Animal Crossing (Nintendo GameCube) is a FUN and RELAXING game where you can do whatever you want whenver you want.
I've always been into games that allow me to do whatever and this game is the ULTIMATE. Plus, I'm a collector and this game allows you to collect a variety of different stuff. You get to design the interior of your own house! but, my favorite thing is able to collect NES systems and play classic games. Some people think this is lame (like my brother) because in his opinon the sidegames are better than the game itself. I look at it as another worthwhile avenue within the game. The list of games include: Balloon Fight,Baseball, Clu Clu Land, Donkey Kong, Donkey, Donkey Kong 3, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Excitebike, Golf, Ice Climber, Mario Bros., Pinball, Punch-Out!!, Soccer, Super Mario Bros., Tennis, The Legend Of Zelda, and Wario's Woods.
So, you start off by doing chores and working for Tom Nook. He'll always have a job for you to do until you pay off the Bells (money) you owe him. Believe me you'll always be owing Tom Nook because he runs the local store and sells some pretty cool stuff. You'll be remodeling your house which means you'll owe him some money.
I also love the Gyroids! you basically go digging throughout the landscape and you'll see an X on the ground. It could be a fossil for the museum, a bug, or a Gyroid (gotta catch em all) and these Gyroids strike various poses and make different sound effects which is awesome when you get a group of them together.
You can collect bugs and donate them to the museum, fossils and donate them to the museum, fish and donate them to the musuems (or if you own a fish bowl you can put the fish there as well. In the museum you'll talk to an owl who will thank you for your donations and then as you collect more species you'll be able to view them all (bugs there is a room with grass and trees/fish there is an aquarium/fossils eventually come to together to form a dinosaur that you'll see in their stands).
The seasons change as well. The game goes by the internal clock in the Gamecube so if you play in the months of October then a Halloween theme takes over the atmosphere gets creepy and you'll see the Jack O Lanterns or December then it is Christmas time complete with lights and snow. Leave your game too long and you'll come back to see alot of weeds! I've done this once on accident and the weeds took forever to get rid of. OOPS!
You can design your own character as far as clothes. You can also design your own clothes too. Design the interior using artwork, furniture, any item you can think of you can put it in your house. You can use wallpaper as well. It is pretty easy for your house to have a them (I chose a Japanese theme complete with Tatami mat!) or you can do a Wild West theme (with a cow skull etc..) there is really no limit to what you can do!
You can also converse with villagers who happen to be animals. Sometimes they just want to talk and other times they want you to run an errand. You can hit these poor creatures with your bug net and after a few times they'll be steaming mad and will NOT want to talk to you. After a while they'll get over it. You can send them letters (heh) and gifts and they'll do the same for you. They also remember your birthday! ah, the internal clock keeps ticking which is why it has been said: It's playing even when you're not!
Back to the sending the letters to the animal friends. You can type whatever you so choose to these villagers. What is annoying is you don't get the reaction you desire (at least I didn't) and they'll say that they don't understand what you're talking about (what part of go jump in a lake did you not understand lol) granted, during my time with this game I was pretty naughty and told these characters a number of things especially when I feel I've been bossed around, ignored, or slighted. Alot of colorful words were used and I just didn't get any type of reaction. But, these villagers move from time to time to other places (they give you a letter telling them of their intent) and you'll get different villagers (a frog, pig, gorilla, etc..) it all depends. Keep in touch with them, help them out, and you'll have made a great friend.
Whether you play during the day (AM) it'll be bright and sunny (occasional rain) or night (PM) it will be dark and some people will be up and about and others will be asleep (you can go in their houses and check the design of their abode too) I enjoyed collecting bugs and fishing. Certain bugs and fish can only be caught during the day and night. Also, certain bugs and fish can be caught during certain seasons. I would get a strategy guide because there is ALOT to this game.
There is a mole called Rosetti who gives you the what for is you stop the game without saving and reset. He'll come EVERYTIME to warn you!
Go talk to the Able Sisters who design clothes (which you can also use for signs as well)
You can collect fruit to sell, eat, and plant these trees too. There is also a tropical island you can visit if you have a Gameboy Advance and GameCube Link Cable. There are certain items there that you can only get there on that island.
A dog plays music and if you talk to him at certain times you'll be able to unlock these songs for your own use. If it rains you are able to open up and umbrella and twirl it. Go down by the ocean at night and see the lighthouse do its job showing the way for a ship that may be out in the distance (though I never saw one) Little touches like this make this game a delight.
I also like the message board. Again, I'd tell the villagers to pitch in and help with the fast growing weeds and was pretty much ignored. But, a human player can come in read the message and take a look around your town. Unfortunately I couldn't get my brother or sister to partake in this community and social activity (I played this game for MANY hours so I was more than willing to get them addicted too) though my Dad did enjoy the fishing part in the game.
The game gets my vote as the most relaxing game ever made. There are no lifebars or time limits. You literally get to do what you want when you want which is why it warrants a perfect 10! there is just so much to do in this game I don't think I've covered it all but, with the help of a strategy guide you'll be able to enjoy every part of this game. An EXCELLENT game and relaxing it is a must buy and a must play. Enjoy!