Animal Crossing Updated Preview
Nintendo brings one of the GameCube's most unique games over from Japan.
Of all the games set for release in the next few months for the GameCube, Animal Crossing sticks out from the pack (no pun intended) thanks to its unique premise and gameplay. Dubbed a "communication game" by Nintendo, Animal Crossing is the latest evolution of the Animal Forest series, which got its start on the Nintendo 64. While the game is a radical departure from most console games because of its open-ended nature, you'll undoubtedly enjoy the experience it offers. We recently got our hands on a final copy of the game to find out what all the fuss is about, and we've been quite pleased by what we've seen so far.
For those unfamiliar with the Animal Forest series, the games offer open-ended and customizable experiences that mix elements of traditional sim games and console RPGs. Their only real requirement is that you actively live the life of your character. The latest installment, Animal Crossing, begins by putting you on a train that's headed to the town your character will be living in. A conversation with a fellow passenger will give you a chance to name yourself and your new hometown, as well as fill in other specific details that will come into play during your time with the game, such as the date, the time, and your gender. Following your arrival, you'll meet Tom Nook, an enterprising local businessman who sets you up with a house (as well as quite a bit of debt) and a job. From then on, you're left to your own devices. How your house and town develop is ultimately determined by your interaction with the other characters in the game and your own taste.
As you'd expect from a game with such an open-ended premise, Animal Crossing's gameplay isn't terribly structured. Rather than lock you in with set tasks and a linear path to follow, Animal Crossing provides you with a wealth of gameplay avenues to explore at your whim. If you're looking for a more structured experience, the game provides you with some objectives to work for. The upkeep and improvement of your house will require you to find ways to earn enough "bells," the game's currency, in order to pay off the associated debt. You'll be able to earn bells by working in Tom Nook's shop, taking on whatever odd jobs you come across, and buying and selling the assorted items such you'll find in the game. You can also get lucky and find sacks of cash in trees or buried in the ground. If you're of a more philanthropic nature, the local museum is always in need of insects, fish, art, and fossils for its exhibits. Tracking down suitable candidates to donate is another conventional objective to fixate on. However, one of the biggest components in the game is interacting with the other people in your town. You'll be able to talk to them, write them letters (which they'll react to), and even send them presents. All the interaction will eventually help shape the town's behavior toward you and its overall development. As the locals warm up to you, you may find you'll get presents in the mail more often.
Besides interacting with other characters in your town, you'll also be able to go visit towns created by other players. By using a second memory card to save your travel data, you'll be able to transport your character into another player's town and interact with everyone there. The process is fairly painless--you'll just swap the memory cards that contain your respective town data and use the card you get from your friend to import yourself into his or her town. Among other things, visiting another player's town will allow you to pick up items you wouldn't normally find in your own town.
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