Trailer for Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch
Description
Animal Crossing: New Horizons(ACNH) is a life simulation game published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch in March 2020. This is the fifth main Animal Crossing game and also the best-selling one in the series. Not only that, ACNH also won many awards, including Game of the Year at the Japan Game Awards as well as Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2020.
The gameplay is very simple. You control a human on a deserted island, design and develop it into a thriving community of anthropomorphic animals. ACNH supports both local and online gameplay, which allows a player to visit and interact with other players very conveniently.
Analysis
Lens 7: Elemental Tetra
Aesthetics
One of the main reasons for the popularity of this game is it’s breathtaking aesthetics. The main goal of a life simulation game is to provide a relaxing gateway, an alternate reality where life is simple and perfect. ACNH gives players the perfect user experience, immersing us in a captivating world where you grow to be a part of. The vibrant colors and limitless choices makes this beautiful world exclusively yours. You can hear the wind blowing and the trees swaying, the waves crashing onto the beach as you pick up sea shells. Every detail of the game tingles your senses and transports you in this utopia.
Mechanics
The mechanics of the game are very simple. Equip an axe to chop trees down, carry a net to catch insects. The gameplay was meant to be as basic as possible to make the game relaxing.
Story
The beauty of ACNH is in how endless the opportunities. The story line is simple as well, decorate and develop your island from scratch, make new friends and enjoy the simplicity of this alternate reality.
Technology
The graphics are a much needed improvement from the previous edition back in 2013. This helped to increase the sensory experience of the game. In addition, this is the first time there is a multiplayer option, where you can mingle with friends and explore each other’s islands.
Lens 2: Lens of Essential Experience
The essential element of ACNH is transporting the player into a different reality, one free from worries and stress of the real world. The point is to create a relaxing gateway for the player to enjoy mindless fun, without a goal unlike in most traditional games. This gives the player to do anything he wants whenever he wants, giving him the freedom of choice to create his perfect world for his character to live in.
Lens 51: Lens of Imagination
The possibilities are endless in ACNH. Having a big imagination and the willingness to try new things will turn your deserted island into a lively paradise. By taking in inspirations from your daily lives, you can create the perfect world for you and your character to live in. Change the colors of your room to match your favorite palettes or grow a garden of your favorite flowers outside your house. Your world can only be as creative as you can be.
Lens 55: Lens of Visible Progress
The feeling of satisfaction of building up an empty, weed-filled deserted island into a perfect, vibrant paradise filled with bustling activities and adorable neighbors in ACNH is amazing. Knowing that the daily grind of collecting materials and intricate planning eventually led to your dream house and an island worthy of praise from your friends feels good. However, there is not much to do after that. ACNH tries to come up with fresh novel updates every now and then but I feel that it is inadequate to keep my attention.
Lens 75: Lens of Simplicity and Transcendence
The rules and gameplay of ACNH is as simple as it gets. This is to put the focus of the game on creating the perfect world without any stress. Add in the right amount of control for the player and the world can be anything he wants. This makes the experience much more joyful as more time is spent thinking what can be done instead of how to do it.