Pros: Provides long lasting fun.
Cons: May seem to childish for some.
The bottom line: This enjoyable, virtual reality game can keep you busy for years.
ESRB rating-E
E-reader compatible
Gameboy Advance compatible
1-4 players alternating
Uses 58-61 blocks on a memory card

Initially, Animal Crossing may seem like one of the strangest games out there. The idea of the character you play moving to a town run completely by animals is unusual, and the characters themselves have a cartoon-like look to them. However, once you get used to these oddities, it soon becomes apparent that this game has incredible depth to it, and its variety of options can keep you from becoming bored for a long time.

GAMEPLAY: The game starts on a train, where you confirm your name and the name of the town you are moving to. Once you are finished, the train pulls into town, and you proceed to buy your own house. Since you don't have enough money to pay for it, you are forced to spend a little time working off some of the debt. Once you are done, you have the freedom to do whatever you want. You can make money by selling items you own (such as furniture, carpet, wallpaper, clothing, and more), talk with the towns residents (who will often give, sell, buy, or trade items with you), plant trees and flowers, or just decorate your home. By paying off the rest of the debt on your house, you can have it made bigger. In all, you can have a first floor, second floor, and a basement. Of course, each upgrade comes with a new debt to pay off.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES: One unique aspect of Animal Crossing is that it takes place in real time. As long as your Nintendo Gamecube time and date is accurate, real life conditions will be simulated in the game. For example, during winter it snows, and you can make snowmen, while in the summer there are plenty of insects to catch. Besides the seasons and the weather, there are plenty of holidays that come and go. Some are simply events, such as the harvest moon or the three-day cherry blossom festival. Others are more busy, like Halloween and New Year's Eve.

The aspects of the game that I have described barely scratch the surface. Other features of the game include a post office, tailor shop, police station, and an island that can be accessed by hooking up a Gameboy Advance to the Nintendo Gamecube via a Gameboy Advance game link cable. Overall the game might be too strange for some, but those who don't mind its looks will find it very entertaining.