Animal Crossing

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This article is about the game. For the series, seeAnimal Crossing (series). For the course in Mario Kart 8, seeAnimal Crossing (course).
This article is about the first international Animal Crossing release. For the Japanese version from which it was localized, seeDoubutsu no Mori+. For the group of games based on the original Doubutsu no Mori, seeFirst generation.
English logo
North American game cover
Developer(s)Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Katsuya Eguchi
Hisashi Nogami
Platform(s)Nintendo GameCube
Release date(s)United States of AmericaCanada September 16, 2002[1]
Australia October 17, 2003
Europe September 24, 2004
Genre(s)Simulation
Language(s)United States of AmericaAustraliaEnglish
EuropeEnglish, French, Italian, German, Spanish
ModesSingle-player
Ratings
ESRB: E
OFLC: G
PEGI: 3+
MediaGameCube Game Disc
File size57 blocks(town save data)
3 blocks(travel data)
1 block(NES save data)
Input
methods
Nintendo GameCube Controller
Game Boy Advance(Animal Island only)
e-Reader

Guide at StrategyWiki

Animal Crossing is a simulation game for theNintendo GameCube released on September 16, 2002, and the first game in theAnimal Crossing series to be localized for Western audiences.Animal Crossing is the international release ofDoubutsu no Mori+, released in Japan on December 14, 2001, itself an expanded port of theNintendo 64 gameDoubutsu no Mori, which had been released just eight months prior.Animal Crossing adds new content and utilizes the Nintendo GameCube's internal clock to keep track of the in-game date and time. The game's newly added content includes a tropicalisland where players can help a localislander furnish theirhouse, amuseum for donating collectibles, atailor where players can create custom designs, and compatibility with thee-Reader through a series ofcards released specifically for the game.

The game was released in North America in 2002. To prepare the game for release, Nintendo of America embarked on an extensive localization, headed by Nate Bihldorff and Rich Amtower. Their efforts resulted in a substantial increase of in-game text compared toDoubutsu no Mori, and the change of many distinctly-Japanese cultural elements to make them more recognizable to a western audience. Additional content was implemented, such as entirely new holidays, items, and characters. Certain events were also changed to have broader appeal in western regions. This version of the game was also later released in Australia in 2003, and across Europe in 2004.

Animal Crossing was a commercial and critical success, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and garnering strong reviews from gaming media. The game became aPlayer's Choice title in North America. Due to the successful localization effort, the game was translated back into Japanese and released in Japan asDoubutsu no Mori e+, which features the western-oriented changes as well as additional content not present in any of the previous versions.

Gameplay[edit]

A player standing outside of their house

Just as inDoubutsu no Mori,players assume the role of a human setting out for a life of their own in atown of anthropomorphicanimals. Each town is randomly generated, ensuring that no two players' experiences are identical. Gameplay within each village is open-ended, allowing players to engage in a variety of activities that suit their playstyle. Players can pickfruit, growtrees,garden, hunt forfossils andfish, catchbugs, do favors for thevillagers, or decorate theirhomes.

Plot[edit]

Upon arrival to the town, the player is greeted byTom Nook, a local store owner and freelance builder who provides the player with housing. Nook loans the house to the player, advising them to work for him to help pay off the house. After completing several tasks for Nook, he informs the player that they no longer need to work for him and can pay off the loan in their own time. After paying off the loan, Nook allows the player to expand their house in exchange for a new loan. After fully expanding the house and paying back all loans, Nook builds a statue of the player in their honor in front of thetrain station.

Controls[edit]

InputResult
GCN Control Stick.svg
  • Walking and running
  • Moving the cursor in menus
GCN C Stick.svg
GCN A Button.svg
  • Selecting within menus or dialogue
  • Interacting with items, objects, or characters
  • Using a held item
  • Advancing past the title screen
GCN B Button.svg
  • Running (while holding a direction onGCN Control Stick.svg)
  • Picking up items
  • Cancelling within menus or dialogue
  • Backspacing while typing
GCN X Button.svg
  • Opening themap
  • Switching between accents on the last typed letter while typing
  • Pressing the Select button in anNES game
GCN Y Button.svg
  • Opening the player'spockets
  • Switching between letters, symbols, and icons while typing
  • Pressing the Start button in anNES game
GCN Z Button.svg
  • Turning the lights on or off in the player's house
  • Pressing the Select button in anNES game
  • Quitting an NES game (while also holdingGCN L Button.svg andGCN R Button.svg)
GCN L Button.svg
  • Running (while holding a direction onGCN Control Stick.svg))
  • Picking up an item or design in the player's pockets
  • Switching keyboard to display numbers and capital letters while typing
  • Quitting an NES game (while also holdingGCN R Button.svg andGCN Z Button.svg)
  • Soft resetting an NES game (while also holdingGCN R Button.svg andGCN Start Button.svg)
GCN R Button.svg
  • Running (while holding a direction onGCN Control Stick.svg)
  • Switching between the player's pockets, bug collection, and fish collection
  • Creating a space while typing
  • Quitting an NES game (while also holdingGCN L Button.svg andGCN Z Button.svg)
  • Soft resetting an NES game (while also holdingGCN L Button.svg andGCN Start Button.svg)
GCN Start Button.svg
  • Opening the player's pockets
  • Confirming a written letter
  • Advancing past the title screen
  • Soft resetting an NES game (while also holdingGCN L Button.svg andGCN R Button.svg)
GCN +Control Pad.svg
  • Moving the cursor while typing

Development[edit]

See also:Doubutsu no Mori+ § Development

The Nintendo of America localization team began writing game dialogue in early 2002; however, translation of the game's hundreds of items began months earlier.[2] Unlike the extended localization and development process for recent titles in the series,Animal Crossing was localized in the span of eight to twelve months. During this time, the team translated over 30,000 files of text,[3] worked to develop new items and events to appeal to a North American audience.

In contrast to a usual localization,Animal Crossing required not only significant rewriting, but replacing and addition of new contents.Doubutsu no Mori+ heavily featured elements from Japanese culture, and the developers wanted American audiences to have a similar experience.[2][4] As detailed in an interview withNate Bihldorff andBill Trinen, the localization team conceptualized new events and items, and sent them to the developers in Japan to implement them in the game. The final addition was thesummer camping event, which was worked on collaboratively in-person during E3 2002, a few months before the game's release, when the development team offered to add more content. The localizers also faced some difficulties over theportrayal ofGracie's gender, as well as confusion over that ofSaharah andBlanca. The flexibility of the actual script allowed them to insert their own voice or jokes, with the tasks of localizing each villagerpersonality split among different members for consistency. According to Trinen, the team in Japan was so impressed with the changed and additional content of the localization that they decided to re-release the localized version of the game in Japan,[4] in what would becomeDoubutsu no Mori e+.

Announcement and release[edit]

The game's logo as seen at E3 2001

In April 2001, shortly after the release ofDoubutsu no Mori and eight months before the release ofDoubutsu no Mori+, producer Takashi Tezuka stated in an issue ofNintendo Dream that Nintendo of America was preparing for an international release.[5] The following month, on May 16, 2001[6] at Nintendo's pre-E3 press conference, a six-second montage of gameplay footage from what was then known asAnimal Forest was shown to members of the media as part of a larger reel featuring upcoming Nintendo GameCube titles.[7] The clip did not feature any dialogue, however the presence of the shrine indicates that it was still early in the localization process, if not footage directly from the Japanese version.

As early as October 2001,[8] Nintendo established a page on their website forAnimal Forest noting it was "being optimized for its U.S. debut on the GameCube."[9] A few months later on February 28, 2002, at a Nintendo Roundtable Conference, Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that localization ofAnimal Forest was "progressing and moving along quite well" with then-Nintendo president Satoru Iwata projecting it to be released "sometime in the fall."[10] About a month later on March 30, 2002, the game's name was officially changed toAnimal Crossing,[11] as reflected on Nintendo's website at the time.

On May 22, 2002, at Nintendo's pre-E3 press conference, an extended video was shown introducingAnimal Crossing and highlighting its ability to connect with the e-Reader and Game Boy Advance.[12] Iwata also confirmed the game for September release in North America. Later that day,Animal Crossing made its second E3 appearance, this time as a playable title on the show floor.[3] It was generally overshadowed by high-profile titles, however it still received the third-place spot on the Game Critic Award's list for Best Original Game of E3 2002.[13]Animal Crossing was released in North America on September 16, 2002.[14][15][1] There were reports, however, that select Blockbuster Video locations had received and began renting advance copies of the game as early as September 6.[16]

Australian and European release[edit]

Animal Crossing was released on October 17, 2003 and September 24, 2004 in Australia and Europe, respectively. Both versions feature minor bug fixes from the North American release, and the European release features localizations in French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

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Regional differences[edit]

Japan to North America[edit]

In addition to being an upgraded re-release to the originalDoubutsu no Mori, there are also many differences between the JapaneseDoubutsu no Mori+ and internationalAnimal Crossing.

Interface[edit]

  • The dial typing system, featured inDoubutsu no Mori, is retained in the Japanese version ofAnimal Crossing game, although it is replaced with a virtual QWERTY keyboard in the international versions.
  • The color of theNintendo logo differs between versions. In the Japanese version, it is white, while in the international version it is red.
  • The "Press START!" text on the title screen reads "Press Start Button!" in the Japanese version.
  • The copyright text on the title screen reads "©2001 Nintendo" in the Japanese version; this was changed to "©2001,2002 Nintendo" in the North American release.

Locations[edit]

  • The shrine from the original game is changed in the international version to be awishing well.
  • Tom Nook's shop, theMelody Board, and thedump all have different signs. In the Japanese version, the signs feature katakana but are replaced with English text in the international version.
  • The exterior ofNookington's is considerably redesigned, featuring a new canopy and marquee, a new building surface, and a large window in place of the sales banners. The clothing display window is also repositioned and given a new border.
  • TheJapanese postal mark (〒) above thepost office entrance is changed to a window in the international version.
  • The sign above the entrance of thepolice station, which features Japanese text and a star in the center, is changed to "POLICE" in the international version. Additionally, the sign to the left of the entrance is removed and the poster on the side is changed from a wanted poster featuring six individuals, one of which is crossed out, to a single animal.
  • Redd's stand during theFireworks Festival has a completely different appearance between versions. InDoubutsu no Mori it is enclosed by red canvas walls on three sides with a sign above the front side of the stall. In the international version, it is open on all sides, with a red and white-striped pitched roof and more visible decorations but no signage.
  • Igloos contain woks with bubbling blocks of tofu in the Japanese version, which is changed to a pot of chowder in the international.
  • The orange-roofed player house has aworn-out dirt wall andold board floor instead ofwood paneling andsteel flooring.

Characters[edit]

  • All of the possibleplayer face textures have black eyes in the Japanese version. In the international version, six of the eight faces for each gender are given colored eyes. This design choice is retained in other Japanese releases until the release ofAnimal Crossing: Happy Home Designer.
  • Farley andFranklin are new characters introduced in the international version that do not exist in the Japanese version.
  • Various existing characters were redesigned in the international version, and their redesigns have been kept in all subsequent games in all regions.
    • Tortimer wears glasses with white blue lenses and a red zucchetto in the Japanese version. He also wears a white rope around his chest.
    • Mr. Resetti andDon Resetti simply wear white shirts in the Japanese version and wear overalls on top of the shirts in the international version. Additionally, Mr. Resetti's mining helmet features a green stripe under the headlight, while Don Resetti's is green with a white stripe.
    • Tom Nook andRedd both have Japanese characters on their aprons. In the international version, Tom Nook's apron is instead emblazoned with his logo, and Redd's apron features the letter B. Tom Nook's apron in the Japanese version displays the characterten (), meaning "shop."
    • The uniforms for Tom Nook's uniform inNook 'n' Go andNookway were reversed for the international version. His Nook 'n' Go uniform is an apron with a blue and orange color scheme, which is changed to red and green and used for Nookway in the international version. HisNookway uniform is changed to the opposite. This was most likely done to avoid infringing on the color scheme for7-Eleven, of which the original Nookway uniform resembles.
    • Tom Nook'sraffle uniform in the Japanese version is a red and black Haori with a white Hachimaki tied around his head, while in the international version it is changed to a tricolor apron with a sports visor.
    • Redd's uniform during theFireworks Show is completely different in both versions. In the Japanese version, he wears a red and white Hachimaki with a feather attached, and a deep-blue Haori over his usual apron. In the international version, he wears a sports visor and full-length apron with red and white stripes and the letter B emblazoned on it.
    • Chip in the Japanese version has distinctly brown fur, with narrow eyes, glasses, and a purple vest. In the international version, Chip's eyes were made wider, his vest was changed to blue with green trim, and his glasses were removed.
    • OnNew Year's Day,Katrina dresses on some occasions in the Japanese version in a traditional Japanese Hakama, with her head fully exposed and a white band on her forehead, as well as sometimes wearing her traditional purple robes. In the international version, Katrina exclusively wears her purple robes.
    • Copper andBooker have lighter shirts and hats with slightly different texturing. Additionally, the badge on their hats is a different design, and there is no badge on their shirts.
    • In the Japanese version,Aziz andElina each has a dot on their forehead that resembles abindi, a decoration traditionally worn by Hindus and Jains from the Indian subcontinent. Both were removed from international releases; however, Elina's dot still appears on her Game Boy Advance sprite.
    • In the Japanese version,Jane has white fur and brown skin. In international releases, she has purple fur and pink skin.
Altered character designs[edit]
NameDoubutsu no Mori+Animal Crossing
Player
(boy AAB)
Boy AAB DnM+ Model.pngBoy AAB PG Model.png
Player
(boy ABB)
Boy ABB DnM+ Model.pngBoy ABB PG Model.png
Player
(boy BAA)
Boy BAA DnM+ Model.pngBoy BAA PG Model.png
Player
(boy BAB)
Boy BAB DnM+ Model.pngBoy BAB PG Model.png
Player
(boy BBA)
Boy BBA DnM+ Model.pngBoy BBA PG Model.png
Player
(boy BBB)
Boy BBB DnM+ Model.pngBoy BBB PG Model.png
Player
(girl AAB)
Girl AAB DnM+ Model.pngGirl AAB PG Model.png
Player
(girl ABA)
Girl ABA DnM+ Model.pngGirl ABA PG Model.png
Player
(girl ABB)
Girl ABB DnM+ Model.pngGirl ABB PG Model.png
Player
(girl BAA)
Girl BAA DnM+ Model.pngGirl BAA PG Model.png
Player
(girl BAB)
Girl BAB DnM+ Model.pngGirl BAB PG Model.png
Player
(girl BBA)
Girl BBA DnM+ Model.pngGirl BBA PG Model.png
AzizAziz DnM+ Model.pngAziz PG Model.png
BookerBooker DnM+ Model.pngBooker PG Model.png
ChipChip DnM+ Model.pngChip PG Model.png
CopperCopper DnM+ Model.pngCopper PG Model.png
Don ResettiDon Resetti DnM+ Model.pngDon Resetti PG Model.png
ElinaElina DnM+ Model.pngElina PG Model.png
HamboHambo DnM+ Model.pngHambo PG Model.png
Katrina
(New Year's Day)
Katrina (New Year's Day) DnM+ Model.pngKatrina PG Model.png
JaneJane DnM+ Model.pngJane PG Model.png
Mr. ResettiMr. Resetti DnM+ Model.pngMr. Resetti PG Model.png
ReddRedd DnM+ Model.pngRedd PG Model.png
Redd
(Fireworks Festival)
Redd (Fireworks Festival) DnM+ Model.pngRedd (Fireworks Festival) PG Model.png
Tom NookTom Nook DnM+ Model.pngTom Nook PG Model.png
Tom Nook
(Nook 'n' Go)
Tom Nook (Nook 'n' Go) DnM+ Model.pngTom Nook (Nook 'n' Go) PG Model.png
Tom Nook
(Nookway)
Tom Nook (Nookway) DnM+ Model.pngTom Nook (Nookway) PG Model.png
Tom Nook
(raffle)
Tom Nook (Raffle) DnM+ Model.pngTom Nook (Raffle) PG Model.png
TortimerTortimer DnM+ Model.pngTortimer PG Model.png
Villagers with changed default clothing[edit]
NameDoubutsu no Mori+Animal Crossing
CesarCesar DnM+ Model.png
A shirt
Cesar PG Model.png
Two-ball shirt
CousteauCousteau DnM+ Model.png
Noodle shirt
Cousteau PG Model.png
Rally shirt
GrizzlyGrizzly DnM+ Model.png
W shirt
Grizzly PG Model.png
Houndstooth tee
PaoloPaolo DnM+ Model.png
I love GC shirt
Paolo PG Model.png
Cherry shirt
PunchyPunchy DnM+ Model.png
I love GC shirt
Punchy PG Model.png
Cherry shirt
RasherRasher DnM+ Model.png
Familiar shirt
Rasher PG Model.png
Fortune shirt
TabbyTabby DnM+ Model.png
Tomato juice shirt
Tabby PG Model.png
Fish bone shirt

Events[edit]

  • Many of the events found in the Japanese version are changed for or removed from the international version.
  • In the Japanese version, villagers will wear the Summer Robe and Bamboo Robe during theFireworks Show andMushrooming Season. They will also wear the Plum Kimono and Somber Robe during certain other events. InAnimal Crossing, all of these clothing items are not used or legitimately obtainable, though they still exist in data.
  • OnNew Year's Day, the player shakes a pole in the middle of the shrine to ring the bell. In the international version, this is changed to the player tossing a coin in thewishing well's fountain.
  • During theCherry Blossom Festival, villagers will picnic on tatami mats at the shrine. In the international version, the mats are changed to picnic tables and the villagers dance around the wishing well.

Items[edit]

  • I love GC shirt

  • Familiar shirt

  • Tomato juice shirt

  • W shirt

  • Fortune paper

  • New year's card

Miscellaneous[edit]

  • The live version of "DJ K.K." contains guitar riffs resembling the song "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited. In the international version, this is changed to an original melody.

North America to Australia and Europe[edit]

Several minor changes were made toAnimal Crossing in its Australian and European versions. In addition to these changes, both versions include various bug fixes from the North American version.

Australia[edit]

  • The font for the copyright text on the title screen was changed, and it now reads "©2001-2003 Nintendo" to reflect the game's release date in Australia.
  • TheMario trophy andLuigi trophy have shorter bases. This is carried over fromDoubutsu no Mori e+.
  • The ROMs forGolf,Pinball,Punch-Out!!,Soccer, andWario's Woods have been changed to their European versions.
  • The following dialog entries have been changed to fix typos or formatting errors (changes inbold):
Entry IDNorth AmericaAustraliaNotes
0788

"Oh,Wait a minute!
What am I doing, chewing
your ear off like this?
My apologies!"

"Oh,wait a minute!
What am I doing, chewing
your ear off like this?
My apologies!"

078E

"That price is rock bottom!
Any lower, and I'd be giving
it away!I 'm not that crazy
Hee hee hee."

"That price is rock bottom!
Any lower, and I'd be giving
it away!I'm not that crazy!
Hee hee hee."

0D69

"So, <player>,
If you buy something there,
make sure you know what
you're paying for!"

"So, <player>...
If you buy something there,
make sure you know what
you're paying for!"

1103

"Hold it! This is no bass!
It's asweet fish. It might as
well have a stamp on its
side that says "NOT A BASS!""

"Hold it! This is no bass!
It's asweetfish. It might as
well have a stamp on its
side that says "NOT A BASS!""

1300

"I feel so silly.
I accidentally boughttwo
<item>!"

"I feel so silly.
I accidentally boughta
second <item>!"

Item name is not pluralized, leading to a grammatical error in the North American version.
1410

"I see. Well, I've got to get
some things ready for you.
Please wait while."

"I see. Well, I've got to get
some things ready for you.
Please waitfor just a while."

14A4

"No big deal. Anyway, I'm
going to get things, so
keep your pants on!"

"No big deal. Anyway, I'm
going to get thingsready, so
keep your pants on!"

1D54

"In an hour, it'll be <time>...
yaaaawn...zzz...zzz...
Whaー?
Must stay awake! Awake!!!"

"In an hour, it'll be <time>...
yaaaawn...zzz...zzz...
Whaー?
Must stay awake! Awake!!!"

321B

"Oh, my! <player>!
It seems like such a long
time,  <catchphrase>!"

"Oh, my! <player>!
It seems like such a long
time, <catchphrase>!"

Double space after "time" in the North American version.
3A4C

"So, Sonny had an urgent
errand that he just couldn't
pull himself away from.
Theguys' like a mole dynamo."

"So, Sonny had an urgent
errand that he just couldn't
pull himself away from.
Theguy's like a mole dynamo."

3A6B

"Let's me make one thing
perfectly clear: snails are not
insects. Snails are members
of the mollusk family, wot!"

"Let me make one thing
perfectly clear: snails are not
insects. Snails are members
of the mollusk family, wot!"

3B20

"You need to insert a different
Memory Card into Slot A or
Slot B.
<catchphrase>"

"You need to insert a different
Memory Card into Slot A or
Slot B."

3B3D

"The Memory Card in<Slot A/Slot B>
is corrupted! You can't useit!"

"The Memory Card in <Slot A/Slot B>
is corrupted! You can't useit!"

  • The lengths of the pauses between words duringKapp'n's Song have been adjusted.
  • The spelling of two names in the credits has been fixed: "Tim O'Leary" ("Tim O'leary" in the North American version) and "Robert Crombie" ("Robert Cromble" in the North American version).

Europe[edit]

PG Title Screen.png
PG Title Screen Europe.png
The North American (left) and European (right) title screens. Note the altered "Press START!" text and copyright dates.
  • French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages are supported, and the language used by the game is dependent on the GameCube's language.
  • Alle-Reader functionality (and references to it) has been removed, as the e-Reader was never released in Europe. This means theIce Climber andMario Bros items are unobtainable, though they still exist in the game's code. Despite this, the item names still received translations.
  • The "Press START!" text on the title screen now reads "press START", and the font has been changed.
  • The font for the copyright text on the title screen was changed, and it now reads "©2001-2004 Nintendo" to reflect the game's release date in Europe.
  • The clock uses the 24-hour format rather than the 12-hour format used in the North American version, and all in-game dialogue is updated to reflect this.
  • Dates use the Day/Month format rather than the Month/Day format used in the North American version.
  • Pounds, in the context of weight, is replaced bykg.
  • Numbers use periods instead of commas as decimal separators (e.g. 1.000 rather than 1,000).
  • The sign in front of thedump features a fish-bone design in non-English language versions rather than the text "Dump."
  • Spring Cleaning Day occurs on March 15 instead of May 1.
  • Labor Day occurs on May 1 instead of the first Monday of September.
  • Thechalk board reads "English Lesson" instead of "Social Study."
  • The Mario Trophy and Luigi Trophy have shorter bases. This is carried over fromDoubutsu no Mori e+.
  • The ROMs forGolf,Pinball,Punch-Out!!,Soccer, andWario's Woods have been changed to their European versions.

Promotion[edit]

Animal Crossing Pioneers[edit]

On August 7, 2002, Nintendo of America announced a contest whereby 125 teams of two would be selected to receive advance promotional copies ofAnimal Crossing.[1] The submission deadline for the contest was August 12th. To be considered for selection, applicants had to submit a written response of 50 words or less explaining why they should be chosen as Pioneers. Those selected received a specialAnimal Crossing disc marked "for promotional use only," along with a 59 block Memory Card and a promotionalAnimal Crossing calendar. Pioneers received the game a month early and were expected to help Nintendo generate online buzz in advance of the title's release. Pioneers were also given exclusive access to a web forum where they could discuss the game amongst themselves as well as provide feedback to Nintendo representatives. At the end of the experience, the Pioneers were invited to an online chat with a few of the members of the game's localization team.[17] An analysis of the standard and promotional game disc concluded that the two were byte identical,[18] meaning that no changes were made to the final version as a result of Pioneer feedback. The promotional copy and calendar have since become collector's items, with one set selling for over $500 on eBay in March 2014.[19]

  • Pioneer program login

  • Promotional disc

  • Calendar letter

  • Front of calendar & promo copy

  • Back of calendar & promo copy

  • Inside calendar

Sweepstakes[edit]

From August 30 to October 15, 2002, Nintendo of America initiated theAnimal Crossing "Deck Out Your Room" Sweepstakes.[20] One grand prize winner received a TV, headphones, and CD player from Panasonic, a Nintendo GameCube, a Game Boy Advance, five GameCube games, five Game Boy Advance Games, two WaveBird controllers, and a one-year subscription to Nintendo Power. Five first prize winners received a Nintendo GameCube, a copy ofAnimal Crossing, and a one-year subscription to Nintendo Power.[21] Those who registered for the sweepstakes received a freeAnimal Crossing screensaver.[22]

Reception[edit]

Animal Crossing was met with mostly positive reviews from critics, with many praising its charming, unique gameplay and long life span. e-Reader connectivity was seen as a welcome addition, although some criticized its outdated graphics and felt that it did not offer much of a single-player experience.[citation needed]

Animal Crossing was included in many year-end 'best of' lists upon its release in 2002. It has also been featured in several all-time top video game countdowns and has received multipleawards and nominations. Review aggregator Metacritic notes a Metascore of 87/100 forAnimal Crossing,[23] which places it just behindAnimal Crossing: New Leaf's score of 88. In May 2021,Animal Crossing was inducted into theWorld Video Game Hall of Fame.[24]

Awards and nominations[edit]

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2002Game Critic AwardBest Original Game of E3Nominated[13]
GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002Game of the YearNominated[25]
Best Role-Playing Game on GameCubeWon[26]
Most Innovative GameWon[27]
Funniest Game (Purposely)Nominated[28]
GameSpy's Best of 2002GameCube Game of the YearNominated[29]
2003The Game Developers Choice AwardsInnovation AwardWon[30]
Interactive Achievement AwardsInnovation in Console GamingWon[31]
Outstanding Achievement in Game DesignWon[31]
Console Role-Playing Game of the YearWon[31]
Console Game of the YearNominated[31]
Game of the YearNominated[31]
Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay EngineeringNominated[31]

Top lists[edit]

YearPublicationListPlacementRef.
2003Nintendo PowerNintendo Power's All-Time Console Favorites17[citation needed]
Entertainment WeeklyThe 100 Greatest Videogames72[32]
2006Electronic Gaming MonthlyThe Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time126[33]
Nintendo PowerNintendo Power's Top 200 Games51[34]
X-Play10 Best GameCube Games Ever7[35]
2007EdgeTop 100 Games of All Time49[36]
ScrewAttack!Top 10 GameCube Games5[37]
2008Nintendo PowerBest of the Best - Nintendo GameCube (Top 20)19[38]
2012TIMEAll-TIME 100 Video Games-[39]

Gallery[edit]

Prerelease and unused content[edit]

Main article:List of prerelease and unused content in Animal Crossing

Names in other languages[edit]

Japaneseどうぶつの森
Doubutsu no Mori Purasu
Animal Forest+

GermanAnimal CrossingAnimal Crossing

European SpanishAnimal CrossingAnimal Crossing

European FrenchAnimal CrossingAnimal Crossing

ItalianAnimal CrossingAnimal Crossing

External links[edit]

Animal Crossing on other wikis

References[edit]

  1. 1.01.11.2Jonathan Metts (August 6, 2002)."Lucky Gamers Play Animal Crossing Early".Nintendo World Report.
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Doubutsu no Mori+ /Animal Crossing
New special charactersDnM+ Logo.svg

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New islanders
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