New Horizons: Failing From Success

The Irish Dino2 minutes read

A Japanese man named Katsuya Aguchi created Animal Crossing to turn his lonely experiences into a charming game for kids, leading to its popularity worldwide. Despite its success, Animal Crossing: New Horizons faced mixed reviews from fans due to issues like lack of villager depth, excessive dialogue, and focus on customization over traditional charm.

Insights

  • Katsuya Aguchi, a Japanese man in Kyoto, Japan, created Animal Crossing to transform his loneliness into a charming game for children, capturing a sense of optimistic loneliness.
  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons, released in 2020, gained immense popularity but faced criticism for excessive dialogue, lack of varied personalities among villagers, and a shift towards town-building, losing some of the original essence that made older games special.

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Recent questions

  • What is Animal Crossing?

    A game created by Katsuya Aguchi in Japan.

  • When was Animal Crossing: New Horizons released?

    In 2020.

  • What are some criticisms of Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

    Excessive dialogue and lack of varied personalities among villagers.

  • What new features were introduced in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

    Island customization and terraforming.

  • How did the Animal Crossing community react to New Horizons?

    Mixed reviews and controversies.

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Summary

00:00

Animal Crossing: From Creation to Criticism

  • A Japanese man in Kyoto, Japan, named Katsuya Aguchi, created Animal Crossing while feeling lonely in the city.
  • Aguchi wanted to turn his somber experiences into an enjoyable game for kids, ensuring it was charming and unique.
  • Animal Crossing was released in Japan in 2001 and later in America, Australia, and Europe, becoming popular.
  • The game, often seen as animals talking and anthropomorphic, captures a sense of optimistic loneliness.
  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons, released in 2020, gained immense popularity during a time of limited social interactions.
  • Fans requested an early release of New Horizons, showcasing the game's high anticipation and demand.
  • Despite its success, New Horizons faced mixed reviews from fans, prompting discussions on its shortcomings.
  • New Horizons introduced a plot and goals, unlike previous Animal Crossing games, leading to potential boredom after completion.
  • Villagers in New Horizons are criticized for being overly nice and lacking the depth of previous games' characters.
  • The game's excessive dialogue, repetitive interactions, and lack of varied personalities among villagers contribute to player dissatisfaction.

15:14

"New Horizons: Control and Limitations"

  • In older Animal Crossing games, villagers could leave without notice, but in New Horizons, they must ask permission to leave.
  • Villagers lack free will in New Horizons, needing approval to depart, which can feel dystopian.
  • Customization in New Horizons allows for complete control over the island's layout and design.
  • Players can now place items outside in New Horizons, a new feature not present in previous games.
  • Terraforming in New Horizons permits players to reshape the land as desired, a significant addition to the game.
  • In New Horizons, players are given the title of resident representative, granting them extensive control over the island.
  • The game's focus on customization may detract from the original Animal Crossing charm, where towns were pre-established.
  • Tools in New Horizons can break, a new feature that was not present in previous games, leading to frustration for players.
  • DIY recipes in New Horizons allow players to craft items, but the sheer number of recipes and lack of organization can be overwhelming.
  • The limited shop options in New Horizons, with only two shops available, pale in comparison to the variety in previous games like New Leaf.

29:30

"Animal Crossing: Balancing Old and New"

  • The shop design on the deserted island lacks designer items, special furniture, and fertilizer, giving an underwhelming feel.
  • Players can place various items like stalls, traffic lights, fans, and cars in the shop, but an update is needed for a visually appealing look in New Horizons.
  • Upgrades in New Horizons should be longer to reflect the player's town-building progress, even after completing the KK Slider event.
  • There should be an option to invite shopkeepers from Harris Island to the player's island for more building options and interactions.
  • Retail in New Leaf was a secondhand store where players could buy items cheaper and sell their own items, fostering community interaction.
  • In New Horizons, the owners Reese and Cyrus are reduced to furnishing items, losing the charm of the retail concept.
  • The Animal Crossing community faced controversies like selling popular villagers like Raymond for real money and debates over hairstyles, leading to toxic behavior.
  • Animal Crossing New Horizons, despite its financial success, lacked the charm and depth of previous games, focusing more on town-building and pleasing a wide range of fans.
  • The game succeeded in attracting a larger fan base but lost some of the original essence that made older Animal Crossing games special, highlighting the need for a balance between old and new elements.
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