Here at Polygon, our schedules have been burst wide open in the name of safety and social distancing, there has never been a greater time to pick up a new game to play. This makes Nintendo’s release of their new title Animal Crossing: New Horizons incredibly timely. There’s never been a better time than now for you to explore your own personal island getaway.
It’s been eight years since Animal Crossing: New Leaf came out, which gave developers ample time (and an entirely new platform, re: the Nintendo Switch) to make this masterpiece of a game.
Starting with the most dramatic change, the visuals of this game are unprecedented. This is the first HD Animal Crossing game and it’s obvious designers explored as much of this new creative space that they could. Everything from the bugs and fish you catch, the details on the leaves that flutter in the wind, to the overhauled clothes for the player characters seems incredibly intentional. The art style is definitely all Animal Crossing, but the game feels inexplicably fresh.
As for the mechanics, everything is identical, save for the addition of the “Nook Phone,” which is the new hub for upgrades like custom designs, an in-game camera and the social menu to meet up with friends, among other things. With the controls being the same, it makes jumping into gameplay a breeze.
Even at only a week in, I’ve made substantial progress. I’ve already upgraded my house, unlocked the museum through donations and have gotten the opportunity to explore other islands and expand my resources and critter collection. Even though there is a “grinding” element, so to speak, where I dedicate a decent amount of time to collecting said resources and critters, the game never feels like it drags on. There’s a great sense of accomplishment, even when it’s small.
In times like these, anxiety is running high and escapes from the outside world are scarce. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is that solace we’ve all been looking for.
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The Burk Bulletin 