Get ready to take your friends and family to Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival, which has just launched exclusively for Wii U. Take part in a digital board game set in the charming world of Animal Crossing, a series where players live in a unique and evolving town, make friends with the animal villagers and live life at their own leisure. Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival invites up to four players – and their brand new amiibo – to a board that evolves as you play.
By using amiibo figures from the Animal Crossing series, players can take control of fan-favourite characters like Isabelle, Tom Nook and K.K. and watch them come to life as they travel across the board, trying to collect as many Happy Points as possible. Players tap their amiibo figure to the Wii U GamePad to roll the dice and move along the board, with each space involving their character in a short sketch. These sketches see the characters star in quirky adventures around the town, whether it’s singing at the station for more Bells (the local currency in Animal Crossing), taking a trip to the shops, or visiting the town’s museum. Sketches don’t just affect your Bells and Happy Points, but show the world of Animal Crossing and its inhabitants in fun new ways that are sure to put a grin on everyone’s face.
Each board game session takes place across an in-game month, with each turn representing a different day. Players can experience all four seasons, with each month offering unique events to participate in, from Fishing Tourneys and Bug-Offs to the risky but rewarding turnip trade. Every Sunday, Joan will come to town selling turnips, and players will have to sell any turnips they buy before the following Sunday. The turnip prices are different on each space, so you might land on a high-value space and make a bundle by selling your stalk portfolio, or see your investment aspirations go down the drain by having to sell them for less than you paid.
As Happy Points are collected, they can be saved to each Animal Crossing amiibo and used to unlock new emotions and costumes, with a total of five each per character. It’s not just your character’s appearance that will change over time, as the town can also evolve as you play. As you invest more time in the game, new buildings can be constructed in the town and additional routes can be unlocked, providing players with new ways to play over time.
Anyone with a copy of Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer for Nintendo 3DS family systems will also be able to save any homes they have designed to an Animal Crossing amiibo card, then import it into Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival and see it appear on the game board’s town.
On top of that, players can use their collection of Animal Crossing amiibo cards to take part in a variety of minigames. Test your Animal Crossing knowledge in the Quiz Show, or pop as many balloons as you can and stick your landing on Balloon Island. In Desert Island Escape, make use of each animal’s different skills, find materials and evade enemies on dozens of islands as you attempt to construct a raft and float to safety within seven days.
It all sounds really complicated but in fact it is a game that the whole family loves playing. Eliza hasn’t really got into games on the Wii U yet, but she loves this and gives Kian and Isaac a real run for their money when playing it. I think the addition of the Amiibo and their interaction in the game really appeals to her.
I wasn’t sure that it was a game that the boys would enjoy but it is the go to game after school and we keep getting knocks on the door from other children wanting to come and play it – that in itself is recommendation enough!!
It looks like a lovely game. Makes me wish we had a Wii U.
We have a Wii U, but don’t have many games yet. This one looks great though. I can imagine it appealing to my son as much as the girls.
This looks brilliant, it’s the only console we don’t have in our house!