Animal Crossings New Leaf... Oh! I Play This Game!

Animal Crossings has always been one of those games that draws me in, and keeps me hooked. It is a simple game with little to no plot, very little in game content, and a very small world. The game seems to rely solely on its charm, which it has in abundance. In previous games you would participate in the world, but not fully influence it. You could meet your neighbors and make friends, but you really couldn't do much to the world itself. Now, in New Leaf, you are the mayor, and you get to decide exactly how to build things in your town. New Leaf was released on November 9th 2012 in Japan. The North American version was not released until June 9th. It was developed solely for the Nintendo 3DS, and is a life simulation game.

Story - 6

Your Inauguration as Mayor

The story for this game is definitely its weak point. It is overly simplified, and not really the focus of the game in the first place, which makes it weaker. Basically, you are an average Joe, looking to move to a new town. You get there and are showered with confetti and applause. As it turns out, the townsfolk have all been expecting their new Mayor to arrive today, but he ditched his duties and pinned them on you. So now its you're job to help the town flourish, and create a comfortable lifestyle for both you and your fellow townsfolk. Oh, did I mention everyone in your town besides you are bipedal, talking animals? Not many characters within the game itself have much of a story either. This is the main flaw in Animal Crossings New Leaf.

Audio - 8

New Leaf doesn't really have voice acting. When you talk to people they speak in sped up, slurred gibberish at various tones depending on gender or personality. This doesn't really take away from the game, however. In fact, I think it adds to the overall charm. The music for the game, is very calming and relaxing. It helps provide an almost therapeutic stress relief experience for the player. Most of the sound effects have a similar effect, from the sound of the tide coming in, to the sound of a gentle breeze. The only thing I can complain about is the lack of sound sometimes. In some areas, especially at night, there is absolutely nothing going on.

Video - 9

Animal Crossings, like the last 3DS game I reviewed, has excellent graphics for a hand held. Even the characters are well designed and each unique. However, there are some characters whose mouths seem to just a picture on their face that moves. Whenever they're around I tend to focus on their mouth and it kinda makes me chuckle. I really do enjoy the various character models, because it adds a lot of diversity to the game. You also have the ability to customize your character with various clothes and accessories, or if you so desire, you can design your own.

Gameplay - 10

This is what Animal Crossings New Leaf is about and it nails its goal right on the head. The gameplay is simple, and easy to pick up, which makes the game enjoyable for anyone at any age. You can do various things for your town, like plant trees and flowers, or build bridges, parks and campsites. You can also fish, catch bugs, and participate in various other minigames. There are numerous collectibles for you to find. Some you can put on display in the museum, but most you can display in your house. Overall your goal in New Leaf is to pay for the various construction work you are doing in your town, and expand your house to hold more stuff. The one great aspect about the game is the random events that occur. Every day someone new may come visit your town. Sometimes your town will hold celebrations or competitions of their own. This past Saturday, my town held a bug catching competition. Animal Crossings New Leaf has very simple gameplay, but manages to keep you entertained and relaxed.

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Overall, I think thank New Leaf is a great game, and a lot of fun to play. I am quite addicted to it and usually play for at least an hour every day. I give Animal Crossings an 8.2, which is not far off from my personal evaluation of 8.5. Animal Crossings New Leaf is a great game for gamers of all ages. I'd recommend it for ages 5+, because it relies heavily on your ability to read. All in all, its a great game to own on the Nintendo 3DS.

I would like to apologize for failing to release content last week. I got bogged down with a lot of stuff, and was quite busy. I don't mean this as an excuse, merely an explanation. I will do my best to prevent this from happening again in the future. Be sure to subscribe, because in a few months we're going to be having a special surprise for all our subscribers. Also, don't forget to come check us out more this week for Way Back Wednesday, and Part 2 of Gamers vs Anita Sarkeesian.