Of course, I have covered the news about Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, the upcoming mobile Nintendo game extensively. So by now you no doubt know that the game will reach us at the end of November. And that if you want to play it early, you can do so through the Australian App Store or Google Market.
Funny as it may seen though, I have resisted temptation. I will wait for them to release the definite version. This might have everything to do with my pre-occupation with Stardew Valley at the moment, and my super busy work schedule. That doesn’t mean I’m not curious though, so when my friend Brian from Japansenintendo.com put up the review for the soft-launch version of the game.
So first of all, thank you Brian for your insights! And second of all, if you don’t want any SPOILERS, DON’T READ ON! If you want to satisfy your curiosity for a bit, do read on!
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp review (version 0.9.0)
(Originally published on Japanesenintendo.com)
Animal Crossing fans have been waiting for the next full series game since 2012′s New Leaf. Whilst Pocket Camp may not be it, it arguably comes closer than Happy Home Designer did (ditto amiibo Festival). Receiving a soft launch in Australasia on 25 October and scheduled for worldwide release in late November, Pocket Camp’s ‘gimmick’ sees you in the role of a Camp Manager.
Beginning with introductions from both K.K. Slider and Isabelle, the game sees a number of character selections. Although a third gender is still sadly not an option, it is nice to see Nintendo finally embrace all skin colours. You also have to select the theme for your camp (Natural, Cute, Sporty or Cool) which then determines which starter Animal joins your Campsite.
There are eight locations in the game: your own Campsite, OK Motors (who customise your camper van), Market Place (with shops and Isabelle), Shovelstrike Quarry (an area to find Craft materials and Bells) and four locations filled with visiting animals (and other users) all with combinations of fruit, shells, fish and bugs to catch which can either be sold or ‘gifted’.
Gifting animals with items is really a requisite to the game with Bells, Craft materials and Levelling up given as rewards. Levelling up works both ways with the animals also doing so; at a certain levels they will ask to visit your Campsite with certain conditions. These are met using the Craft materials and Bells. Up to eight animals can then permanently stay at your Campsite.
The customisation of your camper van at OK Motors works similarly to customising and expanding your home in most other Animal Crossing games with the same loan repayments. The Market Place features rotating shops where you can purchase both clothes and furniture (with Bells) as well as Isabelle who repeats the Beginners Guide and Goals.
There are two types of goal in the game: 3 daily Timed Goals and 56 Stretch Goals (these can unfortunately all be achieved in around a week of playing). The final area is Shovelstrike Quarry which you can visit daily by either help from five friends or by paying with 20 Leaf Tickets. The area is underwhelming although lets you exchange minerals gained for Bells or Craft materials.
Friends play an important part in the game and can be added by meeting the in-game players visiting the campsites or by entering a Friend Code. Each player has access to a Market Box which can be used to list excess fruit, shells, fish and bugs, and sold to friends. The process is definitely a welcome addition to the Animal Crossing series although a little cumbersome.
Leaf Tickets work as this game’s real-life currency and used to pay to speed up the crafting process, to pay for missing Craft materials, to enter Shovelstrike Quarry, to pay for certain Camper Vans (some can also be bought using Bells) and to pay for both K.K. Slider’s chair and Tom Nook’s chair which then unlocks both characters to permanently stay at your campsite.
Conclusion
The presentation in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is typically excellent for a Nintendo title with both superb graphics and sound throughout. Gameplay matters most of-course, and whilst Pocket Camp will unlikely convert players who are not already sold on the series, the fact that I’ve invested more hours into it than I have Super Mario Odyssey speaks volumes.