Equestrian Training (DS) Review by Samantha Flavell aged 15
There's certainly no shortage of games that simulate taking care of
animals, looking after babies or anything else that takes your fancy.
Equestrian Training is one those that tackles the normally labour-intensive
job of keeping a horse. The three different game modes let you groom your
horse or try your luck at either the selection of obstacle courses or the
endurance events.
As you would expect, the endurance courses test your ability to manage your
horse over a distance that can only increase once you've passed the
previous race. There are four different events: 5, 10, 20 and 40 kilometres.
Even though you have to make sure your horse doesn't get too tired or is
unable to complete the race, it didn't seem to require a lot of attention.
This completely contrasted with the obstacle course which, after a few
attempts, I still couldn't prefect. Some may say that the first one is
always going to be simple and easy to complete, but my lack of ability to
react quickly enough to an approaching obstacle, resulting in a knocked over
bar, left me with a score that wasn't good enough to progress.
Before beginning the grooming, you need a purpose. Are you trying to ready
your animal for a trek, a competition or do you want to be tested on how
good you are at cleaning your horse to the point where not a speck of dirt
can be found? To get the results your hard-working stallion deserves, you
can't go without your well-equipped grooming kit and stylus pen.
It has to be said, this game will trump many others like it for those who
simply can't get enough of those galloping wonders and will one day have a
farm in Wales. You can learn all of the vocabulary that's essential for
riders with the glossary of definitions to keep you on your hooves. And,
when you're ready, you can take the Horse Knowledge tests to show off your
"mane" know-how!
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Authors
Steve Wollaston - Sunday Mercury games reviewer Steve has been writing about video games for donkey's years. In fact he is probably far too old for it now which is why you will see a lot of reviews been done by kids... He has been nominated three times for Regional Games Journalist Of The Year at the Games Media Awards, but never wins. His major love is sports games and rates Sensible World of Soccer circa 90's as the greatest game ever made - closely followed by Championship Manager 2. Skyrim has currently taken over his life.
