After years of waiting, the latest Animal Crossing part “New Horizons” was presented and not a moment later conquered the charts. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary and after almost a year since the release, it is now time to look back.
For many, the release last year made the lockdown, separated from friends and family, more bearable. Diving back into the world from 2012 with the follow-up to “Animal Crossing: New Leaf” felt a bit like coming home. Especially after a break of almost eight years. Full of anticipation for old friends and new adventures, I plunged into it. Because even if a lot of things didn’t look like I was used to, I was happy about the change. Further development, away from old norms, is positive for me. She strives for improvement. And who am I that I can’t be convinced that a good game will get even better? True to the motto “Off to new horizons!”
LACK OF MOTIVATION TO ONE-DIMENSIONALITY
Hours of play had to be behind me. Insects and fish were caught, my island was decorated, and as many sternis as I could carry filled my pockets. However, a look at the clock left me surprised. I had spent some time in my new world. Not much, though. As I continued into the game, I noticed that my mind was wandering about things that were more exciting at the moment. It occurred to me that catching the tenth insect wasn’t as attractive to me as it was at the beginning. Especially in the first few days after the start of the game, I was faced with many dead ends that did not allow me to advance. So it was time to wait. And that wouldn’t be the last time I did that.
In general, “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” doesn’t exactly have tasks given by the game. Difficult. Especially when the achievement of goals no longer increases motivation and there is also no room to open your own goals. Everyday life moves into New Horizons. Too bad. I’ve actually had enough of that in my offline life.
The rewards for the few goals achieved are also sobering. A hard-earned complete museum of the diverse island fauna brings exactly … a thank you. A pretty meager reward for all my efforts. Anyway, there are a lot of old characters I want to see again. Some new ones are there, other old ones no longer. I talk to one of them, go to the other and in less than a minute that too is done. The dialogues weren’t really telling. Not that I expected a lecture on quantum physics, but even as it progresses, the characters who couldn’t look cuter remain one. And that’s one-dimensional. There is no depth and no to few interactions compared to previous parts.
WHAT IS MISSING FROM THE SUCCESSOR
As already mentioned, not all veterans of the series are included. My euphoria is dampened slightly. But well. Further development. That’s what it’s about, isn’t it? However, since I’m not the only one missing a lot of old characters and their roles in the game, there is hope. After all, they are not there yet.
Because updates are what keeps Animal Crossing alive and feeds it with content. The only stupid thing is that after a year the mostly seasonal events repeat themselves. You can still get one or two new items. A fair price for months of waiting? For some maybe. For players like me, whose creativity also reaches their limits at some point, less. Because undeniably the greatest joy of the game lies in its almost infinite possibilities of designing your own island. The impression that New Horizons is only about design and that its predecessors like “Happy Home Designer” is closer than “New Leaf” or “Wild World” doesn’t let go of me. It seems like the balance that New Leaf was able to hold between gameplay and design options has been tipped with the new offshoot.
It’s not easy for me to admit that, but the game is dragging on. In more than one place or another, we are consoled to wait to extend the gaming experience or to fix non-existent content with updates. I can give the all-clear. Because ultimately the game is not one thing for me: a risk of addiction.
WHY WE STILL LOVE ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS
So why is it still a box office hit to this day? And one who is praised by his buyers with a few exceptions? Quite simply: Because it is a good game that consumers turn the right buttons. There are mutliple reasons for this. Starting with the fact that the graphics are beautiful. The attention to detail and the almost endless possibilities to live out your creativity, i.e. to give your island its own touch, are not comparable to other games. In contrast to the previous parts, the player is given much more freedom. Crafting furniture can be used to design your own furniture and determine which building should adorn which location. Many players had emphatically wanted these freedoms. The fact is,
Without a doubt, there is also the fact that it is deliberately tied to the nostalgia of the players. Since many people last looked at Animal Crossing in their childhood days, it creates a familiar feeling of being at home. And that works, despite some changes. The game does not set any limits for different age groups. It is therefore tailored to the general public, whether younger players, families or adults.
But the core tool that makes New Horizons what it is is its atmosphere. A retreat on a remote island. Not only in-game, but also as an escape from reality. When you start the console, your thoughts about tomorrow come to a standstill. Relaxation is what might keep the player on the screen. And the game succeeds in doing this, despite or perhaps because of its large thematic shift. As a long-time fan, I can say that New Horizons is different, but has lost none of its charm. Even if some may have been disappointed in one place, it will suit the taste of its buyers in the other.
