{"id":5445,"date":"2020-03-16T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/?guid=35bbc14f7a1f9bdb556bd3235832e073"},"modified":"2020-03-16T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T16:00:00","slug":"animal-crossing-new-horizons-is-the-most-welcoming-game-ive-played-in-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2020\/03\/16\/animal-crossing-new-horizons-is-the-most-welcoming-game-ive-played-in-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is The Most Welcoming Game I\u2019ve Played In Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I love playing life sims. I enjoy how the genre transmutes low-stakes routines into compelling loops and satisfying progress, all in a peaceful domestic package. However, despite being a longtime fan of The Sims and Harvest Moon series (and sinking hundreds of hours into Stardew Valley across various platforms), I never gave Animal Crossing a fair shot. I resolved to change that with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. When we were sent copies of the game, I dove in to act as support for Jeff Cork (whose review you can read right here<\/a>), but I was not prepared for how completely absorbing this world is. Both thematically and mechanically, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is among the most welcoming games I\u2019ve ever played.<\/p>\n

That may seem like a strange category to single out; we often discuss games in terms of things like narrative, weapons, or characters rather than how \u201cwelcoming\u201d they feel. That\u2019s not necessarily bad, but those elements don\u2019t figure heavily into the Animal Crossing rubric. Instead, this is a game about creating a bright, idyllic virtual world that you can inhabit for days, weeks, and even years. To pull that off, New Horizons does a few key things that make the game approachable for almost all players \u2013\u00a0whether they\u2019re seasoned fans or newcomers like me.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Click here to watch embedded media<\/a><\/p>\n

Everyone is friendly!<\/strong>
\nNew Horizons is a game of unrestrained optimism. That\u2019s obviously conveyed through the setting, music, and art \u2013 but also through the behavior of your friends and neighbors. Everyone is just nice. They treat you (and each other) well, with supportive gestures and words of encouragement. Everyone loves every present you give them. They always think your outfits look great. They clap when they see you catch a butterfly. They teach you crafting recipes and ask for nothing in return. In essence, your village is the perfect incarnation of friendly small-town life \u2013\u00a0the kind you see in books, movies, and television, but may not actually exist in reality.<\/p>\n

No conflict!<\/strong>
\nAt the beginning, you (and a few other would-be residents) show up on an uninhabited island. There is no terrible secret lingering below the ocean. No paranormal entity has summoned you for a grim purpose. The world is not in danger. In fact, there\u2019s essentially no conflict at all; apart from occasional and hilariously minor spats among villagers, your friends live their quaint lives and get along. Your job is just to build a pleasant community from scratch, and the only thing stopping you is when you need to wait a day or two for structures to be built or upgraded.<\/p>\n

Click image thumbnails to view larger version<\/i><\/p>\n

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No pressure!<\/strong>
\nIn other life sims, you often have various meters \u2013 life, stamina, hunger, etc \u2013 that limit your activities. New Horizons does not have that kind of pressure. You can do whatever you want as much as you want with no penalty. Fish all day. Catch bugs. Dig holes. Plant trees. You decide what\u2019s important to you, and then you chase it. When I dipped my toes into\u00a0previous installments, this nebulous, freeform approach didn\u2019t scratch my itch to quantify success. But the new Nook Miles system provides just enough structure to keep me hooked, awarding currency for accomplishing simple tasks like chopping wood or selling fruit. At the same time, earning Nook Milles isn\u2019t so important that it feels like an obligation \u2013 so do whatever makes you happy!<\/p>\n

Generosity!<\/strong>
\nThough turning your island into a fully functional community can take a long time, New Horizons is not stingy with satisfying rewards along the way. Every day, you\u2019re getting new recipes, clothes, and furniture \u2013 along with plenty of currency to buy the things you aren\u2019t given directly. Some purchases are big quality-of-life improvements, while others are just cosmetic, but all of it blends together to create a steady sense of evolution and progress. Plus, the game supports you in your attempts to support others, since playing multiplayer with friends and giving them gifts is easy. You can\u2019t bypass all of the hard work, but because of New Horizons\u2019 generosity, the work never feels that hard anyway.<\/p>\n

Peaceful getaway!<\/strong>
\nI\u2019ve always viewed games as much more than pure escapism \u2026 but that doesn\u2019t mean it can\u2019t be a facet of their appeal. Recently, the real world seems to produce a fresh and destabilizing catastrophe on a daily basis. Much of that is beyond our ability to change, but we can still find comfort in the virtual worlds that we do control. New Horizons welcomes you with open arms, and is absolutely perfect for when you need to give your brain a break. In the last couple weeks, I certainly found some respite in this predictable and peaceful paradise.<\/p>\n

So, after 50 hours (and counting) of island life, I am glad I finally gave this series a chance. Though the concept seems ridiculous to me now, in retrospect I think Animal Crossing intimidated me a bit. I have a lot of friends who love Animal Crossing, and the breathless zeal with which they discuss fruit-gathering and stone-hitting is baffling \u2013 and don\u2019t even get them started on their favorite villagers. From interactions like these, I clearly saw the world of Animal Crossing was big and important to a lot of people. Frankly, that kind of investment of time, energy, and emotion can be daunting. But they poured a lot into it, and it gave them a lot in return. Of course, I say \u201cthem,\u201d but it\u2019s really \u201cus\u201d at this point, because now I\u2019m part of the neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n

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