Animal Crossing: City Folk

"This is a great game, but I feel like so much more can be done with this game."

I've been playing Animal Crossing since it came out on the Nintendo Gamecube. It's simple and relaxing, just to go fishing, shopping, or just to have friends come over, whatever. Wild Word was a major improvement from the Gamecube version as well. City Folk basically combines everything from AC and WW, adds some more items, new fish, bugs, adds a city area, and the new wii speak option, but really much hasn't changed. I'll go more in depth later on, so lets begin.

Story 10/10
There really isn't a story, you create the story as you play, catch bugs or fish, help out neighbors, celebrate holidays, or just have your friends visit your town and hang out; its all up to you on what you do in the wonderful world of Animal Crossing.

Graphics 9/10
The Graphics have improved from Animal Crossing's past games, water is more detailed, the sky and stars are nicely done. Characters don't look much different but do look more smooth and maybe slightly more detailed. I haven't noticed any pixels on anything except maybe the leaves on the trees but even then you have to stare at the leaves to notice them.

Music 8/10
The music and sounds are basically all the same, however the waterfall sound does sound more realistic and clear in City Folk. Besides that though the songs that play while you are running around town are all the same. When I first started it up I was like I remember that song!!! Then the song would change the next hour, I remember that one too! The a few hours later about the fifth song...........I remember this one as well...........K.K's songs are awesome though and even though all of them are the same I think they added a few but I'm not sure on that. However, if you liked the songs on previous Animal crossing games then you are in luck you get to hear them again in this game.

Game Play 7/10
Now the game play in general is awesome you can do what you want, go fishing, catch bugs, visit other peoples' towns or have them visit your town, upgrade you house, buy furniture for it, and with the new city area it adds a little something new to the Animal Crossing universe. Wii speak is also a nice touch with this game. However, even though I enjoy this game, I feel like its being held back. The city area is nice but it's not really all that great or big of a deal. What they should do is make it a MMO or something like the PSHome. Instead of making the city area only a place you can go to; actually thats another thing you and friends can't even visit the city together you have to go alone, even though you ride a bus and there is plenty of room to take everyone, yeah I know makes perfect sense. Anyway they should make AC like the PShome, instead of going to this little city area make it where you can go to this giant city, keep the same town where you do everything in and stuff but make this city area a online place where you can meet up with friends and meet new people where you can intereact with everyone online, meet up with friends by telling them where to meet you over a private message or something. obviously using messages to speak with other people as well or even use wii speak? Of course there should be some kind of option when you only want to chat to a certain person. Like clicking on him and there can be an option like private wii speak chat if you dont want to type messages. Have Gracie Grace but instead of making it a little expensive shop make it like a three story mall where you and friends can go on a shopping spree. Have a roost there as well where you and friends can order coffee, sit at a table and listen to K.K play however make it so you can only get bootlegs when you listen to him at your town.Heck maybe even put a little arcade there where you and friends can interact with games maybe put in super mario bros you know the classic arcade game that would be awesome, or a pool table, pinball machine and so on. Have a theatre but instead of just learning emotions and listening to Dr. Shrunks lame jokes, make it so you can watch movie trailers, and video game trailers for a few bells. Put shampoodle of course in there too, much wouldn't change with that but maybe let us see the hairstyle before we choose it? That would be nice. Have restaurants where you can just go eat virtual food with friends, and just chill. Clubs would be a nice addition as well where you and friends can just go in to a club and just goof off and dance and have a great time, and no you wouldn't dance to K.K ,there should be a Jukebox or something with random songs or popular songs from the real world. Have Trolley's to take you from place to place in the city etc.

Now I'm sure some of you are like Nintendo can't do that because the Wii's online wouldn't be able to handle it or whatever. Well Nintendo should make it work, improve the online or something and make it so they could do this. Make Multiple servers so it won't get overcrowded and there won't be a giant lag and make it unplayable. I'm ok with a slight lag once in awhile as long as we would be able to enjoy ourselves in this awesome MMO city area. The Town area of course would be the same concept, fish, catch bugs, shop at Tom Nook's, celebrate the holidays, have friends visit your town, but allow them to actually go with you to this MMO city area instead of just having to meet up somewhere. Also update furniture and stuff so there is always something new to find at Gracie's. A great idea would be to sign up for a Catalog at Gracie's. YEAH not like Tom Nook's Catalog but when ever something new would be added, you would get like a catalog looking thing where it shows you images and a description of the new item or items. Oh I almost forgot about Red Have him have a giant shop in some dark alley somewhere as well. This new auction house is awesome also, but it would be even better in this MMO city idea. Just gather a whole bunch of people and have some one go up there place the item up and say what he will start the bidding at then just have everyone start having a bidding frenzy like an actual auction. These are just a few ideas, I'm sure I could come up with more, and I'm sure some of you that are reading this are coming up with great ideas yourself. One last thing I like about the city is the ATM, and of course there will need to be a bank and at least a few ATM's for use in this MMO city as well.

Overall 7/10
Don't get me wrong this is a great game, but I feel like its just a slight advancement just to keep us happy and so we can't say that it is the exact same game. I Highly recommend it if you have never played a Animal Crossing game before, or if you have friends that have this game because that is always fun but if you are hoping that this game is going to be mind blowing and have a bunch of new stuff well I can't say it will but I would suggest renting it to give it a try.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/26/08

Game Release: Animal Crossing: City Folk (US, 11/16/08)