"Animal Crossing: New Horizons" Is Peaceful, Calming, and the Perfect Getaway Adventure
The latest addition in Nintendo’s series allows for a world of imagination and possibilities during quarantine.
By JAMES TCHOU and JINNAN LI
You ever just want to leave your house and do everyday things like everyday people? Well, that’s become a huge no-no thanks to our pal COVID-19. But boy do we have the solution for you! Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch is the perfect escape into a different world, one where you can create your own way of life on your own personal island. We may not be able to go outside, but the power of this game has connected thousands of people together.
Once you’ve created your character in this latest installment in Nintendo’s beloved franchise, you start off on your deserted island with two other villagers along with the Nooklings and Tom Nook, who manages your island and collects Bells, the in-game currency, as payment for various infrastructure.
What’s special about Animal Crossing is that the game’s day and night cycle matches the real world, so when you wake up, it’s morning on your island, too.
As each day passes, you begin to unlock more and more things that will improve your island experience. One of the first items you get is a NookPhone, which keeps track of what bugs and fish you’ve caught, a map of the island, different achievements, and other useful apps such as the DIY Recipes app.
DIY crafting is a new mechanic added to this game. It allows players to use materials from their island to create new furniture and accessories to decorate their house and island. From sticks to stones and even fruits or shells, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the new crafting system.
As your island continues to gain popularity, more characters will decide to join you on your expanding adventure. The Able Sisters, Mable and Label, own a clothing shop, with new clothes to customize your look every day. There’s also Isabelle, a fan favorite, who helps Tom Nook manage the island.
The Museum in Animal Crossing is another feature that keeps players hooked as you scour your island to find various bugs, fishes, and fossils to add to your exhibit. The various bugs and fishes that you catch will change depending on the season, so you can expect to see new things as time goes by. Completing the museum is very satisfying since you get to see all progress you’ve made throughout the journey being put on display.
Blathers, an owl and the director of the museum, is a lovable character who thanks you and gives you praise for your various donations. He sleeps during the day and tells you various facts about the things that you donate to him.
Recently, an update added an art exhibit into the Museum which gives the player even more things to put on display. Be careful though, because you’ll have to buy it from Redd, a devious fox that sells you fake artwork if you aren’t careful.
Let’s not forget the villagers that live on the island as well. Although you start with only two, a total of 10 are allowed to live on the island. The villagers all have their own unique personalities that differentiate them from the rest, so you’re bound to have a diverse cast on your island. They bring you gifts and teach you various DIY recipes for you to use and make the island feel more alive as a whole.
Visiting other islands is another way the game is able to stay fresh. Going to one of your friend’s islands is like the equivalent of going to your friend’s house during these times. It’s a nice way to hang out with each other and see what they’ve been doing on their island.
Growing your island doesn’t come without cost since you have to pay off Tom Nook for the various buildings that he provides you with. Players can earn bells through various means, but many choose to indulge themselves in the Stalk Market, New Horizons’s version of the stock market. Daisy Mae will arrive on your island every Sunday to sell turnips, and each day, prices for these turnips will fluctuate. Players have to decide when to sell their turnips before the market expires on Saturday, rendering them worthless. This makes the in-game economy very interesting since there’s a sense of risk taking involved with the player not knowing if they’ll profit from it.
Overall, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has managed to keep us calm during this stressful pandemic. It’s a very carefree game, and allows for a world of imagination and possibilities. As each day of this quarantine passes, New Horizons gives us something to look forward to, allowing our creative minds to flourish in these hard times.