There a few new features in Animal Crossing: New Leaf that keep the player coming back each day and offer something a little more gamy to fill the down time. In the shop belonging to the twin-spawn of Tom Nook, the most precious items is sold; a fortune cookie. These are purchased with Play Coins and yield a Nintendo item. Of course these are the coolest and treasured for their interactivity and uniqueness. The Triforce, a kart, Samus’s outfit, or even a block carpet for the floor are some of the coveted items. Here’s the catch: you can only by one (or two depending on if the shop has upgraded which is based on how much you have spent there, spoilers: another reason to keep going to the shop everyday and spending more bells, the standard currency) each day and then must wait until the shop restocks the following day.
Funding public works is a slow process even with the help of the citizens and combined with spending money at shops and on upgrading the house, there are never enough bells. Fortunately, there is Tortimer Island. After a few days of play, the old Mayor Tortimer will show up and extend an invitation to his tropical island. It’s never closed after unlocking and there are always minigames in the form of tours available to play for free. These tours provide something to do after all the main land chores have been exhausted and they yield an island specific currency that can be used on island specific items. Besides servicing as a ceaseless diversion, the island is home to bugs; big, expensive bugs. Catching and bringing these insects back to the mainland to sell is the best way to make hella quick bell. After discovering this money making machine, the only stymie to owning the biggest and best is once again real time.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is the most delightful drip-feed of goalless fluff to grace a handheld. For those who have never heard of Animal Crossing it’s basically impossible to describe without sounding like a crazy person, but for those who have heard of it and looking to give it a try, New Leaf is the best place to start. The sense of discovery, Nintendo charm, and crucial adherence to real world time make Animal Crossing: New Leaf an addiction worth having.