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Animal Crossing being played on 3ds
Animal Crossing being played on 3ds
Julia Gomez
Culture > Entertainment

Preparing for ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FIU chapter.

The ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons” release date is fast approaching, but for some, it can’t come soon enough. The long-awaited game was first announced in November 2018 and set to release in 2019. However, Nintendo decided to postpone the release date to Friday, March 20, 2020 “to ensure the game can be the best it can be.”

After waiting a year and a half since the announcement, Animal Crossing is just around the corner, and time feels like it’s moving a little slower. So, here are five things you can do to make time go by quicker.

Play ‘Animal Crossing: New Leaf’

Playing alongside Isabelle and all of your other villagers will bring some nostalgia back for veteran players. Filling town ordinances have never been so fun! For those who haven’t played, it’s currently selling for $16.99 at Best Buy.

Add Chrome Extensions

If you use Google Chrome, you can add extensions; it lets you customize the way you use your browser. Luckily, there are extensions specifically aimed at Animal Crossing fans. “Nook” gives you the option to play music from ‘Animal Crossing: Population Growing, Wild World and New Leaf’ in the background while you have Chrome open. You can even customize it to add rain sounds. “Animal Crossing Countdown Timer” is another extension that counts down the days till Animal Crossing New Horizons is released!

Binge Youtube Videos

If you want all the information you can possibly get, binge watch YouTube videos from channels like Mayor Mori and Crossing Channel. They analyze the information released by Nintendo and try making educated guesses on what New Horizons is going to be like.

Show Support on Etsy

There are plenty of shops on Etsy that sell adorable Animal Crossing merch. Quirky Impression is a shop that sells shadow box wall art with quotes like “Loan Sweet Loan” and “Remember That Bad Times Are Just Times That Are Bad.” Doodle Sweater Cat is another store that carries the cutest pins, like a stack of pancakes with a little Tom Nook icon on top, and Animal Crossing prints.

Dominate as Isabelle or Villager in ‘Smash Bros Ultimate’

 Smash Bros Ultimate is a beloved by many Nintendo fans. It’s described as a game where “gaming icons clash in the ultimate showdown”. People were ecstatic when Nintendo announced players would be able to pick Isabelle as a fighter. Join friends at places like Arcade Odyssey, where they host Smash Tournaments every Friday and compete as Isabelle or Villager for first place.

So many people are excited about the release. Everyone has a different experience and reason as to why they love Animal Crossing. The free-range the game gives players is what makes it so personal. It easily melts away stress and distracts from the worries of the real world. Its unique, adorable style is friendly and inviting. It allows players to feel comfortable while they’re playing. While other games like Legend of Zelda and Pokémon are fun, the fact that there aren’t any specific goals you need to accomplish to move along the plot makes Animal Crossing all the more fun. It’s never-ending and limitless; that is what attracts so many people to the game. Your character and village continue to grow despite how long you’ve been playing for.

Julia Gomez is a student of journalism at Florida International University and hopes to become an investigative journalist. She is experienced in writing about politics and pop culture, and has a passion for music and photography.