Howdy all, it has been a week since the most recent Animal Crossing Direct. Everyone seems to agree it had a lot of new information to unpack, I figured I would do so here. The Direct addressed a lot of things I was hoping to find out, such as how the gameplay functions in both its short term and long term. In this article I will choose what excited me the most, lets get started!
Landscape Architect!
The biggest reveal by a clear margin is the ability to EDIT THE LANDSCAPE. I always hoped for a Town Builder whereby you would decide all the details initially. But choosing a default location and making changes down the line strikes a meaningful balance of which I can appreciate. Therefore I am looking forward to shaping the river and cliffsides.
The feature seems to require unlocking down the line, which means it won’t be available from the start and follows a structure of progression the game seems to want to impose. This is good as a long time lesson the series has promoted is self love and the owning of your decisions both good and bad. Where you live may not be laid out perfectly, but you can still make the best of it. Introducing it later on follows up with another positive message, stick with it and be the change. Having the gameplay features stagger means people will make the most of each before getting to use the next.
Shopping Confirmed
Shops and their keepers had been absent from all promotional material until this week. While there won’t be a dedicated location for players to shop, it’s equally useful to be able to place these buildings exactly where you want on your island so that you don’t have to leave the area to use them. The museum in particular has received a dramatic visual overhaul, which is great for a location that you will certainly be visiting a lot.
It was also cool to learn the functions of the resident services/plaza will expand into a Town Hall leading into a more traditional location found in previous games. Getting to choose the flag and town tune has also been confirmed to return, features I always really enjoyed.
DIY & Design
More details were revealed about the crafting and pattern design functions. Crafting isn’t limited to the Nook Resident Services tent, you can seemingly build your own workbench to then produce further works from. Not only that, but you can apply designs of yours to the furniture that you craft. While the window for creating designs seemingly still hasn’t been shown, it looks as if you can produce more designs than before, increasing from the eight found in previous games to what seemed to be at least 20.
This particular element of the games design is particularly exciting because the freedom to place items anywhere and customise them means the possibilities are higher than ever before. The game also has multiple path options and the introduction of staircases with which to ascend the cliffs. Examples shown in footage has varied from a more wild clubhouse theme, to intricately designed and detailed islands.
What Else?
Things I still hope will make it into the game include; diving. Swimming and diving for sea creatures was an amazing addition in New Leaf and makes so much sense in this island setting. As well as this, an idea of mine in which to have locations such as a forest where the layout changes on a regular basis much like other life-sims with an RPG element. It’s something Animal Crossing is often compared to with other games of the genre which I feel the team could put their own mark on well and benefit the game.
That’s all for now though, everything that has been confirmed so far has only added to my excitement and makes me feel that, as is, the game will still be a very welcome addition to the series and great fun for months to come.