Lately, I have been playing a game on the Nintendo Switch titled “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” (known in Japan as “Atsumare Doubutsu no Mori”).
For those not familiar with this game, it’s a calming social simulation video game which was developed in Japan originally by Eguchi Katsuya and Nogami Hisashi of Nintendo.
The game was first released in 2001 for the Nintendo 64 and for every Nintendo console since then. And it’s also one of the biggest selling titles for the console to this day.
For the latest version of the game, you choose an island that is planned for redevelopment and you select where your house wants to be placed and pretty much plant flowers, fruit trees, pick up weeds, pick up rocks, ore, clay, sea shells, etc. in the beginning.
Meanwhile, crafting a fishing pole, net, shovel, slingshot, jumping pole, stone ax and steel ax.
It doesn’t sound fun, but as you collect the materials needed, you can sell them and pay your house off and add more rooms, purchase clothing and other items.
The game runs in real time (or the time that is associated on your Nintendo Switch) and for those who have the Nintendo Switch online service and don’t have time to dedicate to the game, they can purchase Nook Miles tickets and travel to other island or visit friends on their islands to purchase items using the game’s “bell currency” to be delivered to their home.
Meanwhile, befriending your neighbors who are anthropomorphic animals. Some who are nice, some who are really naive, some who are grumpy and you decided if you want to keep them in your island or tell them goodbye and send them packing.
There is also catching fish, insects and finding fossils, which you can sell for money or donate them to Blathers who runs a museum.
For me, it’s a game that I like to play for an hour and it has a calming effect, despite the fact your character is often having to work and for the most part, you do most of the work in the island, your fellow neighbors may not be able to contribute money, but at least they water the flowers in town and they give you things.
And then there is the balloons that fly around and if you pop them, you can get a free item or a message in the bottle with recipes that you can craft.
Like the previous games, the goal in the beginning is to have musician/singer K.K. Slider come to your town and by then, you get more access for development in your town.
In some ways, Animal Crossing can reflect you as a person or your creative ability (or a side that may surprise your friends). Speaking of friends, there is a multiplayer aspect in which you can visit friend’s islands and purchase from their store or look at their creativity. Some items that may not be available to you, but once you purchase them from a friend’s island, it’s sent to your home and will be added to your catalog.
For this first part of my blog post about “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”, I want to discuss the fashion aspect.
In “Animal Crossing”, you can purchase basic clothing in the beginning but you can also start getting cool outfits once the Able Sisters arrives to your island.
But if you want to start showcasing cool fashion earlier on, fortunately, there are fashion designers for “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” and some often have fashion shows and some create outifts which are modeled after major designers.
One of the coolest places for fashion ideas, may you be a creator or just want to wear cool clothes on the game, check out animalcrossfashionarchive on Instagram.
For me, I want my character to look good each day and I snap a photo to showcase my fashion selections.
I am wearing a mask, for one….to promote wearing a mask during these novel coronavirus times.
I took part in a fashion show at my friend’s island.
As mentioned, within a month, you should have access to the Able Sisters store, where you can design or download the designs of others.
In fact, I want to share my design with you. Go to the kiosk in the back and enter by Design ID or Creator ID.
It’s a Madstore Undercover New Era hat!!!
I’m a big fan of Madstore Undercover clothing and New Era hats. You can read more about the store in Harajuku, Japan on my blog post here.
In tomorrow’s post, I’ll showcase what’s in my island. Or purchase clothing designed by the sisters.
