This is one of the few games that Nintendo DS advertise in the "girl's games" section. From the advert I was pretty excited about it. It was the second game I had decided to buy for my DS so was expecting it to keep me satisfied for a while. First time round I was a little disappointed as I imagined a game that was jam packed full of things to do but I just started playing it again and I am really enjoying it.
***The Game*** The opening went on for a bit too long. My character was in a taxi and in order to choose my name and sex for my character I had to answer the taxi driver's questions "What's your name" and then use my stylus to touch the right letters on a keyboard on my touch screen. Okay, I've finally arrived in my town and I head over to see Tom Nook. Tom Nook is your best friend when you want a bigger house but also your worst enemy as he is making you skint! The purpose of the game is to pay off the mortgage to Tom Nook. After each payment, he will ask you if you want a bigger house and the bigger your house gets the bigger the mortgage is.
There are additional things you can do while your trying to pay off your mortgage such as become friends with your neighbours, collect items, plant flowers, donate to the museum and make your own star constelations. These are pretty limited and can get a bit tiresome after a while. You can go fishing, digging and bug collecting which you can either sell to Tom Nook to help pay off your mortgage or donate
to the musuem.
***Nook's Cranny*** This is where you buy your furniture, tools, wallpaper, carpet, flowers and medicine. This is also where you sell all the things you have collected for some money. The first level is "Nook's Cranny", a small wooden shop with limited amount of furniture. It was only recently that you have to spend so much to upgrade rather than pay off all your mortgage! After you've spent a certain amount the store will upgrade. Next is "Nook n Go" which is a larger shop, more like a convenience store, which sells more furniture, about 5 items each day, alond with tools, plants, medicine and a message in a bottle. Tom Nook also introduces the "Nook Point System". Once you have spent a certain amount you will become a member which means the goods that are sold in the shop will be cheaper. When you've spent even more of your money in the shop it will upgrade again to "Nookway" a supermarket like shop. I haven't reached this yet so I'm afraid I can't tell you much about it. The very final stage is "Nookington's" which adds a Salon on another level of the store. In order to get to this point, you must have spent a certain amount of money and have a friend buy something in the shop using DS to DS communication or Wi Fi.
Advantage - Nook's shop is essential throughout the game. In order to get money you need to sell things to him, you also apply to the "Happy Room Academy" which will rate your house on it's furniture and decor. The HRA will give you points, haven't quite worked out what for, but you need to buy furniture and wallpaper/carpet from Nook's store in order to get good marks.
Disadvantage - It's pretty hard to pay off your mortgage aswell as spend enough in the shop to keep trying to reach the next level. I've come to the conclusion that you either have to do one or the other really, especially when your mortgage is getting higher and higher. The last stage will also be a problem for me as I know no one with this game plus I haven't figured out how to use the Wi Fi. This has slightly aggitated me!
***The Museum*** Blathers, an owl, owns the musuem and although he is quite sleepy in the day time, there is no specific time that you can go in - you could go in at 3am or 7am and he'd be happy. There are 4 exhibits:
Fossils - these can be dug up from the ground, look for large cracks. Insects - Found on trees of floating about Fish - By small ponds, the beach shore and streams. Paintings - Never found one yet, sorry.
After you have donated to the museum you will find it in one of the exhibits. Blathers is always happy when you donate something. The Museum also contains a Cafe. On Saturday between 8pm and 12am K.K Slider, a singing dog, will play music there. Also Blather's sister, Celeste, owns the Observatory which is on the second level of the museum. From here you can stargaze or make your own constellations via the telescope.
Advantages - Umm, the cafe is a nice place to go and you feel good donating something to the Museum
Disadvantages - More donating means less things to sell toTom Nook. Blathers is pretty annoying too, he talks to much.
***The Able Sisters*** The two sisters own a shop next to Tom Nook. Here you can buy clothese, accessories or design your own pattern to display in the shop. I'm not 100% sure if the shop upgrades or not, I'm really hoping it does but it could be unlikely.
***Graphics*** Graphics are pretty good. The characters, environment and clothes appear to be done really well. I can't think of any flaws to it. They may not be fantastic compared to other games but for the DS they are brilliant, I have seen some shocking graphics for the DS and these are the best.
***Playability*** It can be quite a slow game. I find I'm often on the hunt for items I can sell to Tom Nook so that I can pay off my mortgage quicker. I do get slightly bored when I'm not looking for items and after a while, my neighbours moan to me that I haven't brought any friends to visit the town. The screen and actions are quite easy to use. You have the options of using your stylus and the touch screen or your buttons on the DS.
***Addictiveness*** I have to admit I am really addicted to this game. I think it can go either way though, first time round I was happy with it for a few months but now I am really loving the game. I wouldn't buy it if you wanted a game that was constantly giving you things to do and this game does drag slightly but nonetheless it can be enjoyable.
***Conclusion*** It's a fun game with great graphics and a half decent storyline behind it. There's not a lot to it and it does require a lot of time and patience in order to even think about completing it. I found a lot of problems when trying to set up my Wi Fi connection and you may do too so maybe look into the Wi Fi side of it first before buying the game because otherwise you'll never complete it. Because it can be really enjoyable I would recommend it.
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Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: Out of stock
Advantages: Addictive and fun, well made and thought out with real time play Disadvantages: Addictive, real time play, shop hours & shop closing, no real aims in the game
Oct 7th, 2008
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