Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the big surprises of the NintendoSwitch cycle.It came out during the pandemic almost by chance, when its type of gameplay was most successful, and ended up selling almost fifty million units.A number that not only was not in keeping with that franchise but also belongs to few games in Nintendo’s quarry;It was the console’s second best-seller only behind the classic Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
This is how the expectation grew regarding a possible new installment or sequel, something that was magnified when the Nintendo Switch 2 came out. The next “Animal Crossing step” after such success is something to take into account, and Nintendo decided, for the moment, that it be with the same game.AnimalCrossing: New Horizons received double content: a big 3.0 update for all Nintendo Switch users, and also a Nintendo Switch 2 version for those who have the new console.
When it comes to updating content, we have the biggest step forward in revitalizing this game, since there are many options to increase the number of hours of play.The main addition is a hotel that comes to our island, where we can start working to decorate rooms for specific requests, and in turn we can export creations that we are asked to “other islands.”
I find the first section nice although not disruptive: it is very similar to the Happy Home Designer DLC, which is included in the NintendoSwitch Online subscription.On the other hand, the export mechanic ends up being not only very fun but also integral, since it forces you to do everything again that you haven’t done since the beginning of the game: search for items, go to other islands, find the best item formulas.I think this part of the new content is more of an excuse to return the gameplay loop than anything in itself, but it works.
On the other hand, there is an intention to continue collaborating with other franchises.The first had arrived in 2021 with the 35th anniversary of SuperMario Bros., and in this new update, it is the turn of The Legend of Zelda (with its 40th anniversary) and Splatoon, which receive content within AnimalCrossing.To access it, you must have an amiibo from either of the two franchises and that way we will not only be able to have iconic characters as neighbors on the island but we will also be able to purchase different objects.
This update brings a lot of improvements that were already available in previous editions of the franchise and until now were not present in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.The cleaning of Rese T., to facilitate modifications on our island is a great example.Being able to build in quantity, something extremely basic, now becomes essential with the new export mechanic and is included in the game.Being able to make small jumps with the character, which helps when moving through objects that was more difficult before.I consider all of this an addition to the “quality of life” that ends up turning this 3.0 update into a push from Nintendo so that this game can give a few more years of life, and a few more hours of play to each of its players.
On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition refers more to the technical than anything else.There are quite a few additions, but like other editions that Nintendo has released from the style, they are all related to taking advantage of the console’s new technology.Improvement in resolution, improvement in the frame rate per second, a mechanic to call your neighbors with the console’s microphone.
The highlight of this edition is that it can now be played with up to 12 players at the same time if they all have this version, which is very useful for another seasoning of the update: the visit to dream islands.You can go to “collaborative” islands to play between these 12 players, giving a gameplay that is in the middle between Stardew Valley and Minecraft.
This Nintendo Switch 2 Edition doesn’t have much more to add, and it makes sense, because much of the content was made free with the update for all users.You can’t blame the version much either: the upgrade only costs $5 dollars and is the cheapest that Nintendo has released, unlike all the rest that cost between $10 and $20 dollars.It is a format that Nintendo has not yet put into practice and that is often not justified, but in this case, I think it is quite correct.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is one of the best updates to the new console that Nintendo has released, but we cannot attribute everything to this edition but to the great update 3.0 that was also released for the first console.I think the intention to revive Animal Crossing: New Horizons came to fruition and was a step forward with respect to the franchise.
It is necessary that Nintendo can clarify its criteria a little more with the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.Putting together the ones that have come out, it doesn’t make much sense in relation to their price, quality and content.We also have to see how long Nintendo will continue betting on this format for the total transition to this new console.
