Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City

Animal Crossing finally makes its way to the Wii and takes a trip into the City. MCV tags along to uncover what it is about the franchise that makes it so devilishly popular...

Animal Crossing first came to life in the guise of Animal Forest on N64 in 2001. Sadly that version never made it to the UK, and gamers had to wait until 2004 for Animal Crossing to finally hit the GameCube.

Two years later Animal Crossing: Wild World came to the Nintendo DS and from that point the series became a phenomenon in its own right – pulling in gamers, children and, most tellingly, the then untapped female gamer market.

In fact the DS version was something of a revolution with a new 3D look, touch screen tech and the chance for gamers to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to visit their friends’ towns and villages.

But enough history, let’s crack onto the present – this Christmas the franchise makes its Wii debut with a new adventure in a brand new world in Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City.

“The concept is simple – live your life in Animal Crossing. Some would compare its overall concept to The Sims series. However its real time gameplay, unique characters and ‘calendarised’ series of events give this title its unique appeal as a non-traditional simulation game,” junior product manager Zoe Cooper tells MCV. “Animal Crossing also offers the additional appeal of being socially responsible as it gives everyone a taste of real life ‘grown up’ responsibilities, such as paying off your mortgage, and decorating and furnishing your house.”

Players work to create their own world where they are permanently on holiday and concerned only with the fun things in life. They can build a snowman in the winter, exchange presents at Christmas, go on an Easter egg hunt in the spring, go fishing or visit the beach in the summer and then look forward to Halloween and fireworks as the nights draw in.

Cooper continues: “The software offers you the total freedom to create your own bespoke gaming experience and for the gamer the appeal lies in collecting, buying and selling rare items, spending hours building up a home, furniture and wildlife collections, chatting to fellow residents and catching every scheduled appearance and event in the hope of picking up a rare item or event. The more casual user can enjoy a much more relaxed gameplay experience; dipping in and out of the game, customising their home, chatting to friends and visiting friends’ towns – just using the game to escape from everyday life.”

But how will the Wii version of the game differ from the DS edition? Over to Cooper: “Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City will have the familiar surrounding you have experienced in the DS version, and even some familiar faces, with Tom Nook, Blathers and Mr Rossetti all making a come back in the Wii version.”

Crucially though, Cooper says that new experiences will be a major part of the title: “Looking beyond these familiar faces and the green town where you make your home, there are many more new and exciting experiences to be had on the Wii version, enabled by features such as Wii Speak microphone which looks set to revolutionise online gaming, the all-new city and the DS connectivity.

“The city gives everyone the chance to enhance their life in Animal Crossing, meet new characters, visit the theatre, beauty salon or the auction house that all utilise WiiConnect24, allowing you to buy and sell with people all over the world.

“As well as the city, you can now share your town with up to four friends or family at a time through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

“Wii Speak will ensure that you can now chat in real time with your friends and family as you visit each others’ towns – and everyone can join the conversation,” Cooper adds.

Central to the experience is building relationships – both with the other animals in the town and with other players in the game.

Friendships can be established through favours, gifts, letters and messages, as a whole community eventually emerges and develops; all as different as the people that make them.

“As well as these new functions, there are an array of new characters to be met, new events in the calendar and the yellow bus – your key to the city.”

Online will also be a key element of the title, offering the game more depth, colour and quirky gameplay. Online enhancements combined with Wii Speak make Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City a more social experience amongst friends and families.

Huge mass market appeal is going to be a key factor for the title and it’s something that the title thankfully has in spades: “Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City offers the same broad appeal of so many of the Wii releases we have seen over the last two years.

“As well as having a heritage with the gaming audience who dedicate their time to collecting and selling rare items and paying off their mortgage so they can begin customising their house, this latest version on Wii will offer accessible  controls to the more casual gamer and multi-player functions that mean all the family can experience Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City,” Cooper concludes.