There's no doubt that Animal Crossing has quickly become an international success. Its previous games have steadily performed well, and its newest installment, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, has skyrocketed the series higher than ever. Since its release, the game has picked up many new fans that may not have played any previous titles.
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The evolution and story of Animal Crossing are rich with great improvements and fresh new additions. For those that may not have played every installment or are still relatively new to the series, here are a few of the most common misconceptions about the Animal Crossing series.
Villagers Can Leave The Island Whenever They Please
Long-time fans of the Animal Crossing series will fully understand where this misconception comes from. It was completely possible for villagers to leave town without any warning in previous titles in the series; however, New Horizons fans have it a bit easier.
In New Horizons, the horror of loading up a save to find a letter announcing a favorite villager's departure is no longer a problem. In the newest game, a villager cannot move out without the player's permission. Once the player catches a villager with a thought bubble above their head, they can then stop them from wanting to move out or give them the green light at their discretion.
Weeds Ruin An Island's Evaluation Rating
Once again, this particular misconception traces back to previous installments of the game. In the past, weeds growing all over town would be cause for complaints; so much so that in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, there was even an option to reduce the weed growth in town so the player wouldn't have to manually pluck them.
However, in New Horizons, the island's overall score relies more heavily on outdoor furniture, greenery, development (ie. bridges, inclines), and population. Clutter consisting of dropped items and foliage overgrowth both negatively contribute to island evaluation much more than a few weeds. Feel free to let some patches grow in for that peaceful cottage-core look.
Tom Nook Is A Greedy Crook
The meme of Tom Nook being evil or acting as the terrifying last boss of the Animal Crossing series is a rather popular joke. Tom Nook is notorious for his greedy/capitalist labels; fans often look on him as a money-hungry, predatory criminal. However, this portrait of Tom Nook couldn't be farther than the truth.
Tom Nook offers the player a place to live after coming to a strange town with not a cent to their name. On top of that, he offers them a relatively easy job to help pay off their debts, which he does not charge any interest on whatsoever. Not to mention, it's been said that Tom Nook has even donated a majority of his earnings to an orphanage as well! Hopefully, fans will see the light and see Tom Nook for who he really is: a kind-hearted entrepreneur.
Villagers Don't Interact With Each Other
For those that have only heard about the series, it may be easy to assume that all the cute animal villagers don't actually interact with one another and only speak to the player when talked to. However, villagers can be seen talking to one another all the time during the day.
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The player can even catch a few lines of dialogue when two villagers have a conversation. Not only can adorable interactions be heard, but villagers are known to pass on catchphrases or nicknames to one another as well.
The Series Has Been Stagnant & Gameplay Is Repetitive
Looking from the outside in, it may seem like Animal Crossing has been a stagnant series over the years. Perhaps the quaint life in a small town or faraway island seems tedious or even boring. The truth is that the series has drastically changed throughout the years, including new villagers, events, furniture, and more.
Day-to-day activities are much more interesting than one may first assume, and have come a long way since its GameCube days. Players have plenty to do: redecorating inside and outside, helping out fellow villagers, and even checking out any special visitors for the day. Animal Crossing has added tons of great features in every title to keep the series feeling fun and fresh.
Bullying Encourages Villagers To Move Out
As wholesome as Animal Crossing is, the fanbase can get pretty brutal every once in a while. Making the "cute villager" list is a cutthroat process and there are few exceptions made when deciding which villagers are deemed worthy or not worthy. Unfortunately, bullying is a common practice in the Animal Crossing community.
Hitting villagers with a net or pushing them around isn't unheard of, and was rumored to help the process of getting an unwanted villager to move out of town. However, it's been proven that simply ignoring villagers is much more effective than bullying them.
There Is No-Fail State
It's true that Animal Crossing is the go-to game when it comes to relaxing life simulations. However, among all the cute villagers and fun island decorating, there lies a dangerous enemy: bugs.
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As bizarre as it may sound, there is a fail state or "death" the player can come across during their many hours of gameplay. Disturb a hive of wasps one too many times or approach a tarantula too carelessly, and the player's avatar will faint! However, there's not too much to fear. This fail state simply relocates the player to in front of their house upon waking up.
Villagers Don't Care About The Player
To those that may not be as familiar with the series, it may seem silly when hardcore fans go on about how they love their little animal villagers so much. They're only mere NPCs, after all. However, these furry little friends actually do care about the player.
Villagers often ask players to assign them endearing nicknames, and let them know how much their friendship means to them. They'll ask players for favors, throw them birthday parties, and even notice when the player has taken long breaks from the game. Make sure to check in on them every once in a while, or it'll break their little hearts.
The Series Is Only For Children
Don't be fooled by the series' bright colors, adorable aesthetic, and lack of mature themes or violence. Animal Crossing may be kid-friendly but it's definitely not only for young audiences. One of the most common misconceptions about the Animal Crossing series is that only children play it.
However, dedicated fans all over the world vary in age greatly. Some fans are children trying it for the first time; others are nostalgic adults who grew up with the series. For those that are getting their first driver's license or for those that are saving up to buy their first house, Animal Crossing is a great creative outlet for all age groups.
There Is No End Or Ultimate Goal
Animal Crossing is designed to be relaxing. Players converse with adorable animal friends, decorate a house, pick fruit, and creat the perfect little island. However, that doesn't mean that there isn't a way to "finish" the game. Upon first impression, it may seem as if the game can be a bit pointless. Some players believe it has no real final goal to accomplish.
However, there are many different goals that players set for themselves that can be reached for a feeling of fulfillment. For some players, it may be finally paying off their house in full. For others, the ultimate goal might be completing the dream list of villagers on their island, or achieving the perfect 5-star island rating. Every player's version of an Animal Crossing "end game" is different, and players don't necessarily need to stop playing after achieving it. What matters is enjoying the journey from start to finish.