Games for Lunch: Animal Crossing: City Folk

In a nutshell: Every step you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you.
11/14/2008 6:33 PM | 4 Comments | Page 1 of 3

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: Nov. 16, 2008
System: Wii
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site

0:00 The sum total of my experience with Animal Crossing is watching a college friend play the GameCube original for five minutes or so, and playing Animal Crossing: City Folk for the same period at E3. I never really saw the appeal, frankly.

0:01 The game needs to install a system update before starting? What is this, a PS3 game?

0:02 That was an incredibly fast update. A quick system reset and we're ready to play.

0:03 The title pops up over a bear standing in front of an autumnal house. The bear walks around in the background to some pastoral guitar music. Reminds me of NPR on a Sunday.

0:04 "All righty! Sorry to keep you waiting," says Rover, a cat in a black room and spotlight. "I heard you were moving in, so I came to get you! Nice, huh?" Indeed!

0:05 Rover sells me on the benefits of a fresh start ... a new house, new neighbors, an escape from state troopers. OK, he didn't mention that last one. If I had ever played the DS version, I could transfer my game at this point.

0:06 On the bus to town now, passing through a dark tunnel. Rover asks me if the time is right. It's off by six minutes, according to my computer. "I don't know WHAT is up with this watch. It gets ... confused."

0:08 The keyboard speaks every letter as I enter my standard name, "Ace." Rover says that name is "fun and feminine! The perfect name for you!" WHAT?!?! "I'm not a girl," I reply. "MAJOR mistake on my part," apologizes Rover. "I'm really sorry." The facial expressions show he's sincere.

0:09 I name the town "?!?!?!" because I'm a jerk. "I hear that place is really lovely." Oh, Rover, I bet you say that about EVERY town. Really, I do.

0:10 Rover says I must be excited about my new home. I say no. He says my face shows I'm fibbing (I'm not). Wait, how can he see my face? The Wii doesn't even have a camera!

0:12 As we pull into town, Rover gives me a map and tells me to go to the town hall. I get my first actual glimpse of me here. I'm a towheaded little boy that looks just like the boy from all the other AC games, actually. I like the bright colors and simple, anime-infused aesthetic.

0:14 Movement's as simple as clicking around with the pointer. There's a map, but you have to pause the game to view it. A mini-map would seem like a no-brainer, but apparently not.

0:15 Pelly the pelican greets me at town hall. "Well, no need to dillydally! Let's take a look at where you'll be living." I have my choice of four places, which I have to trudge to on foot to check out. What, no brochures?

0:18 On the way to check out a house, I barge in on Benedict the chicken, whose pad has a construction site motif. "I've been looking forward to meeting you! I'm hoping we'll be good friends!" he says, as flowers emanate from behind his head. "I will always remember Nov. 14, 2008 ... 'cause that's the day we met, uh-hoo!" Wow ... I have to tell you, you're coming on a bit strong there, Benedict.