Animal Crossing for GameCube

When The Sims came out, it took "play god" games to the next level. This isn't quite a god game, but takes it in a great, new direction. You want customization? You want neighbors who talk and interact? You want real time? Welcome to Animal Crossing.

It all begins on a train. You tell Rover your name and the town you'll soon inhabit. You get a house there but alas, do not have enough money. Luckily, Tom Nook, the local shop owner, will pay for it. Now your in deebt. Oh well, you have a place, and now you get to collect stuff to outfit your place!

But the real draw to this game is the real time feature. You input the day and time, and it adjusts to it. Say it's Fourth of July. Well you better pop in Animal Crossing by the end of the night or you'll miss a biiiig light show in the game. And there's smaller stuff like Founders Day, St Patricks Day and all of that stuff. But the sheer fact that a game is immitating what we ourselves do in life? Fun will ensue.

Think that's not enough real time? Well as in the world, seasons change in Animal Crossing. Tree's colors change, and wildlife changes. Gotta love winter, when the neighbors start building igloos and snowmen.

Another very cool part of the game is collecting. I have no clue how many peices of furniture there is to outfit your place, but I know it's atleast over a thousand. You can change your carpet, wallpaper, clothing, flora around the house and much more.

Then there is the wildlife. You have a local museum, but alas it is empty. Well when you start catching assorted fish and insects that inhabit, you can start donating them. Soon your collection will grow, and you'll be able to show it off to your friends.

Then there's your neighbors. Some will come and go, but if you keep your town spiffy, plant trees and flowers, they will flock. As many as twenty neighbors at once will supply you with chores in which you'll get rewarded. That is the only drawback perhaps, is that the chores will get repetitive. Quickly. Every single "chore" is to retrieve something from someone. Or deliver. That's the only variation. But it is something far too small to dampen this great game.

At first your house is good for you. A bit small, but you don't have much stuff anyways. That's until you pay off the debt. You'll then have it expanded. Then pay off that and get a basement. Then 2 more expansions! I won't give away what happens when all the final debt is payed, but your house isn't the only thing that looks grand.

After playing this game for about 6 or 7 months now, I can honestly say the fun doesn't let up. I'm still trying to get the perfect look for my house and finish my bug and fish collections for the museum.