Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Review)
Callan Western – 23rd March 2020
Credit: Nintendo & Personal Copy
About The Series
So to begin let’s talk about the history of Animal Crossing.
First released in 2001 exclusively in Japan on the Nintendo 64 as DÅbutsu No Mori (Animal Forrest), before being ported over to the west a year later for the Nintendo Game Cube as Animal Crossing. Since then the franchise has released a game on each major Nintendo console. This includes Animal Crossing: Wild World on the DS, Animal Crossing: Let’s go to the City on the Wii, Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the 3DS. Through these games, the franchise had built a small yet dedicated fanbase. That seems to have changed with a massive spike in popularity with the latest release Animal Crossing: New Horizons which released this past Friday on the 20th of March 2020
Now as a fan of the franchise I often have people ask me “what do you actually do in Animal Crossing.” and that’s the thing with Animal Crossing, you decide what you want to do. Whether that’s going fishing, catching insects or just hunting for the day’s Money rock. (Yes it’s a thing and the fact it exists is glorious.) Now that’s not to say that there aren’t any goals or milestones in-game, because frankly, that wouldn’t be true, given you are constantly working towards completing one whether that’s getting enough Nook Miles to pay for your first house, gathering materials to help build a shop, or just making your Island look really nice, you can always find yourself doing something. Now, why don’t we talk about the games first day.
Credit: Nintendo & Personal Copy
The Start Of The Game
When you first boot the game up on your Switch, you won’t find yourself on the main menu, no you’ll find yourself face to face with Timmy and Tommy as they talk to you about your moving package. from there you will get to pick what your character looks like (A series first.) and what your Island will look like. (Spoiler the options are different for every copy.)
From there you’re off to your Island. Once you arrive you’re directed straight to the Islands main centre to meet series staple character Tom Nook, who get’s you to set up a tent on the island, (Choose wisely this is the final placement for your house.) and after you’ve done that and helped the other people on the island select the location for their house you get to name your Island. Now, this left me a bit saddened as there is a 10 character limit for your Islands name meaning I couldn’t name it Champaign Radio as I would have liked. So instead I went with the name of the final island in the anime One Piece, Laughtale.
After that, You’ll be told about the cost of your arrival, and then the hunt to earn your first 5,000 Nook miles begins. Now don’t stress because this is an easy goal to achieve, as you are constantly getting Nook miles for doing regular things around the island from fishing, insect hunting, you can even earn them for weeding! But once it’s all said and done you can hand your Nook miles into Tom Nook and then when you log on the next day your house will be built and it will be time to start creating your dream island.
Credit: Nintendo & Personal Copy
Final Verdict
Now when all is said and done Animal Crossing: New Horizons is just a very laidback game with no real major goals that you can just play when you’ve had a stressful long day and you need to chill out. So if you’re looking for Metal music and hellspawn to kill with a BFG 9000 Then you want the other game that released on Friday DOOM. Although if you are looking for a game to help you relax and let your creativity flow then this is the game for you!
Let us know your thoughts on the new Animal Crossing game below!
