Rate top gamesIt just wasn't for me. The idea of complete customization is novel, but the wait times and excessive grinding make it slow and frustrating. If I had a hacked version that removed the grinding and wait times, I would probably enjoy it. I put it down shortly after the credits rolled.
«Disappointment of the year»
«Waste of time»
I have played it for 200 hours, and will play it for 200 more hours. incredibly charming and cozy, a perfect escape from the hellworld we live in.
«Can’t stop playing»
Although this review probably won't help, I just wanted to make it because I'm in love.
This has become my favorite game of all time.
I never played Animal Crossing before and to be honest, I didn't know a lot about the franchise. However, getting to play this every day, has been the highlight of each day that it's been out for me. It gives me something to look forward to and that's more than I have ever had with any game before getting bored.
The different villager personality types is my favorite part about this game. They feel more unique than compared to any other NPCs in the same genre as Animal Crossing. Their dialogue isn't painful to read at all, in fact I talk to all of my villagers every day and I fully enjoy it.
The downsides of this game for me are mostly do to with the loading screen whenever going to different islands. It becomes pretty bad whenever you invite more than one person to your island too since the loading screen takes a while. I like that the loading screen is cute though, but I can't imagine what it is like to load in 8 people.
With how big this game is right now, I'm excited to see more updates that come out for it.
This has become my favorite game of all time.
I never played Animal Crossing before and to be honest, I didn't know a lot about the franchise. However, getting to play this every day, has been the highlight of each day that it's been out for me. It gives me something to look forward to and that's more than I have ever had with any game before getting bored.
The different villager personality types is my favorite part about this game. They feel more unique than compared to any other NPCs in the same genre as Animal Crossing. Their dialogue isn't painful to read at all, in fact I talk to all of my villagers every day and I fully enjoy it.
The downsides of this game for me are mostly do to with the loading screen whenever going to different islands. It becomes pretty bad whenever you invite more than one person to your island too since the loading screen takes a while. I like that the loading screen is cute though, but I can't imagine what it is like to load in 8 people.
With how big this game is right now, I'm excited to see more updates that come out for it.
«Sit back and relax»
7/10
I don't know what I can add that hasn't been said. Its an incredibly chill game that gives you a reason to play daily, but doesn't punish you harshly for not doing so. You set your own goals, with no pressure to make any of them by a certain time frame. Also, there's a robot ostrich.
2023 UPDATE:
I have to knock this game down a point and a category. I don't know. I just feel disappointed by it lately. Still a good game, but I think it was really hard-carried by the fact that it came out during quarantine.
I don't know what I can add that hasn't been said. Its an incredibly chill game that gives you a reason to play daily, but doesn't punish you harshly for not doing so. You set your own goals, with no pressure to make any of them by a certain time frame. Also, there's a robot ostrich.
2023 UPDATE:
I have to knock this game down a point and a category. I don't know. I just feel disappointed by it lately. Still a good game, but I think it was really hard-carried by the fact that it came out during quarantine.
«Sit back and relax»
This game is just so fun. An easy game to pick up for a little bit and play even if you're a busy person.
«Blew my mind»
«Can’t stop playing»
Once again I was allured to Animal Crossing more than ever, it was fun, it was great, but soon, slowly but truly its charm disappeared a fair amount.
I'm not a fan of review bombing, but I'm surely counting negative aspects that a lot of people are complaining about, if not for them, this review will be easily a 9 or so, but as it is, I believe a 7 is a fair score, without further ado my thoughts are as follows:
Starting with the positive things, NH is as ever an incredible time if you're up to the task of giving your heart to it, long gone are those days when you could only customize your house, now the full island has customization, and almost every furniture or item is placeable wherever you want, and it gives a lot of freedom and customization. As it was in New Leaf where you could make public structures, like arches or statues, now they're just items like it should have from a long time ago. Another good addition is its new point system called 'Nook Miles' in which you have to meet certain requirements like achievements and you'll be rewarded with miles, this system comes as unique achievements and a daily wheel of minor achievements that can be done over and over, in contrast with past entries where at a certain point you simply turn off the game because you didn't have more things to do for that day, these miles can be exchanged for several things like furniture, clothes or unique DIY recipes, this new mechanic in form of DIY is easily one of the most enjoyable things in NH, they come as gifts from villagers, message bottles, rewards, etc, the fun part is that you need certain items to make them, so a lot of your time will be invested in acquiring items to make your recipes, pure joy.
By far, the best thing that NH has to offer is terraforming, although it has its limitations, it's easily the most entertaining addition: do you want to make your island like a crater? maybe a fortress? or how about a city? the limit is your determination and creativity (and maybe at times money), but it surely is the thing that a lot of veterans were waiting, think of it as a Minecraft ripoff, but with Animal Crossing makeover.
As for the negatives, there are a lot of issues that can be resumed into 4 main problems, at least to me, they weren't a problem at first but everything went a little downhill once you notice them. First and the most common issue for everyone is the one island per switch, when the official trailer launched and stated that this game will be multiplayer with a common island I was really into, I and my partner were daydreaming about the things and possibilities of playing co-op, turns out that the local multiplayer is more a gimmick and the second player is basically a background PC, although the biggest issue is that the only the 1st resident can advance through the "main quest" so good luck if your 1st resident is not as active as you.
The second issue is its online mode, if you're playing with one friend is just serviceable, but if you're going to play with two or more persons (friends or internet people) you'll notice that every single time a person arrives or leaves your island, every player that is in the island have to watch an unskippable (quite long) cutscene, not only that, for some unthinkable reason, you can't navigate through menus or inventory in that particular moment, otherwise, the cutscene will be delayed. this is a serious problem particularly if you're planning to play this with several friends or if you're into the stalk market, prepare to loose 15-20 min per arrival.
My third issue is more a quality of life issue, you see, Animal Crossing have ever being a game about of time, you have to wait a lot in order to have the best of it, but, at this point, selling, buying and navigating through menus is quite a burden, not only that, there are too many nitpicks to list in here, but, certainly it seems more like the game is keeping you away from having fun, is not like there aren't a lot of things to do, so it feels more like cheap padding than anything.
The last issue and the one that I hate the most and it seems that no one is talking about, is its "free updates", when the first official trailer launched with its terraforming promises, it also mentioned something that bothered me a lot, the fact its main events will arrive as free updates as if they need to be charged or something, in past entries these seasonal events wherein the main game, so it feels way too worrisome that now they're extra, if this game was a MMO or online specific, I wouldn't mind but, it's more like I paid full price for a game that is not finished, so if you're like me and want to play this game in some years, good luck finding those "free updates".
If you took your time to read this whole thing, I appreciate it a lot, even if you agree or not, I like this game a lot and have played 100 hours to this point but, is important to address its issues.
I'm not a fan of review bombing, but I'm surely counting negative aspects that a lot of people are complaining about, if not for them, this review will be easily a 9 or so, but as it is, I believe a 7 is a fair score, without further ado my thoughts are as follows:
Starting with the positive things, NH is as ever an incredible time if you're up to the task of giving your heart to it, long gone are those days when you could only customize your house, now the full island has customization, and almost every furniture or item is placeable wherever you want, and it gives a lot of freedom and customization. As it was in New Leaf where you could make public structures, like arches or statues, now they're just items like it should have from a long time ago. Another good addition is its new point system called 'Nook Miles' in which you have to meet certain requirements like achievements and you'll be rewarded with miles, this system comes as unique achievements and a daily wheel of minor achievements that can be done over and over, in contrast with past entries where at a certain point you simply turn off the game because you didn't have more things to do for that day, these miles can be exchanged for several things like furniture, clothes or unique DIY recipes, this new mechanic in form of DIY is easily one of the most enjoyable things in NH, they come as gifts from villagers, message bottles, rewards, etc, the fun part is that you need certain items to make them, so a lot of your time will be invested in acquiring items to make your recipes, pure joy.
By far, the best thing that NH has to offer is terraforming, although it has its limitations, it's easily the most entertaining addition: do you want to make your island like a crater? maybe a fortress? or how about a city? the limit is your determination and creativity (and maybe at times money), but it surely is the thing that a lot of veterans were waiting, think of it as a Minecraft ripoff, but with Animal Crossing makeover.
As for the negatives, there are a lot of issues that can be resumed into 4 main problems, at least to me, they weren't a problem at first but everything went a little downhill once you notice them. First and the most common issue for everyone is the one island per switch, when the official trailer launched and stated that this game will be multiplayer with a common island I was really into, I and my partner were daydreaming about the things and possibilities of playing co-op, turns out that the local multiplayer is more a gimmick and the second player is basically a background PC, although the biggest issue is that the only the 1st resident can advance through the "main quest" so good luck if your 1st resident is not as active as you.
The second issue is its online mode, if you're playing with one friend is just serviceable, but if you're going to play with two or more persons (friends or internet people) you'll notice that every single time a person arrives or leaves your island, every player that is in the island have to watch an unskippable (quite long) cutscene, not only that, for some unthinkable reason, you can't navigate through menus or inventory in that particular moment, otherwise, the cutscene will be delayed. this is a serious problem particularly if you're planning to play this with several friends or if you're into the stalk market, prepare to loose 15-20 min per arrival.
My third issue is more a quality of life issue, you see, Animal Crossing have ever being a game about of time, you have to wait a lot in order to have the best of it, but, at this point, selling, buying and navigating through menus is quite a burden, not only that, there are too many nitpicks to list in here, but, certainly it seems more like the game is keeping you away from having fun, is not like there aren't a lot of things to do, so it feels more like cheap padding than anything.
The last issue and the one that I hate the most and it seems that no one is talking about, is its "free updates", when the first official trailer launched with its terraforming promises, it also mentioned something that bothered me a lot, the fact its main events will arrive as free updates as if they need to be charged or something, in past entries these seasonal events wherein the main game, so it feels way too worrisome that now they're extra, if this game was a MMO or online specific, I wouldn't mind but, it's more like I paid full price for a game that is not finished, so if you're like me and want to play this game in some years, good luck finding those "free updates".
If you took your time to read this whole thing, I appreciate it a lot, even if you agree or not, I like this game a lot and have played 100 hours to this point but, is important to address its issues.
«Can’t stop playing»
«Sit back and relax»
Game of the year for me, im sure it wont be beaten by FFVII or any other game this year. Already spent 65 hours since it came out 12 days ago.
Probably the best Animal Crossing yet with the most freedom so far, you can build everything, create anything, invite amiibos like in New Leaf and so many things like create (literally) your own island.
The only downside is the advertised multiplayer is very lackluster and fundementally flawed but as an Animal Crossing game where usually you play solo and sometime visit a friend to his island to trade, this is absolutely perfect.
Edit after 160 hours: Now there are definetly downgrades like less shops, way less furniture sets and its really hard to find furniture compared to New Leaf which is still a way superior game. But if i want the freedom in building my town/island then its nice to switch over to Horizon but it gets boring after a while, unless you're consistently building, since there's not much else to do.
Even when you have 10 villagers the interaction is lackluster compared to earlier titles and the villagers feel very underdeveloped and have very repeative dialog that either revolves around what you're wearing or a stupid one liner that everyone says. They all kinda say the same thing and i noticed it right away but didnt care until same repeativity was active 100 hours later lol. Still having fun but i can clearly notice frustrating patterns to the repeative gameplay. As a matter of fact my interest in New Leaf has resurrected, that game has everything except as much freedom in building.
Also there are bugs and crashes which is very concerning, depending where you place furniture outside and then engage in conversations, i had to move my house and a few items in order to stop crashing in the same place.
Probably the best Animal Crossing yet with the most freedom so far, you can build everything, create anything, invite amiibos like in New Leaf and so many things like create (literally) your own island.
The only downside is the advertised multiplayer is very lackluster and fundementally flawed but as an Animal Crossing game where usually you play solo and sometime visit a friend to his island to trade, this is absolutely perfect.
Edit after 160 hours: Now there are definetly downgrades like less shops, way less furniture sets and its really hard to find furniture compared to New Leaf which is still a way superior game. But if i want the freedom in building my town/island then its nice to switch over to Horizon but it gets boring after a while, unless you're consistently building, since there's not much else to do.
Even when you have 10 villagers the interaction is lackluster compared to earlier titles and the villagers feel very underdeveloped and have very repeative dialog that either revolves around what you're wearing or a stupid one liner that everyone says. They all kinda say the same thing and i noticed it right away but didnt care until same repeativity was active 100 hours later lol. Still having fun but i can clearly notice frustrating patterns to the repeative gameplay. As a matter of fact my interest in New Leaf has resurrected, that game has everything except as much freedom in building.
Also there are bugs and crashes which is very concerning, depending where you place furniture outside and then engage in conversations, i had to move my house and a few items in order to stop crashing in the same place.
«Blew my mind»
«Just one more turn»