The urban jungle
Unless you're a true Animal Crossing mastermind you may not realise this is actually the forth game in the ultra-cute series. The N64 original stayed in Japan, while its GameCube follow-up took so long to reach Europe that it disappeared without a trace. It was only with DS iteration, Wild World, that Animal Crossing really became a hit, and this Wii follow-up should capitalise on that success - even if it may be all too familiar to those who've enjoyed the earlier games.
Something old
Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City doesn't veer too far from the established formula. Once again you set up home in a new village populated by anthropomorphic animals. And once again, you'll initially have to work for raccoon tycoon Tom Nook in order to pay off your mortgage.
You set up home in a new village populated by anthropomorphic animals... you'll initially have to work for raccoon tycoon Tom Nook to pay off your mortgage.
So far, so familiar. But Nintendo has a few tricks up its sleeve to keep things fresh. Most notably, there's the new city area - travel here by bus from your village and you'll be able to visit a fashion boutique, have your fortune told, auction off items you no longer require, and even get a haircut or makeover by way of a Mii mask. There's a shoe-shine skunk who will change the colour of your footwear, and a comedy show where you'll learn new expressions. The Happy Room Academy - an organisation that essentially gives your house a feng shui rating - now enables you to see the layouts of other players' houses, so you can be inspired to redecorate or de-clutter.
Something new
The HRA is not the only online feature - you can trade items with other players, while (as with the DS game) those who are registered as Wii Friends can visit your village. Fortunately this time the animals won't immediately disappear indoors when a friend comes in, and you'll also be able to talk to each other via the Wii Speak peripheral - a microphone that sits on top your Wii's sensor bar and enables communal chat.
Taking three friends to guitar-hound KK Slider's late-night concerts is a relaxing delight few games can match.
Elsewhere, it's pretty much business as usual with a few tweaks. You'll still dig up fossils, catch fish and insects and buy paintings to take to Blathers the owl at the museum for identification - but in Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City there are more of each, which means more of the game's delightful dialogue to sample.
Clothing creation is back, but your designs now extend to sleeves and backs rather than one design stretched over an entire T-shirt. You can wear hats and other accessories, blow bubbles, tilt the camera up to watch the stars and just enjoy those comforting pleasures that Animal Crossing brings. Taking three friends to guitar-hound KK Slider's late-night concerts is a relaxing delight few games can match.
Ideal home?
It's difficult to see Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City attracting a huge new audience, mainly because those who've resisted the series' charms so far will find little new to entice them. But for true fans and for those who've never played it before, spending part of each day in a world without hoodies, endless rain or economic recession, will provide an almost utopian respite. In many ways, this is more of a holiday than a game.
GAME's Verdict
- Refines the recipe in a number of areas.
- Still as delightfully relaxing as ever.
- Wii Speak functionality adds to the community spirit.
- Very similar to the last two AC games.
- Slightly restrictive online options.
- Sedate pace won't be for everyone.
Review by: Keith 'Talks To The Animals' Stuart
Version Tested: Nintendo Wii
Review Published: 07.11.08