STACK #185 Mar 2020

FEATURE GAMING

CROSSING IN STYLE Every so often Nintendo release a themed console, and Animal Crossing has given us some of the coolest ones of all. Now, joining the previously released 2DS XL and two gorgeous 3DS XL models, is a limited- edition Switch console that’s sure to take pride of place in any Animal Crossing fan’s collection. Our tip? Get in quick for this one!

TAKING A NOOK – UH, LOOK – BACK … With the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons there are now five main games in the franchise, along with a handful of spin-offs. Here’s a quick look at what they were and when they hit.

2015 Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (3DS) Get your decorator on in this spin-off release that sees you decorating homes for villagers to their specifications. Amiibo cards unlocked more characters to carry out work for. 2015 Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival (Wii U) It’s time for merrymaking, in this spin-off game that bears more than a passing resemblance to Mario Party , and relies heavily on Amiibo action from figurines and/ or cards. 2017 Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp The series goes camping on Android and iOS devices. 2020 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch) The world rejoices as Animal Crossing finally makes a main series return – this time straddling both portability and home console play in one clever package! Consult our main feature for more information.

2001 Animal Crossing (Nintendo 64) The originator is born, released for Nintendo 64 solely in Japan and known as D ō butsu no Mori , which translates as Animal Forest. Later that same year the game is ported to GameCube, entitled

shopping expeditions! The title, which supports the Wii Speak peripheral, goes on to be the 21st best selling Nintendo Wii release, with over three million copies sold. 2012 Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS) A return to portability heralds a case of mistaken identity, as the townsfolk believe you to be the new mayor. Several gameplay enhancements provide evolution rather than revolution, which is how it should be. 2015 Amiibo 16 Animal Crossing-themed models join the Amiibo collection of figurines with embedded chips to enhance gameplay in several Nintendo titles, including many non-AC releases. The first of five series of collectible Animal Crossing Amiibo cards is also released.

D ō butsu no Mori+ . Australia has to wait two years for the GameCube version’s release in order to move to a village populated by a collection of andromorphic animals. 2005 Animal Crossing: WildWorld (Nintendo DS) The second in the series sees the player moving to a somewhat more remote village, with similar gameplay to the original release. But this time it’s

portable! 2008 Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City (Wii) The series returns to console, with motion controls introduced. Despite the title, we’re still talking village life rather than any big sea of skyscrapers – they’re a bus ride away for all-important

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