Comparing Animal Crossing: New Horizons' graphics to previous titles in the series

[Boccages]

OK ! Here's an infographic I put together with screenshots taken on Google of all the mainline Animal Crossing games (I did not bother to include Amiibo Festival, Happy Home Designer or Pocket Camp). I know it's hard to compare the first two titles with the rest because images are smaller or are just hard to come by. Also, I had to crop up the New Horizons' screenshots because they were much bigger than all the others (so the game looks even better than what's shown here).

What are your thoughts on the graphical evolution of the Animal Crossing series? Here are a few things to look at :

• Art direction (colours, design)
• Changes brought over the years
• Things that did not change

- - - Post Merge - - -

The most obvious change is in the colour palette used in New Horizons. The new title has a much more artistic approach to colours. Can you spot how colours complements each other, it has a more 'pastel' look than previous titles. It can be attributed to artistic choices, yes, but also to the use of an advanced lighting system.

It just looks way better now. Other titles had vibrant colours (not any less than in New Horizons), but they were darker, and not always mixing well with others. They had a much harder, opaque look to them.

 

[2kimi2furious]

I think it's weird that they made the player hair semi-realistic in New Horizons, giving it a shine and whatnot, but then Tom Nook's fur still looks smooth and plastic....

 

[tanisha23]

I think the game looks pretty good so far. I do however think that is has a slightly overexposed or I guess very bright sort of look. I wouldn't mind if they toned that down a bit, but I think I'd get used to it pretty quickly if they didn't.

 

[Goddess Yami]

City Folk looks so odd! I haven't played it in years.

I think NH looks good so far. Since the game isn't coming out until March I'm sure the graphics will be clean up a bit. I'm glad they got away from the chibi like height of characters. If that makes sense?

 

[Speeny]

To me it looks fine. The lighting is definitely the highlight for me. I think it'll look even better once the final product is released.

 

[Midoriya]

I’ve been keeping current with this board because I’m really interested in any news and information about the new game, and wow, those graphics look amazing! I never thought of comparing the new graphics to the older releases in the series, but I can say for sure now that the graphics have evolved a heck of a lot! I would agree with tanisha23 that it would be nice if it weren’t so bright, but it still looks really good.

 

[Jason Voorhees]

I still think that NL looked better in some ways. It was more crisp.

More realistic, less plastic.

 

[Boccages]

Trees are also something like twice the height they used to be before.

 

[Rusolando-Kun]

I love the toy-graphics Nintendo started having with Wii U / Switch gen. It's just so lovely to look at!! <3
And when you think about it, that's what Nintendo games were always aiming: even DS Zelda games have this "toy" feeling to them.

When I first saw the new Animal Crossing, I couldn't believe how brilliant it looks. And especially all of the weather effects... it will be a real joy to play AC during Christmas!!

 

[Becca617]

I feel like the graphics for new horizons took a huge leap compared to new leaf, i didn't expect it to be so detailed and crisp. nintendo truly blew me away when they first showed it, i was basically speechless.

 

[Tasty]

In terms of aesthetics, IMO:

New Horizons > New Leaf > Population Growing >= Wild World > City Folk

I don't know what it is but I find City Folk pretty unpleasant to look at... the colors are so saturated and clashing at times. New Leaf was a big step up, and New Horizons builds even more on that and looks great. I have a lot of nostalgia for AC on GameCube and how it looks. Wild World has a prettier color scheme in some parts (sunsets in particular), but is hurt by resolution.

My thoughts.

 

[Sweetley]

New Horizons won here, no doubt. The graphics are just beautiful in this game, much better than from
previous games. The details, the colors... Overall, Nintendo made a awesome job here.

 

[millie192000]

I'm so charmed by the new approach in lighting and colour palettes. It looks amazing!

 

[jefflomacy]

I think the game looks pretty good so far. I do however think that is has a slightly overexposed or I guess very bright sort of look. I wouldn't mind if they toned that down a bit, but I think I'd get used to it pretty quickly if they didn't.

New Leaf had the same problem in its reveal trailer. I'm sure it will not have this palette at launch.

 

[Blood Eclipse]

Horizon looks really good! :0

I just hope the map is big and there's a lot more variation in dialogue and it's not all looks with no substance.

 

[katieofsweetpea]

i actually love it <3 i think it'll probably be even better once it's released

 

[EpicGamer12]

Animal Crossing has never been the most visually appealing series IMO, but it is looking like Nintendo will change that with New Horizons. I think Nintendo would have loved to make New Leaf cleaner and brighter, but the resolution of the 3DS games made the visuals a bit limited. I am loving the look of New Horizons!

 

[Monkeido]

New Horizons is looking absolutely amazing. It's weird, but there just seems to be something "cozy" about these graphics.. or is that just me? ^^'

 

[Boccages]

On the contrary!

If you look at the trailer, it seems quite obvious to me that the slightly overexposed look is only prevalent in summer to illustrate the heat of the season. I think it does the job well. It seems well thought out.

New Leaf had the same problem in its reveal trailer. I'm sure it will not have this palette at launch.

 

[isabll]

Honestly I was expecting NH to be just slightly better than NL, but the graphics look so good it's almost unbelievable!