The Evolution of Animal Crossing - Customization and Daily Activities

[Alolan_Apples]

It's time for Part 2 of The Evolution of Animal Crossing. The Box Theory is just the beginning. Today, I'm going to go over close-up information on character customization, interior and exterior design, and tools. I'll even go over how they changed over time.

In each section, I will go over the basics. When I talk about the Gamecube version, I talk about how it all started. Each game after game I talk about the new changes.

Interior Design:

The interior design feature has barely changed over time. They take small steps rather than giant leaps. Throughout the entire time, you can place and pick up furniture, move and rotate furniture, and change carpets and wallpaper in the rooms. They also had the same furniture classes all along.

• Gamecube Version - while this is where it all started, furniture was way different. The refrigerator was a Class E furniture piece, lamps were Class E, TVs had only one channel, and Class B furniture can only hold up to three items at a time, as picking them up counts as more than one item if filled. Also, bigger objects can't be stored in Class B furniture. Oh, and the basement's carpet and wallpaper cannot be changed. Chairs can be accessed through only one side.
• Wild World - there were some changes as AC evolved. Due to the removal of the light switch feature, lamps have been changed to Class A furniture to provide illumination. Items stored in Class B furniture are the same all over the place as you have more to store. They can also store furniture, but fish and insects cannot be stored. TVs have more than one channel as they change over time. The refrigerator is a Class B furniture piece. NES games were removed, but new items were introduced. Chairs without arms are now accessible on three sides.
• City Folk - interior design has pretty much been left unchanged. However, more channels were introduced to TVs and the basement's carpet and wallpaper can be updated. More furniture series such as the GracieGrace themes were introduced, giving more variety.
• New Leaf - interior design still isn't changed much, but there were some changes. Lamps now glow in multiple colors, more themes were introduced, trash bins can now eliminate some items, furniture can be hung on the walls, and TVs have commercials. Fish and insects can be stored in Class B furniture.

Happy Room Academy:

Speaking of interior design, the HRA was a built-in feature where your homes are scored based on design. They criticize houses with mixed themes, furniture placed inappropriately, and loose junk on the floor.

• Gamecube Version - no matter who you are, you are forced to join the HRA. The HRA also sends letters every time you change your layout. They don't judge the basement, but both the upstairs room and downstairs room count as one room.
• Wild World - once again, you are forced to join the HRA. All rooms in one house don't count as one room, so you can get individual scores per room and a combined score for your house. They only send letters every Sunday, even if you didn't update your interior. You also don't lose points if you mix themes and series. There are furniture genres too.
• City Folk - instead of being an insurance person, Lyle is now in charge of the HRA. In addition, it's optional rather than forceful. You can see the model room for the best room the HRA can find.
• New Leaf - HRA has been changed to HHA. You only receive letters if you break a record. You can also check up on them to see your current score. Theme challenges are introduced too. Each HHA theme is different to the furniture themes.

Exterior Design and House Placement:

Up until New Leaf, you can only change your house design by repainting your roof. Not only that, but houses are already set in town.

• Gamecube Version - everyone has their own home, but they all have to live within the same acre. There's no other option. No matter what town you have, all houses are within the same acre, and it's always B-3. Animals can rudely repaint your roof without your permission.
• Wild World - everyone has to share the same house. Other than being in the beach acres, the human house can be anywhere in town. You can choose where you want it to be close by, but it's in random locations in different towns.
• City Folk - all humans can live on their own, but four houses are already set out. You can choose which one to live in, but you cannot specifically choose where your house should be.
• New Leaf - acre system has been abolished. You can now choose where you want your house to be once you create your character. You can have all four human houses together or in random locations. Furthermore, Tom Nook can do more than just repainting your roof. You can update all exterior options.

Remodeling:

This is the last one about housing. Although paying off debts has been unchanged, remodeling patterns are different the whole time. The debt after expansion is the debt for the expansion.

• Gamecube Version - you can only expand your house to a two-story house with a basement. The maximum size the upper floor can be is 6x6. Basements are always 8x8. Completion of all debts result in character's statue in front of the train station.
• Wild World - everyone has to share the same debt since they share the same house. The first three debts deal with house expansion as the rest deal with additional rooms. While there is no basement, the only room that is 8x8 spaces is the main room. Additional rooms are always 6x6, and there is a specific order of what rooms are added.
• City Folk - housing orientation has been reverted to the GC version again. All rooms except for the main room is 4x4 spaces. The main room can be up to 8x8 spaces.
• New Leaf - other than the fact you can have four characters now, housing orientation is the same as Wild World's. Debts are only to pay off one room at a time rather than the entire house at once. You can have a total of six rooms, and they are all 8x8 at the end.

Character Customization:

Along with decorating your house is character customization. While house customization barely changed, character customization greatly changed. At first, you can only changed your shirt. Now you can change almost anything. You still cannot change neck items, coats, and additional items (like backpacks).

• Gamecube Version - you can only change your shirt. The patterns apply to all sides of the shirt, as well as the hat. You cannot remove hats, change your hair, or anything.
• Wild World - although the shirt changing is the same, hats can now be changed. You can wear anything on your head or your face. Also, you can change your hairstyle, but only when you unlock Nookington's.
• City Folk - patterns are no longer the same on all sides of a shirt. You can also get your shoes redone.
• New Leaf - greatest change. You can change tops, bottoms, and dresses. There are three types of bottoms as shirts and dresses have three different sleeve lengths. Sock and shoes can be changed too. Not only that, but eye colors can be changed. So a girl with blue eyes can have the same face style as those brown-eyed girls in the Gamecube version.

Character Menu:

The character menu has changed a lot. Since I didn't play City Folk too much, I'm going to skip it this time.

• Gamecube Version - menu had only three panels. The basic menu had letters and items, a pattern section, and your character. There was also a fish encyclopedia and insect encyclopedia.
• Wild World - menu had more panels. It had a fish encyclopedia, insect encyclopedia, item selection, letters, and patterns.
• New Leaf - menu can hold up to 16 items rather than 15. Letters were in a different section like the patterns in the Gamecube version. You can have up to 10 patters rather than 8. There is also a pattern menu, an encyclopedia menu (where you can see the three encyclopedias), and a TPC (includes badges). If you already have best friends, a fifth menu is added. You can also stack fruit into baskets.

Tools:

All four games had the same four tools, but the last three had six tools. Getting the golden net and golden fishing rod has been the same all along.

• Gamecube Version - you only have the shovel, net, fishing rod, and axe. The golden shovel can be obtained by growing golden shovel trees. The golden axe can only be obtained by perfect town status.
• Wild World - watering can and slingshot have been introduced. Golden shovel can be obtained by burying shovels. Golden axes can be obtained by the red turnip trade as perfect town can only get you the golden watering can.
• City Folk - silver tools are introduced. The golden axe and silver axe can only be retrieved from Serena. Resetti can give you a silver shovel. You can also use the control pad to change your tools quickly.
• New Leaf - unlike previous games, changes are very small in New Leaf. Golden shovel requires buying fertilizer, but obtaining the golden axe is much easier than before. You have to buy 50 saplings from Leif. Celeste can sell silver shovels to you.

That's all I can talk about today. Although I can't mention anymore, I would also like to say that growing flowers and villager chat have changed in all four games as well. Next entry will be on landmarks.