A Wild Wild World
And the mayor is...!
The start to your adventure in Animal Crossing is with a mix up that ends with you taking over as Mayor--for the better or for the worst. The job comes with a few perks and a few, and a few detraction's. The perks include the aforementioned ability to customize the town beyond just naming it, and a true sense of responsibility for your constituents in the town--responsibility justified by your new office of public service. As the mayor of your town you must decide what town ordinance (reminiscent of a town policy/law that is itself representative of choosing a style for your town that just so happens to match your own play style) to establish; choosing from Bell Boom, to beautiful town. Where Bell Boom reverses the good fortunes of your in-game economy, meaning items in your town sell for more bells(in-game currency), but also cost more. Also as mayor you must decide on the where, when and how to place, and orient buildings/projects/landmarks throughout the town and Main-street.The big detracting downsides of your mayoral duties include; having to pay for EVERYTHING, while some of the projects, which are often requested by the towns folk, can be supplemented with public(villagers will pitch in a penny or two) funds, if you have any intention of getting things done in this life-time, then you will need to pitch in the vast majority of the funds/resources needed for public project developments. Hows that for public service?
*Enable Spot pass to receive house designs, of other players, slectedby Nintendo; or use* Street pass for the same effect, only locally with other 3DS owners within range
To main street and beyond; collect, collect, upgrade and collect some more.
The meat of the matter, in New Leaf, is to upgrade, collect, upgrade... then relax and take in the sunset, the ambiance and the fruits of your labor. Making money to payoff the debts you will accrue by way of the local --now--real state agent, Tom Nook, is the brunt of the challenge you to which you will face in the game. Nook is more relaxed encouraging one to take their time and when ready pay as you go--when you can, what you can. Though the urge to upgrade ones living space will soon set in, and you will be back at Nooks door begging to renovate once more. The options to customize ones home have most definitely expaned. There are now exterior roof, body, and fencing themed designs for your home. This adds to the level of deep customization available for interior customization; wallpaper, carpet, furniture,appliances, luxury items; you name it, its in the game. The ability to design custom clothing, wallpaper, town flag, umbrella, hat designs remains in tact. With a quick press of a button you can swap out and save your designs at the Abel Sisters store. The custom designs that as described can be laid out over numerous items for added personalization; plus with the introduction of Pro designs there your shirts and skirts can be even more accurate, allowing for designs to have both a front and back-side design. Looking at main-street, where the action happens, at first may be discouraging as it is--upon your arrival--in its infant stage. Through your partaking in the local economy and culture (by way of buying and selling at the Nookling brothers, and Able Sisters stores, or by helping to improve the local culture by adding bugs, fish, fossils and works of art to the museum) you will soon be soaking in the lights of a bustling slice of metropolis. Main street will gradually, as you play and discover, be renovated and bolstered by entertainment venues, salons and shoe stores-- among other things.
*Customize your hair, your eyes, your expression, and your clothes.*
Relax and take it easy, you'll get there.
In all, the experience of Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a slow and steady one. With interspersed events; including holidays, tournaments, or the occasional arrival of Red the fox--who sells rare works of art, though sometimes not including the genuine article--, Saharah, a style savvy camel--who can sell you on some rare and evocative carpet and wallpaper designs and many more guests. The experience calls for a bit of patients and a willingness to comeback and help nurture the growth of your town. Believe me when I say you will--at least for the first dozen or so hours-- keep coming back and coming back often.
The fact that most projects and construction work for new venues, and the delivery/pay-off of tasks takes about a day--in real-time--you will have some time to kill, and reason to return. Changing the internal clock on the 3DS to speed up the many time delayed returns on investment, is detrimental to the relationships between yourself and the other villagers, and the environment of the town in which you all reside. Villagers will leave as time goes on, lest you intervene, and weeds will grow the less you show as well--this possibly goes double for "time traveling"(the aforementioned changing of the 3DS internal clock). If you can put up with scavenging about for fruits--of which you can trade with other 3DS owners to increase the variety available in your town-- bugs, gem stones(hidden in rocks), exotic and fresh water fish you will make bells and you will improve your experience. But, it is the ability to relax and enjoy the journey in Animal Crossing: New Leaf that will determine your level of enjoyment with the game. The resort Island (a veritable paradise in the sun--its always sunny there), featured in this entry of the series, is a prime place to kick back and/or do some prime and easy bell collecting--by way of instant access to different fruits, rare bugs and SHARKS.
Overall:
Overall, I will say that New Leaf is a good journey that can get repetitive. All the good things that I have mentioned should be prefaced with the word monotonous. The tasks that you will par take in will be driven solely by your need to improve or alter an aspect of your home or your town. If you do not find the idea of fishing, bug hunting, fossil collecting, planting flowers and trees, or writing and recieving for hours upon hours--cumulatively--a fun or relaxing change of pace, then you might want to reconsider the acquisition New Leaf. But, let me say that this repetition is undermined and overridden--for the most part-- by a desire to pay-off that next debt, acquire that next upgrade, see that next holiday(heck maybe you have been invited to a villagers birthday party, or its your birthday in game) take part in that next fishing/bug tournament, etc.. There is a host of drip-fed surprises and anticipatory events in New Leaf, so you're getting a lot of game, even if it is largely spread too thin, utilizing real-time and date--pending on the 3DS settings you have-- measures to alter the season and the expectations you have from the night you put it down to the morning you wake-up wanting to check-in on a sick townsfolk or the newly renovated supermarket, or the newly constructed fountain or police station. I give Animal Crossing: New leaf ( for its addictive one more bell, yet thinly spread anticipatory events and menial monotonous tasks--depending on how you view it) a:8.9/10
*The multiplayer portion of New Leaf intriguing. It includes the ability to play mini games on the resort island with friends and trade fruits that are native to each others island. The multiplayer, both local and online, differs from the dream world aspect of the game, as it allows both players to interact with each other and leaves permanent effects on each others games--take fruit, dig holes, etc.. With this in mind multiplayer will add incalculable value to those who have others to romp around with.*Thanks for reading. I hope you got something from it. If there are any thoughts or questions let me know.
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