The best "Animal Crossing" to date literally places the player in complete control! 8)
There's Shampoodle who can give a character practically any visual make-over a player might want to try out, Sable who helps Gracie Grace run a high-priced merchandise store which stocks items that are hard to come by anywhere else, a Shoeshine Skunk who can rock out the shoes to match the character's clothes or hair, and the Auction House Gyro, where players can auction off items they don't want anymore, or buy new and/or perhaps rare items from other players. Speaking of other players, "Animal Crossing: City Folk" makes it much easier for players from other cities to interact with each other than ever before. Wii Connect 24 allows people from far away to communicate and participate in events together, like they've never been able to do before. Although the only 'real' goal in this game is for the character to pay off the home loan they owe to Tom Nook (who, I feel, is much nicer to players in this game than in his other two appearances), there are many other optional side goals to pursue. Whether it's fossil collection, bug hunting, fish catching, or completing a room design with matching furniture, "Animal Crossing: City Folk" is one game that is easy to learn, but can keep players entertained for months at a time!
And since this game is part of the "Nintendo Select," series, it is reasonably priced and is a very good bargain to enjoy for as long as a player wishes to. :) Enough said, true believers! ;)