Still looks good to me, but the rabbit screen makes me think of Silent Hill 3, and the person on the stage makes me think of Illbleed.

Chef

WHERE'S MY MONEY B!TCH?

NorthernAvengeR

@Omnipy: Don't fix what isn't broken?

everybest

@everybest: Except it's on the Wii! And you can waggle your wand and fish with your WiiMote! Yay!

UCB-Disco

@everybest: Which looked exactly like the N64 version.

Omnipy

Great, looks exactly like the GC version.

everybest

I agree... This just looks like a clone of AC:WW on the DS. =\

I'm dissapointed

t3hOutlaw

THIS is the straw that broke the camel's back.

KatiePewPew

The Rabbit singing "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo"??

Once I get this game, I'm going to shoot this rabbit once he appears in my town.

Shachihoko

Well as long as voice chat will be incorporated properly, and if there's going to be plenty of stuff for me and a friend to do, this would be a purchase... but a hard one at that.

Kaizuden

@TheIrishNinja: Animal Crossing was released as an N64 game in Japan in early 2001, and then ported to Gamecube for its International release at the end of that year.

Kazzahdrane

oh ho ho, that bunny will be so, so very foul-mouthed when new jack city takes over.

the best part of the GC animal crossing was playing it when i was rooming with a japanese chick who wanted everyone to say kawaii and such, and teaching the villagers bold new words like bukakke, panko manko and the like. by the time the fashion trend was green lantern symbols & swastikas, my vision was complete.

anyway, again, this is the one title that will lend itself quite well to nintendo's gimped online service, and thats all the GC version was missing, for me. that, and more fish to catch.

TheIrishNinja

@Omnipy: ..there was an n64 version?

TheIrishNinja

"Flippity Skippity
Lookin' For Eggs
Bippity Boppity
Usin' Your Legs"

If that's not the most blatant example of sexual metaphor from a cartoon rabbit since Bugs Bunny put on a brass bustier, I don't know what is.

justhesh

Man, I want a similar game to this one on the PS3...only better. Getting tired of AC.

Gringorilla

I don't care what anyone says, I love this game.

phinehas

@Chef: Oh yeah, definitely the Silent Hill rabbit; it explains the nonsense gibberish and all.

psxman

I poured hours upon hours into the GCN one and have nothing but love for it. This and the DS port are such let downs when you think about what Nintendo could have delivered if they cared at all.

hagridore

Hey, what was the latest Nintendo game series (not counting Mii games like Wii Sports) that wasn't a "rehash"?

Ryumeka

Nintendo spend ages perfecting their main Mario and Zelda games, but everything else is so slap-dash these days. Animal Crossing is a prime example ("NEW: UMBRELLAS!") not to Mention Pokemon in all its forms.

Stompy1

@Ryumeka: Odama in 2006 probably. One of the hardest games ever made. Strategic voice-commanded pinball.

Geist was an fps published by Nintendo (though not made by them) that had you possess things like a ghost. Also 2006?

Both games were quite experimental (Odama REALLY experimental) and neither sold at all.

Also, what's with everyone always saying "series" or "franchise?" Games do exist by themselves with no series or bs "planned trilogies."

Ueziel

Seeing as I lost my GC version awhile back, and don't own the DS one, I'll be getting this even if it's a rehash. Damn...I already sense Tom Nook breathing down my neck about the money I owe him...

sweetie55

@Ueziel:
agreed. I find it funny how people bitch about games like this but not first person shooters and such. 'Manly' games don't count obviously. No one is bitching about COD5 even though it's going to basically be COD but 60 odd years in the past.

fadecy

yeah it looks the same as other animal crossings, in the same way that all the metroid prime games look the same, but people didn't bitch about that did they? noooo.

fadecy

@Ryumeka: Donkey Kong, 1981.

denki

@Stompy1: Pokemon's slap-dash? Access to every Pokemon in existence, online trading and battling with voice chat, improved move sets, another set of characteristics to make battles deeper and tons of little extras is slap-dash?

No.

Ueziel

Oh snap! Is that a stand-up comedy club I see in the pictures? Me likey

WordMan

I take back all my previous comments about this game. Reggie was right; this game is HARDCORE.

Seriously, look at them rhyming skills! They be phat, man!

PapaBear434

@Ueziel: Nintendogs and Pikmin come to mind.

That's the problem with Nintendo's main franchises. They never evolve the story to story driven games. Zelda Twilight Princess was awesome for 3/4 of the way through until you realize it's all about Ganon...AGAIN. Zant isn't the badass he was originally portrayed to be. He was really a whiney coward that was Ganon's puppet.

Look at Metroid. Metroid Prime 3 plays better than Prime 1 or 2 because of the controller. But it's not the best in the series overall. The story was stupid and using Phazon to fight was annoying as hell. I shouldn't have to stand there for 5 minutes at a time shooting at a grub because he's doped up on Phazon. It's a damn GRUB for crying out loud. Who on the design team thought that was cool? Prime 3 had great gameplay but again, that has a lot to do with the controls. But there were too many instances in that game that had me saying "come on now...that's retarded..." I'm the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy, hated and feared by the Pirates and I arrive on their homeworld, set off an alarm and I'm NOT swarmed by enemies until I'm dead? The planet isn't on high alert status until I'm dead?

Prime and Prime 2 had better stories. The Ing were the enemies that deserved your hate (or envy since some of them had cool powers) when you see how they decimated the Luminoth. The sad part is Nintendo and Retro never thought once to allow even a few cutscenes to showcase the events in the lore. We just get to read about it. In Prime 3 the USS Vahalla gets demolished and the entire crew was butchered...don't get to see it though....just read about it and see the wreckage. (which btw is one of the most graphically impressive stages in this generation...for the Wii)

My point is if Nintendo would take franchises like StarFox, Zelda, Metroid, Fire Emblem and Custom Robo and give us changes and gameplay based on an evolving story and environment instead of repackaging the same design with the same mechanics that they've already done 10 times over since 1987, I think many would be more inclined to support their sequels today.

Look at ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. I'm definitely buying Team ICO's next game because I believe it's going to tie into the first two games and I want to know how the story unfolds. I want God of WarIII because Kratos is awesome and I want to see the conclusion of the story.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

It's the same game. Again. I am sure there will be a few new small things, but overall the potential for improvement and positive change looks wasted.

ShadowXion

I want my brown hardcore Animal Crossing already!

dowingba

Same game or not, I had fun with it @ PAX, and I'm looking forward to getting it at home.

BrennaCeDria

If I owned a Wii I would own this game the day it released, I loved the origional. Alas, I don't own a Wii so I will be skipping out.

Quicksilver4648

Brilliant, what games this generation weren't rehashes. GTA4 with a smaller environment than San Andreas but has a Russian rather than an American, African American, etc.
Wow I cannot wait until the next Zelda comes out on the next Wii, I'll be reading "But it's just the same as the last one", then the Next Mario "But it's just the same as the last one". Then the Next Halo "But it's just the same as the last one". Then the next Ratchet "But it's just the same as the last one, but they use sheep this time." Or the next Tomb Raider "It's just the same as the last one, but she's had a reduction". Brilliant, come to think of it, which video games are significantly different? only new franchises like Little Big Planet, but when two arrives it'll be a rehash.

scotty999

I expected the gameplay to be basically the same, but the graphics? Is that even taxing the Wii at all?

Lemming

They're not even trying to stay current anymore. What happened to you, Nintendo?

Wolfers

@scotty999: Don't forget, when they decide to make anything new instead of making sequels, the same people are going to complain that they're not making a sequel to their pet franchise. "What's this crap, where's GTA5?!"

Rebochan

I enjoyed the Gamecube version but never owned a DS for that version. Despite the lack of significant progression within the series, there are changes to note. The city aspect will be new to me. The screenshots indicate the addition of stargazing for constellations. The multiplayer aspect will be lost on me as a single player gamer. The loss of classic games is sad since I never go online with the Wii and therefore no Virtual Console titles for me. If that was too big a deal, I could always fire up the Gamecube version again.

The real point though is that the game does not need to change much for Nintendo, despite the desires from established gamers. There will always need to be entry level games for every console as a new generation of kids discovers videogames. As for AC:CF, kids will love it, and even some adults.

Vysion

@scotty999: I think you're missing the point a little. It's not that it looks similar to other games in the franchise, I love sequels, it's that the game appears like it could have been done on the GameCube. Stagnation is not OK by me. Ratchet & Clank Future, Halo 3 and Mario Galaxy could NOT have been done on the PS2, Xbox and GC.

Wolfers

@TheIrishNinja: How did you not marry her? =P

Marios_shadow

@fadecy: Your comparison is illogical. Other games at least have a story to follow and that story changes for each game. So even if the gameplay is only slightly improved, you at least get a new experience from it. There is no story in AC so the gameplay is the ONLY experience. So when they take the easy road and rehash the original, then I have a problem with that. It's not the end of the world, but I won't be buying this.

On the other hand, I am telling anyone who has never played AC to get this version for sure.

the_loxster

Ugh. I am so disapointed. I love love love the AC games. I played the heck out of the GC and DS versions. But when nothing major gets added or fixed, I will not be buying. I don't care if they have voice chat. There are so many opportunities to enhance the AC experience beyond adding waggle.

the_loxster

@Chef: I thought the exact same! Robbie the rabbit in yellow. But no less scary.

Poison

Day one for sure.

Anybody who bitches about the graphics in a Animal Crossing game has fell off the bus IMO.

ctuck

Well, Luke, I like Animal Crossing more than the next guy who likes Animal Crossing, but I've seen nothing that makes me believe this is more than AC1.8 (I WANT A TRUE SEQUEL!!!).

Still, it'll be a sin if I don't buy it cuz I can't tell myself I don't want it, though I didn't enjoy Wild World as much as I wanted.

Falcon PAUNCH!!!

Very disappointing. I am sure the masses who aren't familiar with AC will eat it up, but for the rest of us who have followed the game since the beginning this is a collective yawn.

M.A.S.

* re-releasing

gpasoyf

@TheIrishNinja: Your version of the game sounds a lot better than my half-hearted weed-covered village.

tk.

@Lemming: I think they're thinking that most people who aren't buying the game wouldn't have their minds changed by better graphics.

I'll bet there's a few people saying "I liked the GC version but I wish it looked better", but I'd also bet Nintendo's graphics teams would be better off helping out on the new Zelda or whatever, where more people are likely to have their buy\not buy decision affected by such things.

headcase88

Oh! nintendo is re-realsing animal crossing Too!

gpasoyf

@Gringorilla: Home might be a solution.

Do Kesubei

So is the Gamecube version of Animal Crossing getting a "Play on the Wii" re-release? Well yes, if you count this disappointment!

Seriously, even my mom isn't excited about this bullshit rehash. MY MOM. You fail, Nintendo. So very, very hard.

ridleysaria

@Wolfers: To be fair, we haven't seen much of the gameplay. The game itself could have a million things to do that aren't in the GC and DS versions. Now such things may or may not be possible on the GC or DS, but even if they are, most people don't want to buy a new GC game, they want to buy a new Wii game. And if it's fun, it doesn't matter if it could mostly be done on the GC.

An extreme example is Mega Man 9.

headcase88

I'm kind of happy they've kept it as is, really.
I've grown accustomed to the style of Animal Crossing, and you can't really keep that style and give it a graphical overhaul at the same time - sure, change can be good, but Animal Crossing is more about adding new stuff underneath the hood. The biggest addition for me? The Auction House - that shit will rock in all kinds of ways.

Ska-Chan

So... it's the Gamecube version... with hats. And more stores.

Are we really trying, Nintendo? And if I hear them touting "Wii Speak" again I'm gonna barf.

RoboPeaches

@dowingba: I can understand the lack of brown, but the fact that it doesn't even have bloom... it's like they just don't care.

And those pixel shaders? Sooooo last gen... ok that's enough.

headcase88

@phinehas: me too, is something wrong with me that the more it sucks the more i love it

Jeangenie

Animal Crossing needs more bloom.

Spiderkid

Now that I'm done (for the most part) picking apart the dumb reasons others don't like this new Animal Crossing, I'll give the reasons I don't (though I'll likely buy it anyway).

While I understand that the gameplay will remain the same for the series (because that's what makes the damn game), I got really excited when hearing the post-colon of the title. "City Life" was exactly the sort of thing many fans, including myself, have been hoping to see. The premise of a town that you could have the option of seeing grow would be amazing.

For all the crap Wild World gets, it managed to add the ability to see your animal neighbor's homes actually change as far as furniture goes. Nook's growing store had been their since the GCN, but Wild World had it grow even more after you had visitors.

But why is it, after three games, Nook's and my own home are the only ones that grow?

Why is it that Wild World took a step back and forced all playable characters into a single home?

I want to be able to see a town expand, gradually growing into a city. Not grandiose with skyscrapers and all that, but I'd like to be able to have a little more control in the layout. The GCN version got me all excited when, after having a certain number of villagers through keeping your town in good shape, you could chose where to add a new bridge in town. Where the hell did this go?! Why wasn't this expanded on instead of being removed from the next iteration?

City Life filled my head with so many possibilities for the series again, but all it has really done is condensed the world. Yes, there is a city, but from the looks of it, all they've done is shoved every shop into a small little square.

Mact

@Stompy1:

Obviously you don't follow Pokemon.

There has yet to be a generation that hasn't introduced at least one mechanic that has changed the entire game, moving it more and more towards perfection.

Mact

@everybest:

Stylistically or graphically?

Because if it's the later, you're a moron
If it's the former, well, that's the point.

Mact

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: Well said.

Do Kesubei

@headcase88: Yeah, this is true. I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but it's hard to ignore the first impression from time to time.

Wolfers

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.:

Depends on your definition of "story-driven games", I suppose. You cite Zelda as an example. "[The story lines] are not that important to [the Zelda team]. [They] care more about developing the game system... give the player new challenges for every chapter that is born." [www.miyamotoshrine.com] If you go into a Zelda game assuming Ganon won't be the mastermind, you obviously aren't paying enough attention. Especially with Twilight Princess, a game filled with fan service for those who fell for the series originally via Ocarina of Time.

As for Metroid Prime 3, I thought the storyline was far superior to that of the second game. The first game was good, but the second was awful. It was a shining example of how game mechanics trump story as it should be glaringly obvious to anyone who has played the game that the story was devised because of the concept of a two-world game.

Back to Prime 3's storyline. Yes, you were on the pirate's home world. Do keep in mind, however, that the majority of them were off making sure their plans with the Leviathans worked out. By the time you got there, the base was pretty much emptied out. They also may not have cared because at this point they also were confident that the galaxy was theirs with their latest plan.

If you want changes and game play based on an evolving story and environment, what the hell are you doing playing Nintendo games? They do the opposite. Story is created based on game play. It works beautifully.

But, really, do tell me. How has the Zelda series remained the same since 1987? I'm pretty sure it turned into a 3D realm at some point. How has the Metroid series changed the same since 1987? Pretty sure the originals weren't first person adventures. How has Star Fox stayed the same? Pretty sure they've included a more strategic element in Command and added more ground missions in Assault.

I'll give you Fire Emblem, but only under the condition that you tell me what they could change and still keep it in its current game style.

I don't really like Custom Robo, so that's a freebie.

Mact

Please, please, please let us play this using the DS. I need to be able to type with the touch pad, NOT with an on-screen keyboard.

CHONGLISS

@scotty999:

Except Little Big Planet is just Garry's Mod with features removed, so not even that is original.

Alchemistmerlin

God I hate myself for wanting this game so badly.

I bet my friends hate me for forcing them to buy it with me...

Alchemistmerlin

Its Lunch-scarfing time!?!

SynchronizedBlink

@everybest:
Actually, this looks more like the DS version. The GC/N64 was a larger forest split up into single screen acres. The DS had a single forest but it seemed slightly smaller then the other ones. I'm sure the forest in this new one will be pretty big though.

HepCat

Yeah, I expected the new animal crossing to have a new graphical look to at least the setting. So, yeah this was really disappointing. But I'll end up buying it anyway.

HepCat

did anyone else just see that text and lol?

mronoc

Alright, I'll admit, these screenshots do look better than the version of AC: WW I recently played.

At PAX, the color and resolution were horrible. I now realize we were seeing a very rough product in the exhibit hall.

Will I get it? It is very tempting....

MaxSteele

@mronoc:
I saw that text and it was more of a "...the fuck?!"

SnakesSolids

@hagridore:
The same can be said for most of Nintendo's offering within the last couple years. Great potential that's been squandered due to over restrictive and protective policies.

Darkest Daze

As long as there is more new content (ie., furniture, fossils, fish, and other things that start with the letter 'f'), I don't care if it has Atari 2600 graphics! Animal Crossing is like heroin-frosted crack!

RubyMars

Despite other's bitching, I look forward to this one. I love Animal Crossing! Can't wait to find Bunny Eggs on Bunny day...so cute. >__<"

em

@headcase88:

@dowingba:

lol.

em

I heard this game is going to cost two testicles.

UniComp

Harder? what do you want? realistic creepy animals? The look of the game is the favorite thing about the game. Maybe later they can add something that looks more like the anime movie, but I don't think the Wii could handle that load.

VakeroRokero

The game looks like an Animal Crossing game and that's good enough for me. People seem to be forgetting this game is not about graphics at all, it's style pretty much is one that caters to lower graphics. The game will be a blast for all Animal Crossing fans, and will bring in many new ones as well you just wait and see.

WPack911

I was kind of hoping for a stylistic overhaul (not one that would stray too far, but noticeable enough) and high-end cell shaded graphics...that would have been cool, but I'm glad they at least applied some anti-aliasing at long last.

Sandbox_Emperor

@mronoc: I def had a mixed reaction of WTF? and lulz.

Zingaro

Ug, Fuck this. I love AC, but I'm not buying this, mainly because they'll be taking out the NES games.

8bitcity

Is the bunny using your legs in place of the eggs? Because thats what I got out of the song.

Heres hoping theres an ode to PA in the game. In the form of an assassination mission because a certain critters weeds have grown unchecked for far too long.

svenhoek

@TheIrishNinja: That was a joke, haha.

90sKid

Looks like a straight gc port.

kagebutsu

Why is it so hard to update this game???
We are talking about an N64 game, that was PORTED to Gamecube with basically N64 graphics, then ported DS with DS graphics, and now its coming to Wii with oh what... N64 graphics? And the same holds true for the features, why is it so difficult to revamp the game? Its been what 6 YEARS since this game came out on GCN? And all we get is a slight feature update???

Nintendo has really dropped the ball lately and have abandoned their hardcore audience. Once the casual appeal of the wii dies down Nintendo is gonna crash and burn, HARD, and its gonna be their own damn fault.

MafiaAce

The most wasted potential ever.

Seriously. You want to know what they could have done? They could've taken inspiration from the AC movie THEY made. Pop some details on things, smooth up the animations, bring the visual design sensibilities up to modern speed. Make villager personalities more analog.

There's a long list of things that could've been done to make this relaxing village game more immersive and relaxing, and just about nothing on that checklist has been checked off. Not more REALISTIC. Not changing the core. Just improving the icing on the cake, making it feel better.

This style, built around the original technical limitations of the N64, could really do to be fleshed out, too.

P-Flute

@Mact: No reason why the style couldn't have taken advantage of the hardware. Not fundamentally changed, but seen some love in the detail and design department.

But really here they just took everything into 3DS/Maya and Photoshop and hit smooth.

P-Flute

ya know what? i think i'll pass on this one.

FlapDangerous

Man, like that isn't all creepy as hell...

valuepack

That seriously looks like Robbie the Rabbit from Silent Hill 3...

DoctorCello

@justhesh Not to mention his name is Zipper.

ShrikirtiGange

I find that rabbit disturbing. It reminds me of the rabbit faces in Silent Hill 3...

celark

Eeeeeehhh. I'm really over Animal Crossing at this point. I really want to like it, but I think I'm just done.

Benjo

I'd kill for some beautiful Galaxy-esque stylized visuals. These just look flat and ancient, like a higher-res N64. I love my Wii but if I'm gonna play Animal Crossing then it oughtta at least look respectable on it!

Soulblighter

Actually in this specific case, I dont belive the graphics make the game. However, this could be better though and I definetly wouldn't say no to better graphics.

LuXe