If you haven't heard of this latest mobile game, you're either not an Animal Crossing fan or you're living under a rock!
Last week, Nintendo released a mini version of Animal Crossing for mobile phones based in a world of camping and it has been downloaded more than 5,000,000 times! However, when I say a "mini version", it really isn't a watered down version like, I believe, most people thought it would be. Mobile phone games can be fun but they're pretty limited, so I was pleasantly surprised when I started the game late last night and got hooked until the early hours of the morning!
You are a camp site manager and the purpose of the game is to craft furniture and befriend others, so they will come and stay at your camp site. You gain materials and money by completing little quests, which involve gathering fruit, fish, bugs etc for the other characters. You can use those resources to craft furniture, either for your camp site or for your camper - yes, you get your own cute camper-van that you can customise and upgrade, inside and out! It is almost like the houses you would have in the other Animal Crossing games.
If you're a big fan of AC, then this game will fulfil your heart with all your AC needs. It is as cute as before, there are recognisable characters such as K.K, Butch, the Mabel sisters and Tom Nook, the design and graphics is identical to the previous games and there are familiar sound effects which will give you those nostalgic feels.
It is as cute as before, there are recognisable characters such as K.K, Butch, the Mabel sisters and Tom Nook...
Fishing and collecting fruit, bugs etc is exactly the same as the previous games and you can chat to the other characters and give multi choice answers. The things you can collect are the same and there is some recognisable furniture available to craft.
The difference is that you will come across other human characters, who are real players and you can check out their camp site and camper, as well as purchase things from them and give them kudos. You also have goals you can complete to gain rewards and you have a 'market box' which you can use to sell things you have.
If you've never played an AC game in your life, this game may still be appealing to you and I'd recommend that you at least give it a go. A male friend of mine, who had never heard of AC, started it at the same time as me and he was hooked! I also think it's great for children; it's a very friendly, positive game, all about giving and being rewarded, working towards goals and even paying a back a loan on your camper! You can also turn off real money purchases if you're a parent and worry about huge bills! Of course, this little game can be appreciated by people of all ages though and I certainly don't feel like I'm playing a child's game.
If you've never played an AC game in your life, this game may still be appealing to you and I'd recommend that you at least give it a go.
You may be saying to yourself "but it's a mobile game - it will have adverts and will limit what you can do unless you pay real money for things" and honestly, I thought the same. However, I have played the game for four hours and there has not been one advert and the things you buy are called 'Leaf Tickets' but you can gather hundreds within a few hours of game play. There is absolutely no push for you to buy anything and you do not feel limited at all. One area is not accessible, but if you ask 5 friends to help you (easy enough to add people as they're in most places often) you can get into it, which is an alternative, free way, compared to using Leaf Tickets. Even then, if you saved up your Leaf Tickets, you can use them to unlock it pretty easily and free of charge!
As you play, you get a real sense that they have really thought through everything, from the great graphics to the different personalities of the characters (and their own little theme tunes). What confirmed that thought for me most, was when I had to do a data download (I believe they're updates) and they had turned it into a mini game where you can earn 'bells' (AC currency) that will be given to you in the game after the download. The game also works perfectly; the game hasn't lagged or completely shut down - you honestly forget you're playing a mobile game as you become absorbed in all the things you can do.
There is absolutely no push for you to buy anything and you do not feel limited at all.
Another thing I appreciate is the ability to remove automatically placed furniture. To get a character to stay in your camp site, you need to have furniture in your camp site, that they like. Their furniture may really not go with the design you've already made, so once they move in, the game asks if you wish to remove automatically placed furniture and returns everything to how it was, after the little cut scene. I had a desired sofa in my camper and the game automatically took it out for a character to move in, but then moved it back to my camper straight after. It may defeat the whole point of crafting their furniture, but as long as they stay at my camp site, I don't mind!
What's more exciting is that there are a couple of things which are 'coming soon' and one character tells you he is 'fully booked' for a service, that will no doubt come in future updates. There is already a lot to keep you busy but knowing we can look forward to more is great news!
I give Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp...
5 stars!
If you want to give this cute game a try, you can download it here!
Most Helpful Opinions