By Alejandro Ramos News Editor
For the past week, I’ve been starting my days a little differently.
I wake up to the sights and sounds of nature and get right to work. I go out, catch a couple of bugs and fish, then pick some fresh fruit. After that, I call up the local furniture craftsman and place an order for another piece to add to my ever-growing collection. Lastly, I finish up by talking to my neighbors to see if they need anything at all.
Then I put my phone down and get out of bed.
That’s just the way of life when you start playing “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp,” the latest installment of the community simulation series from Nintendo.
“Pocket Camp” takes the classic “Animal Crossing” formula and repackages it for mobile devices, giving players the opportunity to enjoy the game on the go.
Here’s a quick rundown for those of you who aren’t familiar with “Animal Crossing.” It’s a game that lets you create and customize your own character. After that, you spend most (er, all) of your time collecting items and money to use for the trading or purchasing of clothes, furniture, and other knick-knacks that you can decorate your space with. All of the other characters you interact with are very friendly, including the approachable animals.
That’s basically it. You’re able to enjoy the game however you see fit from there. You can spend your time collecting rare bugs and fish, or farm for bells so you can build and furnish the best house around. It really is up to you.
It’s the kind of game that you go into with a lot of skepticism and end up completely loving because running around and collecting things and talking to the characters is relaxing and soothing compared to the endless stream of stress and anxiety in everyday life.
That’s just me, though. If you don’t believe me, just play it for five minutes.
Now, “Pocket Camp” doesn’t necessarily break the mold in terms of gameplay or features. If anything, it’s a trimmed down version that was made for mobile devices. There isn’t as much to do compared to the console versions, but it still offers a satisfying “Animal Crossing” experience. Newbies can get acquainted with all the series has to offer while veterans can mess around with it while they wait for the next full installment, hopefully on the Switch (Reggie pls).
The game makes excellent use of its platform. Players can connect with each other by exchanging friend codes or finding each other by connecting to Facebook or Twitter. By doing this, they can visit each other’s camps, buy items from each other, and just give each other compliments, which triggers a pure and wholesome animation.
The best part is that “Pocket Camp” is, technically, free. Although, you do have the option to purchase Leaf Tickets with real money that you can use to buy your way through the game. While it does make it easier to get certain items and unlock certain features, that ultimately betrays the spirit of “Animal Crossing.” It’s better to slow down and enjoy the journey.
So, consider giving “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp” a try if you need a break from the everyday hustle and bustle.
