
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp had its big Nintendo Direct reveal, and what we saw was a title that – in various respects – is rather close to the experience in the main games. Smaller in scope and with some mobile elements, of course, but the iOS / Google Play title has nevertheless turned some heads.
As you may also be aware it's had what could be described as a 'soft launch' in Australia, even though it's not due worldwide until late November. It's actually pretty common for mobile apps to get limited early releases, but with this being Nintendo plenty have naturally looked to get hold of it early. In this case, however, your humble scribe happens to live in Australia; as a result we've been playing it without any workarounds required.
Here, then, are our impressions after a few hours building our campsite.
How to Get the Game
If you're in Australia, downloading Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is easy; it's been officially released, after all. You open Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for iOS devices and twiddle your thumbs while you wait. After the initial installation is complete you’re presented with a notification that the game is free-to-start, with Leaf Tickets being an optional purchase. From here you are given the standard option to login into your My Nintendo account so you’ll always have access to existing save data. After you’ve decided on whether to use the My Nintendo account feature (we recommend you do use this if you're in Australia) a data download will start to install additional game files. This is one of a few as you slowly work your way through the opening sections of the game.
Meanwhile, if playing outside of Australia there are different ways to get the game, but you may want to avoid attempting to use My Nintendo (it necessitates an Australian account in any case).
The Animal Crossing UI and Controls, Made for Mobile
If you’ve played any of the existing Nintendo titles on mobile or tablet devices, you’ll know many of these games are an absolute joy to operate with your fingertips. Pocket Camp is no different. In fact it feels like a perfect match for this type of platform. With relative ease you can move your character about by simply tapping on a point of interest, or holding your fingertip down on the screen to move them about step by step. Shaking fruit from trees, talking to characters or reeling in a fish feels no different to the console or handheld counterparts. If anything, it’s easier on this type of device. Placement and positioning of furniture is similar to the interface featured in Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. This makes setting up the campsite tent the first time round no problem at all.
In terms of the user interface, at the bottom of your screen you’ll find the main toolbar which includes all the necessities to aid you in the development of your campsite. A lot of the menu design appears as if it has taken inspiration from Miitomo, meanwhile. There’s an items tab, crafting tab, map, contacts tab and even more options tucked away as well as standard game settings, account linking and social management. At the top right of the screen is quick access menu covering commonly used features such as a daily and stretch goals hub, the mailbox and the market box. Menus are cleanly presented, and given how much customisation there now is in Animal Crossing, Pocket Camp does a good job at managing every aspect of the series, from cloths to furniture. It's all divided up into many easy-to-navigate tabs.
Welcome to Pocket Camp
Once you’ve customised your character to your liking and answered a few of K.K.Slider’s questions to help personalise the experience, you are welcomed to your new campsite by Isabelle. As you are the new campsite manager (the days of being a town mayor are over), Isabelle will give you a rundown about the general operations and ask you how you would describe your site to add a further sense of personal identity. As seen in the Animal Crossing Direct, you can also set up your amenities and furniture any way you like.
After deciding on your nickname, and further personalising your campsite by describing it in a single word, Isabelle tasks you with getting to know the residents in the surrounding areas. Collecting materials in Pocket Camp is essential to the development of your campsite. With this in mind, Isabelle gets you to drive out to “Breezy Hollow” to meet the locals. The animal you first encounter depends on how you have answered the opening questions; in this case Apollo the eagle was the first we met. After gathering fruit for one of the starter animals you’ll be given vital materials with which to craft furniture and amenities.
When you return to the campsite Isabelle will introduce you to two familiar faces – Reese and Cyrus. Cyrus in Pocket Camp can work wonders, and with the materials you supply him he’ll create new furniture for you. This also depends on the theme you've chosen to go with. In this playthrough, the iconic “Modern Sofa” (a true staple of the series) was crafted as the cool theme had been selected. Cyrus can also craft more furniture for you if you tap the craft catalogue at the bottom of the screen – provided you have the correct and necessary amount of materials. Leaf tickets can speed up the process, if required.
It's worth emphasizing that, early on, we've not felt particularly tempted by the microtransactions; the Leaf tickets, as mentioned, can be used to acquire goods or even speed up construction. The true test will be how this evolves over time and how aggressive attempts at monetisation will become. We'll be talking more about that once we've played more of the game.
Embracing the Outdoors
If you’re a veteran, the introduction to Pocket Camp will feel rather lengthy. The good news is it does include some handy tips via the “Beginner’s Guide” and, once completed, you’ll be rewarded with a special “Outdoor-fun starter pack” by Isabelle. Now you can finally start embracing the freedom of the great outdoors.
The daily routine is what you make of it. If you’ve played an existing Animal Crossing game you’re free to do what you like. To start with, visiting the different locations in your camper van is advisable. Much like the main game, in these unique areas you’re able to fish, harvest fruit trees, collect shells, catch bugs and search for minerals. There’s also a few new items introduced in Pocket Camp, including sea throw nets and the ability to use honey lures to catch bugs.
The more catching and collecting you do, the easier it is to fulfill an animal's requests. Animal requests are your primary concern in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Fulfilling requests allows you to obtain crafting materials from the animals, which in return enables Cyrus to craft furniture for you to fill both your campsite and camper van.
Making friends
As you talk to animals and fulfil their requests you develop a stronger relationship with them; at this point you invite them back to your campsite. To achieve this you’ll need certain items at your campsite and a certain relationship level with an animal. The more animals you bring to your campsite, the more you'll level your character and earn rewards. Higher levels also allow you to meet a wider variety of animals and craft more furniture.
In addition to animal encounters you’ll also come across fellow players from time to time. Whether you’re at Saltwater Shores, on Sunburst Island or even at Lost Lure Creek, you can visit other player’s places by talking to them and then travelling to their camp. At their campsite you can give the player "kudos" and check out their camper van to gain some creative inspiration. There are also other interactions including the ability to send a friend request to the player you have visited.
Just like in the mainline games, the market acts as a hub area for trade. Here you'll find the Able Sisters selling stunning new outfits and the Nooklings selling various wares. A rotating selection of vendors will setup shop in the market on a regular basis; these items will change daily. Of course, you’ll need Bells, and you can earn them by performing basic tasks. When you’ve built up your bank over time, the crew over at OK Motors can customise your camper van – making it bigger and more beautiful, as seen in the Animal Crossing Direct. The first time round they'll give your van a free pattern and paint job, and from there onward you'll need to use a special app to pay off what you owe. So as you can probably tell by now, it’s business as usual once you develop a daily routine in Pocket Camp.
The market box can make the financial side of life easier – allowing players to put items up for sale and enabling them to buy other player’s items. In addition to this, the timed goals (daily) and stretch goals (lifetime) allow even more items, tickets and Bells to be acquired.
Initial Thoughts
Despite having only played a few hours of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, the game looks promising. The micro-transactions appear to be non-intrusive in the early running and as a whole the game feels like a classic Animal Crossing experience. By no means does it feel limited by the platform it has been released on, nor is it a watered down entry. It feels like it has its own unique identity but also maintains the core and much-loved aspects the series is well known for.
In many cases it feels right at home on mobile platforms. Sure, there are additional features like login rewards, special limited-time items and timers indicating when fruit will grow back on trees, but this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment this writer has personally had with the game thus far. Now, as with all Animal Crossing games, we'll settle in for the long haul.
Comments 44
I mean, the originals are amazing games but not very deep or graphically impressive, so of course a mobile version would be great. It's basically the 3DS version, but with tents not houses.
Hmmm... Well now, I may be more interested then. Thanks for taking the time to look this game over. I git an apk file and I'm trying it out. So far, hasn't blocked my rooted phone yet.
Uodate: Nevermind, they hate root, go figure.
Has someone tried changing their My Nintendo account's region to link with Pocket Camp? Once it's released worldwide, the redownload would mean losing the previous save. However, I fear changing the region might affect the linked 3DS/Wii U systems and the Platinum/Gold coins.
I'm really worried about this game cannibalizing potential sales of a Switch version, or worse, ruling out a Switch version entirely. I really didn't expect anything with this level of depth, given how limited all of Nintendo's smart device games have been so far. I don't want to be stuck only being able to play Animal Crossing on a phone for the rest of my life. I really, really hate gaming on a smart phone.
Now that I've watched the entire Direct, it's looking better than I initially thought. I'll give it a try once it releases worldwide, I'm in no hurry to play it.
I can't wait! This is what I hoped it would be, but didn't expect.
@thesilverbrick I think having this connect to the switch version in later updates would actually encourage people to get the Switch version, or viceversa. Im willing to bet there will be something that will benefit both games. But I see this as a good entry game for those who never played animal crossing.
I want to get ir, but nervous that something will happen to my Note 8.... Get blocked or whatever
@thesilverbrick But isn't this a good way to get people to try the animal crossing series since its a free to play game? Thus introducing people to the series and hopefully turning them over for when one gets released on Switch. Also people are still downloading this like crazy even though they could all be playing the 3ds version, so no this doesn't seem like it will affect sales at all, rather this mobile game can only do nothing but good. Also if millions of people play the mobile game, doesn't that show Nintendo people are still interested in the series, and that will give them a good reason to make AC on the Switch a priority?
Also, can I say this game is 1000x better than I thought it was going to be? My original thought was this game was going to be a 2D Idle Clicker game where you occasionally tap a tree to collect items every now and then and you can scroll across a 2D town building stuff that takes a certain amount of material to build but you have to wait hours for that to happen. And what we got........An actual 3D interactive game that feels just like animal crossing with just a few hints of the Mobile Formula mixed in. While also introducing some new neat elements that has fans wishing Nintendo would improve upon in a new console release. So ya, props to Nintendo for still keeping quality a high priority even in Mobile games.
I just downloaded it, it's interesting. Definitely has more in it than you'd expect.
The timed stuff doesn't bother me since even with it timed most stuff still come quicker than in an actual Animal Crossing game. (I'm pretty sure fruit don't grow back in 3 hours in the main games)
Edit: I actually think I like this a lot more than Miitomo or Pokemon Go. I can see myself putting some time into this.
Graphics look great in this game! Would be curious to know how well the game plays and looks when streamed to a TV (via google chromecast).
@patbacknitro18 as we saw with Konami and Capcom in general, once the producers and shareholders see that Animal Crossing Mobile was downloaded 55,000,000 times and brought in an average of $100 per player, they'll NEVER okay devoting millions of dollars to sell 3,000,000 copies on switch. New Leaf is huge, having sold 7,000,000 copies in 5 years.
Pokemon GO made that in an hour. I'm sure they're still making the Animal Crossing version, however, since it seems to already be in development.
I love how Apple wants to keep me secure and not downloading shady aps, but oh man
it took 9 seconds to tell Google Play i was in australia so its okay to download the game on a $30 bargain bin phone.
Took 90 minutes to trick iTunes into letting me do the same.
This is pretty good! Not sure how it will link to the Switch version in the future.
Maybe the camp ground will return and you could import your campervan from the game?
...also how can you expand your van with extra floors but it looks the same on the outside?
Yeah I completely expected something along the lines of Happy Home Designer. I never expected what is basically a full-fledged AC experience. I actually like the camp aesthetic too. The edition of customizing the camper along with the campsite essentially gives you a personal space the same size of past games. I could see there being more places to travel to in the future. Maybe travel to the city in the Switch AC when it releases and have some interconnectivity there.
Great article. I am super hyped for this game to release next month. I could do that trick to get it early but I think I'm going to wait so I can start at the same time with all of my friends.
It's funny, I had no interest in the mobile game going into the Direct. I was just hoping for a reveal or teaser for a Switch version (even though they stated only the mobile game would be shown). But watching it left me super hyped for this smartphone game. It's pretty much everything that makes Animal Crossing what it is, just on a smaller scale. That's perfect for a mobile phone app. Consider me insanely excited!
@Kimyonaakuma There's actually a visible difference:
Before
After
@bezerker99
No need to stream it to TV, just use GPD XD or similar device
@Nintendoforlife Whaaat!? Mine looks nothing like yours. How many floors is that?
@Kimyonaakuma I have no idea haha, that was taken from the direct. If you've already gotten another level and it doesn't look like that I guess three is what you need..........
@russellohh You just brought up 2 money hungry companies ready to Wh*** out their games whenever they see fit. As we seen with Capcom for both Street Fighter V and Marvel Vs Capcom Infinite, and as we see with Metal gear Survive. And you think their business standards can be compared to Nintendo? That is where your argument falls. Especially since they have been making crazy bank with Fire Emblem Heroes, and they are still making Fire Emblem games, 1 already announced and being worked on for the Switch.
Meh... Also, where is the japanese weekly list?
So annoying I wish I still had an android, for iOS I was trying to make an Australian account as loads of websites said but they said there was an option to not put in a payment method but there wasn’t so I can’t get it
@Nintendoforlife. I'll guess I'll need 3 floors then. I just found it strange that it looks the same after two upgrades
@DarthNocturnal The initial download is just under 60mb but after downloading extra data it's 338mb. At least that's what has happened for me.
@patbacknitro18 If this particular Animal Crossing is comprehensive enough and contains enough content, why would anybody who could play it for free on a phone they already own go out and buy a $300 console to play a $60 game that that delivers a similar experience? Pocket Camp seems to offer just about everything previous entries in the series did, plus it's free and it's available on a device that everybody already has in their pocket. Unless they've got something really amazing cooked up for a potential Switch version, it's going to be hard to outdo what they've already done here in terms of convenience and price.
Cant wait to try , looks awesome so far its definitely more than I thought it would be .
@thesilverbrick 1. No, it won't be hard to outdo simply because this is a mobile game with a small budget, hence why they had to reuse a lot of resources. However, with a much larger budget, they could bring forth new ideas on a much larger scale while also advancing upon ideas in past installments. 2. No one is going to buy the Switch for 1 game alone, otherwise, that would be a huge waste of money. So if anyone is going to get animal crossing for the Switch, it would either be one of many games they plan on picking up, it would be the game that made them decide to get a switch, or its the game that people never got to try on other consoles but decided to give it a try on the Switch. 3. Yes AC Pocket camp will be available to everyone, even people who never got to try animal crossing. thus introducing the series to a wider audience and finding more people who may infact love the series after the mobile game. And thus when a Nintendo Switch version gets announced, being a far bigger and larger scaled game, ofcourse people would sink more money into it to continue on with a series they either loved, or just got into thanks to the mobile game
It's a weird thing. I adore AC. I once had surgery and was laid up in bed for weeks and ac was all I played day and night....and yet....not much desire to buy this as not on N hardware....maybe I've just drank too much fan boy koolade ?
Boggles my mind how many millions will be introduced to Animal Crossing. Nintendo are really broadening their market reach with their IP. Kimishima is doing a great job.
I downloaded the apk on my lunch break and was so engrossed I was late back to work.
It really is full animal crossing chopped down for mobile play, for example whenever you go to the river you automatically equip the rod. I like the camper van. I've gone for a mystery machine colour scheme.
My one gripe is blathers is currently missing. I hope he turns up in future, even as a traveling collector.
This sounds absolutely awesome ... like its own full-fledged entry in the series.
VERY excited for this - I played the crap out of AC: New Leaf (still pick it up almost regularly too )
Looks great - now I hope the worldwide release is truly worldwide, not just some countries on Europe, Japan, and North America.
I'm not downloading this in late November if I have to get the apk.
This could keep me happy until the Switch version arrives, I do enjoy AC games though. It's just such a chill game, a great fit for mobiles then.
Can we give our campsites a name?
The title screen shows a constellation in the sky. I would really like to see those make a return.
For those who have downloaded early, pls add me as a friend! My id is 84720253751. I definitely need more in-game friends
Lets go mining together:)
@thesilverbrick It's free to try! Remember that!
Even though, Nintendo might not be as aggressive as other notorious mobile developers, they still want to make money.
So unless you have extreme patience, you will have to fork out cash to make some progress.
Just look at the Pokémon Rumble spin-offs on the 3DS. You just end up buying those rubies (or whatever), so you don't have to wait hours before you can continue again.
But, at least with that game there was a money cap. So when you spend around 30 bucks or so on rubies (or whatever it's called), you unlock a ruby generator that gives you free rubies every day and you are no longer able to spend money.
I actually like that Free to play model a lot better, than the typical unlimited cash grab Free to play games!
I am looking forward to a Switch version. There are still advantages for a Switch version, like playing with actual controllers and dock it to the TV.
I never really liked the control schemes on mobile devices. I just like physical controls better on a true game console.
If I change the region in the Play store to Australia, will it mess with my Google account? And will the game be overwritten by the UK official release?
I sincerely hope that Nintendo abandon mobile and focus on Switch.
@thesilverbrick I think you may be worrying for nothing, while this game may mean a wait for the Switch version, it definitely doesn't mean Nintendo aren't going to make one. This is an impressive AC game, but only because it's on mobile. Despite the author's impressions, I can say for a fact that this is nowhere near an actual AC game in scope or gameplay. I'm betting 90% of the actual fanbase won't be content with this as the future of the series, we need an actual mainline entry for the Switch and Nintendo knows this.
You really think Nintendo are just going to leave one of their most successful (recent) franchises off their popular, new system just because a mobile game does well? Are they not making new Pokemon and Fire Emblem and Mario games for Switch after the success of those mobile games?
@Nintendoforlife Turns out that the campervan looks the same no matter how much you expand it!
The difference in the pictures is that you can change the style of your van so it looks different.
Hey all! Come join us at https://www.reddit.com/r/ACPocketCamp/ to discuss the game! So many are excited to talk about it and share friend codes!
Guys i found a working Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Cheats Tool HERE http://guideheroes.com/animal-crossing-pocket-camp-cheats-guide-get-leaf-tickets/
Features:
Follow the instructions on our site to get and activate the Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Cheats Tool
Get our new Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Cheats Tool HERE http://guideheroes.com/animal-crossing-pocket-camp-cheats-guide-get-leaf-tickets/
@thesilverbrick Agreed. I dislike games on mobile devices and would much rather play on a console or portable gaming system... This does look like it has more depth than typical, but I also hate free to play games with in app purchases, so that is also a big negative for me. Of course, I'll still download and play it ...
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