Getting adjusted to your new life

There is, however, one thing that the game -highly- advises you to do. In order to get the most out of your experience, it would be best to complete the rather lengthy assignment at the beginning of the game. Seeing as you come to the town with no Bells, the game’s currency, Tom Nook puts you to work by completing wide array of chores ranging from meeting your neighbors to delivering goods. When it is all said and done, your house mortgage decreases by 1,000 Bells and you are free to live the game however you want to.

Earning Bells is simple. Almost everything you collect can be sold to the town’s local merchant who will pay you one-quarter of the item’s actual value. By using a net or a fishing rod, players can catch bugs and fish that can be sold to fetch a large quantity of Bells. Harvesting fruit and gathering fruit are two other alternatives for gathering Bells. It is pretty easy acquiring some, but it is difficult collecting large amounts.

Tailoring to your personal needs!

As previously mentioned, each town boasts two retailers; a department-like store and a tailor. The former can be upgraded several times once certain conditions are met and sells merchandise such as equipment, furniture, seeds, tree saplings, paper, wallpaper, rugs, etc. There is also a point system where every 100 Bells worth of merchandise bought equals one points. Once x number of points are acquired, discounts are applied to your purchases.

The local tailor shop in each town is run by two friendly sisters. Here players can stock up on clothing and accessories as well as create patterns and design their own t-shirts. Besides this, patterns can be displayed so that local animals can wear them and set the fashion standards of the community.

That isn’t all your town boasts. Besides these retailers, there is also a museum in which players can donate fossils, fish, bugs, and paintings they have acquired, and a town hall. Here players have access to their banking accounts, pay off their mortgage, make donations to less fortunate villages, mail letters, etc.

Welcome to the ‘big’ city with very little occurring

Each town is full of unique animals; monkeys, bears, dogs, cats, octopuses, you name it. Every single one of these creatures has their own unique attributes which contribute greatly you your life. Some may be lively and always on the go whereas others may care less about what happens. The key thing though is to attempt and befriend each and every animal, but don’t grow too attached. Sometimes they just pack up and leave without warning.

The biggest and most disappointing aspect of City Folk is the city that feels tacked-on. At anytime throughout the day, players can pack up their bags and take a bus trip to the big city. Here players can shop for rare items at a boutique, buy fancy clothing, get their hair done, and adjust their shoe color, among many things.

Any of those things sound familiar? Well if you have played Wild World, you should be aware that almost all of these shops came to your town on a random day throughout the week and set up in front of the town hall. To me, it was one of the reasons to play the game several times per week. Who would want to miss a chance at an extremely rare item? Well in City Folk, everything is found in one central hub and it subtracts from one of the most important ideas of the game; being surprised.