Yesterday we reported on the announcement of Zoo Tycoon 2 for the Nintendo DS, a game that features all kinds of weird and wonderful creatures from around the world. Animal Paradise, on the other hand, concentrates its efforts on more domestic mammals, featuring a total of 18 critters for you to take care of.

These include six types of dog, two rabbits, a horse, a squirrel, a chick, chicken and duck, two cats and a miniature pig. The title tasks you with tending to their every need just as if they were real, including feeding and exercising the little beasts as well, of course, playing with them in a variety of mini-games.

IGN reports that Animal Paradise includes the photographic work of the world renowned Yoneo Morita’s ‘big nose’ style, with a feature that works around it allowing players to take snaps of their pets that can be saved in an album.

“Empire is delighted to have secured a publishing deal to bring Animal Paradise to the European market and all PAL territories,” said Ian Higgins, CEO Empire Interactive. “We are confident that Animal Paradise can tap into the huge success of the pet genre on Nintendo DS.”

Seriously cute, wholly unoriginal, but bound to appeal to the Nintendo DS’ younger gamers.