip3075]

This game was a part of my childhood

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I'm surprised as ever to see how many people actually played this game.

[@royalzip3075]

@@GhabulousGhoti I think that unlike the newer gen consoles, part of having a PS2 was having a vast collection of games coz they were cheap and easily pirated. So aside from the usual tekken, tony hawk, gta games, I have spent my fair share of time for unpopular games

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I feel that. The 6th gen had an insane amount of variety, and every kid had a mixture of classics, hidden gems, and shovelware in their library. Definitely not something modern consoles can compare to!

[@victormachire7279]

*Why did the creators leave me in jail...* 😢

[@ivletjames4343]

Wait what why are you here

[@Tr1Dylan]

You walked into the cell yourself silly goose

[@nightdrago9893]

Not jump down the ledge, um think about every Pokemon game in existence

[@GhabulousGhoti]

I don't play Pokemon so I can't comment, but as that game locks you into grid movement I doubt the player will be getting stuck on ledges the same way. Also, don't like your own comments, that just makes you seem childish.

[@nightdrago9893]

I dont dislike you, you are perfectly fine, sorry if I sound a bit mad, played this when I was very young.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

That's okay, I'm not offended. My girlfriend played this game when she was young too, but part of maturing is accepting that not everything you liked as a kid holds up. (And I'll let you in on a little secret, I actually like this game too. Quite a bit actually. I think this game is HEAVILY flawed, but I also find it very charming).

[@nightdrago9893]

It really shouldn't be called petz catz 2... It's not part of the series.

[@GhabulousGhoti]

@@nightdrago9893 I agree completely. It's blatant false advertising, but at the same time that's part of the charm for me, is just how bizarre this game is.

[@leannebrannin3330]

I grew up playing this and the dog island

[@GhabulousGhoti]

This game was surprisingly common it seems.