Does anyone else feel like the game is lacking?

[Flodorf]

You see this everywhere. World of Warcraft fans think the original game and its first expansion are the best. Star Wars fans swear by Episode IV to VI and loathe episode I to III.

The first experience you have with a franchise is often the strongest, as it's new. You do not have anything to compare it against and so you judge it in a vacuum. You don't get upset by little things that were better in previous installments you played, because you haven't (or you might have forgotten). For you, New Leaf probably brought you a lot of good things! And with all those good things comes a whole lot of expectations for the next game, which it can't possibly match.

It would be such a snoozefest if it was the exact same game as New Leaf with updated graphics. So it had to be different. And in that fact alone, that it is DIFFERENT, it is gonna feel out of tune with your memories and expectations. That's when the pondering begins. 'It's because of the lack of recipes, the change in tools, the events, the music.' etc, etc. I am pretty sure that New Horizons will never recapture the magic of New Leaf, if that was your first time playing AC.

Personally, I have played New Leaf for quite a bit, but I haven't touched the game in more than 5 years. I don't remember a whole lot of stuff (like the post office, or the shopping street, which people reminded me here). And because of it, I am having a blast with AC: NH. Reading these forums, has made me dread come here. I used to lurk here (without an account), but recently I have found the urge to respond to topics to balance things out a little?

EDIT: Obviously you can share your sentiments on it, which is completely fine! I am just trying to add a little perspective. Try to look at AC:NH in a vacuum. There's a lot to love in this game, that was lacking in New Leaf.

 

[Kairi-Kitten]

You see this everywhere. World of Warcraft fans think the original game and its first expansion are the best. Star Wars fans swear by Episode IV to VI and loathe episode I to III.

The first experience you have with a franchise is often the strongest, as it's new. You do not have anything to compare it against and so you judge it in a vacuum. You don't get upset by little things that were better in previous installments you played, because you haven't (or you might have forgotten). For you, New Leaf probably brought you a lot of good things! And with all those good things comes a whole lot of expectations for the next game, which it can't possibly match.

It would be such a snoozefest if it was the exact same game as New Leaf with updated graphics. So it had to be different. And in that fact alone, that it is DIFFERENT, it is gonna feel out of tune with your memories and expectations. That's when the pondering begins. 'It's because of the lack of recipes, the change in tools, the events, the music.' etc, etc. I am pretty sure that New Horizons will never recapture the magic of New Leaf, if that was your first time playing AC.

Personally, I have played New Leaf for quite a bit, but I haven't touched the game in more than 5 years. I don't remember a whole lot of stuff (like the post office, or the shopping street, which people reminded me here). And because of it, I am having a blast with AC: NH. Reading these forums, has made me dread come here. I used to lurk here (without an account), but recently I have found the urge to respond to topics to balance things out a little?

EDIT: Obviously you can share your sentiments on it, which is completely fine! I am just trying to add a little perspective. Try to look at AC:NH in a vacuum. There's a lot to love in this game, that was lacking in New Leaf.

very thoughtful reply to this topic, definitely agree it needs to switch it up for both old and new as well as to modernize and just change up the formula to create a new experience. I've had an amazing time so far and still having fun!

 

[Deca]

Things that have been in the series literally from the beginning also didn't return and I just said that my close friends who are series veterans miss a lot of these things too. Just because I've only thoroughly played NL (I have tried GC and WW, for the record. I own a gamecube and a copy of GC and have played it) doesn't mean I'm an idiot who knows nothing about the earlier games. You just assumed that because I said New Leaf was the first one I played. It's also very jarring to have a museum staircase that goes to nothing and a dock that has no purpose and my dad, whose first game is New Horizons, noticed those things and when I told him "well, in New Leaf that dock would've had a guy named Kapp'n who would take you to an island where you could play minigames, and in earlier games the museum basement would have a cafe in it and the upstairs would have a shop, and every game used to have an art exhibit in the museum too, but I'm not sure if these things are gonna come back" he felt disappointed and confused about why they wouldn't have those things while having the places some of them would be located be empty. My brother is missing gyroids, which have always been in the game and were not introduced in New Leaf. Removing series mainstays and reducing creativity aren't evolutions. But whatever, I'm not gonna keep responding to someone who condescends to me over thinking that a game isn't 100% perfect on a thread that was made specifically to find people who have issues with the game.

Not sure if it's this thread or somewhere else but someone said there's metadata in the gamefile for a museum upgrade.

It's highly likely that Nintendo is keeping future upgrades locked behind updates to avoid everything getting spoiled by TTers. Like another user above said, they probably want to avoid another CF debacle.

Just be patient.

 

[JKDOS]

It's highly likely that Nintendo is keeping future upgrades locked behind updates to avoid everything getting spoiled by TTers. Like another user above said, they probably want to avoid another CF debacle.

I think it was really to give them more time to polish things without delaying the entire game for it. They could have easily added everything, such as the museum upgrade, but keep it locked (unobtainable) until they release a patch unlocking it.

I love what bcmii had to say

While I think that is an interesting theory, I personally believe that a far more plausible reason for the game being severely lacking is that simply Nintendo was behind on schedule. They already had that nine month delay, and heaven knows that if there was another delay, the fans would book the next available flight to Japan and set fire to the Nintendo development offices. So in order to make things work, I believe that they had to cut all the (many of them basic) features out and give vague promises about future updates (which we really know nothing about) so that the fans wouldn't question the severe lack of content in the base game they paid a whopping $60 for.

If the time travelling theory is true, why would they allow for the guidebook to be released? Wouldn't that just defeat the purpose of keeping all these features a "secret"? People could just look in the guidebook and leak everything that way, anyways. Personally, I'm hoping the guidebook gives us a glimpse of what's to come.

 

[starlightsong]

Not sure if it's this thread or somewhere else but someone said there's metadata in the gamefile for a museum upgrade.

It's highly likely that Nintendo is keeping future upgrades locked behind updates to avoid everything getting spoiled by TTers. Like another user above said, they probably want to avoid another CF debacle.

Just be patient.

This is the last time I'll respond because to be honest I'm in a bad mood for a multitude of reasons and feel as if this is getting out of hand, but: I know that about the museum datamine and I'm the one who mentioned it actually, on the same post where I said I know that some things will surely be coming back in updates and hope many of my favorite features and furniture items eventually will too. I simply used the staircase leading nowhere as one example of how NL being my first AC isn't the only reason I don't think NH is the most perfect game ever--my dad had no idea that staircase could've ever gone somewhere in a previous game until I told him, and he was already confused about it, among other things he's criticized.

I just wish people would understand that you can like something and still have issues with it (especially in the case of a game released 8 years after its predecessor which had to be delayed, and especially when I was told by many people that I couldn't feel sad about the game being delayed because it had to be so it could be perfect), which is all I'm doing. I'm even doing it on a thread where the OP stated their criticisms and asked if anyone felt the same way as them, so I'm staying in my lane here. I don't even think New Leaf is 100% perfect but this thread isn't about that. My main point is that I like New Horizons a lot and think it's a good game but I also think it needs updates and improvements before I can truly love it and I'm well within my right to say that, just as you have the right to be fine with the game as-is. And now I'm going to stop checking this thread.

 

[Zura]

No sorry, it feels like a complete game to me. A lot of my favorite old stuff is not in the game but I'm not mad/sad over it. So many new stuff has already replaced those stuff and I'm still experiencing new things after new things. Kinda hard to call his game lacking when there's an absolute ton of new stuff that was packaged up neatly in a bow and given to me. So old game content is gone? is this the first Animal Crossing to dare to take out features, sets, NPC or even villagers? No, and it wont be the last to. Hell, I don't remember anyone complaining about the cut content in NL.

Why don't you give the game more then 2 weeks eh?

 

[Deca]

I think it was really to give them more time to polish things without delaying the entire game for it. They could have easily added everything, such as the museum upgrade, but keep it locked (unobtainable) until they release a patch unlocking it.

I love what bcmii had to say

Hmm that does make a lot of sense, but I also think there's a difference between *knowing* what's to come, and TTs and normal players actually being months and years apart in terms of gameplay.

Why did you think they hid the Easter event behind an update? Certainly not because of developmental issues, it literally came out a few days after release. But this time Nintendo is much more careful with game content not getting spoilered too early.

I think that's also why there's only one Nook's cranny upgrade so far as well. It's so easy to develop, but they purposely left it out for now.

 

[fuzzdebell]

I don't feel it lacks anything. Sure some things from past games are gone but doesn't make NH less enjoyable. I really really enjoy it. There are tons of things to do especially crafting. I really hate swimming in NL, so it doesn't bother me it's not in this game but if it returns, I hope they fix it. And like others said, there will be updates from time to time. I just wish fans can be more patient. I prefer getting updates cos it's like getting excited opening a box of gift.

 

[Fridaynightcatlady]

No, but I do feel like it’s glitched as heck

 

[marea]

I miss some of the old features like diving and mini games, but i still like the game a lot and it keeps me engaged. It also has a lot of improvments over NL. I am not looking for a replica of new leaf and i love that NH brought its own unique features but it is ok to want some of the old things back.
I do think that nintendo plans on adding stuff through updates, though.

 

[Aubrey895]

I’m loving it. I’m glad it feels like a complete new game. I was sooooo bored of new leaf. Glad this isn’t new leaf 2.0. I don’t mind stuff returning through updates.

 

[koopakingg]

Yes, it’s crazy how empty the game feels compared to the past games. No post office, Redd, and especially the cafe, etc.

Honeslty, two shops in the game is a complete joke. It doesn’t even have a “town” feel that a life sim should have. I really don’t understand cutting basically more than half the cast. New Leaf brought in so many new faces while making sure to give old beloved characters their time and NH just gets rid of them all.

I’m not sure what I’m gonna do once I get my island how I want. Hopefully Nintendo has some big updates planned in the future to bring some stuff back.

 

[JKDOS]

Yes, it’s crazy how empty the game feels compared to the past games. No post office...

I don't know if you know, but the Airport doubles as a post office. In past games, the post office was shared with Town Hall.

 

[claracampanelli]

honestly, i really like the game and i'm having a lot of fun with it.

i don't mind that past characters or features were cut off.

i hated stuff like diving and the island minigames. i don't miss that at all

and GYROIDS. they were ugly and i couldn't stand always having to dig them up

even though i played the other ac games, i'm not bothered that some characters haven't appeared on new horizons so far. like yeah i miss cyrus and reese because i got so used to them everyday at retail in NL but they aren't really necessary since now the nooklings are taking care of that. i wish we would've seem rover and tortimer, though.

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

I played over 1400 hours of New Leaf, and over 150 hours in New Horizons so far (without time travelling). New Horizons does seem lacking - I miss the post office, I miss the Dream Suite, I miss the fortune teller, I REALLY miss the cafe. I miss the mini games from tortimer's island, and diving, and NPCs like Kapp'n, Redd, Pascal, etc.

But I think I still prefer NH to NL. New Horizons brought in so many quality of life changes, the game looks more polished, the terraforming and museum are awesome. Hybrids seem to grow way faster. I love that you start from scratch, that you can decide where villagers move in, and the layers of the island. There's just so much I like. I just want my dang cafe.

I can't imagine opening up New Leaf again, and playing it... it was an amazing game but eugh

 

[eat]

Not sure if it's lacking since it's still quite a new game. However, I do want to point out that I'm already seeing duplicated DIY recipes and furniture items in Nook's Cranny so I'm worried that it's an indicator of how diverse the furniture in the game is.

 

[Brookie]

I have to agree with starlight song, especially on the furniture. What were they thinking? I can't fathom how anyone would want such basic and limited options...it's not that hard to bring the furniture sets back PLUS this new game's furniture. Though I love the game, it has some iissues.

 

[trashpedia]

Not really but I can understand the concerns about how much content is left once you achieve everything you wanted. I prefer this game a bit more than New Leaf (But they are both great imo) because I have vivid memories of villagers plopping their houses on top of my rare hybrids, so being able to locate where the houses should be is very convenient. Also, what really takes the cake is that villagers in NH can't move away unless they ask you compared to NL where they can move away without saying anything.

 

[thelonewanderer]

Post office is now in the airport. There is no postman, yet. Not sure we will see one delivering mail in the future.

I actually felt pretty good with the new game. At least
1/ I could find a place for my villagers such that they don't build their houses on my well maintained garden or destroy my perfect fruit trees.
2/ Shops are now within the island instead of the shopping area where New Leaf was (gosh, I forgot that name already). I felt my trips are shorter and more productive now.
3/ fitting room with different colors and a click at a glance is SOOOO much better of an upgrade!!! There are a lot more choices, too.
4/ Being able to choose my first 9 villagers is a PLUS!!!

Of course, they could make the game better and always have room for improvements. However, the things that I wished are some lazy tasks that I didn't want to do. Such as:
1/ have a storage room where the DIY table is
2/ a "friendship-meter" to the villagers so that I know how happy they are with me. I am not sure if I still get pictures of them when they leave. I was hoping I don't need to talk to them anymore when I have reached that friendship level with them
3/ ... to be continued

Having said all these, I felt the game is better than New Leaf and I am happy.

Being able to place house anywhere doesn't cost the developer any thing but yeah I agree with everything you said.