Team17 Is Publishing Hokko Life On PC, And It Sure Gives Us Animal Crossing Vibes

I'm not sure if I like Animal Crossing-inspired games...

No. No I would not be interested.
I think I’d be thinking about “the real thing” the whole time while playing this clone to enjoy it all that much. By the real thing I mean Animal Crossing, not actually talking to animals and carrying balloons.

Looking at the screenshots, this feels like a mobile bootleg made to make a quick buck.

Weird that Team17 would publish something like this.

The animations in it look terrible. It just looks clumsy

@DAHstroy The problem is that this doesn't look very good. That said, i'm not opposite to the idea of an Animal Crossing equivalent for PC, hopefully someone nails that idea in the future.

Their intentions are genuine, PC-only players can't play AC games without emulation, so someone wants to make a clone that's its own property. But there are a lot of aesthetics that need work for sure.

Does "Hokko" mean Animal Crossing but with stiff animation?

It's like an uglier Animal Crossing.

Saying it's Animal Crossing inspired is a bit insulting. That straight up looks like a copy and paste of the AC experience. LOL

The aesthetic in AC is a lot nicer so I'll stick to the cuter version of the authentic experience but I guess if you're without a Switch this might be as close as you're gonna get. Considering there are Switch shortages, I can see the appeal of this for some.

Gotta hand it to them they got neat furniture customization. Hope to see they got more unique stuff to different themselves more. If not i dont think i would ever play it.

Looks terrible.

Jesus, how unimaginative. Did they bring anything to the table themselves!?! Rubbish.

This happens when something is successful. Companies want to copy it but they don't get the heart of it. Super hero movies are popular so a bunch of studios throw together super hero movies thinking all they need are people with super powers and special effects. But they miss what makes those movies popular.

You have the parts of an Animal Crossing game, and games like it, but you don't have the heart of it. Animal Crossing is greater than the sum of its parts whereas knock offs are not.

More like Hacko Life am I right? I'll see myself out.

@Yorumi NH is a service game that will get updates for years. You can take issue with that in itself, I'm not a huge fan of it myself, but to talk about huge omissions a week or two after launch is absurd.

It's got some good ideas, like more in-depth furniture customization and higher quality patterns (New Horizons still uses a 32x32 grid smh), but I wouldn't see these as things that separate it from Animal Crossing; I'd see them as things I wish Animal Crossing had.

@Yorumi .....? I mean I may be bias and stuff, but Animal Crossing isnt pokemon where they've gotten stagnant (I usually see the "needs competition" thing for Pokemon....why I bring it up).
AC has always brought something new to every game and built upon that.
Are there things that I hope it improves? Yes, but a lot of the things are just so it isn't so time consuming (crafting multiple things, moving to storage, buying things, etc).
I saw like a few things in this that would be nice in AC but this game is on PC so it's easier to have certain things then on console. But that's just me....

It's like Animal Crossing but every animal looks like Zipper

The game looks bad, but it looks like they want things out of animal crossing which is why this game was made. The biggest difference I see is how they move houses (possibly a thought they had before new horizons was announced) and how they turn furniture. Everything else about this game looks like trash.

Think of it like how temtem is to pokemon. People wanted change out of pokemon but never really got it. People like temtem. This game is supposed to be what they want out of Animal Crossing, but Animal crossing evolved and is amazing (although the start was slow).

Yikes, I see a lawsuit coming on for this!

@Yorumi "In this game they cut about 70% of the content from NL just to give us terraforming(which btw proves how dishonest this site's reviews have become)."

Ah, the good old pulling statistics out of thin air and saying someone is being dishonest when they don't have the same opinion as you. Those make for some great arguments...

@Yorumi Do you ever have anything positive to say? x3

It would be good with some competition. The problem with this game and, if I may say, allmost all rip-offs is that they don't try to be better than the heavily inspired material. They either strive to be as identical as possible without getting sued or make someone's grandma can't tell the difference when finding christmas gifts.... with other words, a waste!

Just create some decent competition for goodness sake!

I'm still trying to figure out how this game, that will likely be forgotten and buried on Steam in a week is going to provide any competition to AC and cause Nintendo to change things up.

Are they from some alternate universe where Temtem was some super giant game that convinced Game Freak to change things up in the week when it was the game of the week to praise?

@Yorumi the police and the recycling bin were functionally identical and you can still access that functionality via the recycling bin in the town hall thing. The shoe store guy still visits town every now and the to sell you shoes. Gracie has been replaced with the third Able sister, who apparently does the same thing she did New Leaf. The post office has been incorporated into the airport. The garden shop still exists within the Nook shop, just without the sloth running it (Who by the way is confirmed to be coming back in a future update). Shampoodle has been replaced with the ability to change your own hair at home.

@Yorumi Datamining already hints at some of that returning, and many of the functions of those things were made irrelevant or folded into other locations. I'd also expect a lot of things to return, given that many special characters with amiibo that don't work in Photopia will get that function already. Not to mention the implementation of crafting, Nook Miles, the return of certain other features, and the fact that Nook's Cranny indeed has an upgrade (and I think more will come). There's still a lot in the base game, and given how much free support both Splatoon games got, I'm sure much more will come.

The animations look stiff, but it's nice PC players will have an animal crossing like game to play. Hopefully they can update and improve the game over time.

@Yorumi ah yes, the hyperbolic straw man argument.

As far as AC inspired games go, Garden Paws is a hell of a lot better than this. Hoping we get a solid switch release date for it soon.

Stunned at how much of a shameless rip off this is. Even the bubbly text boxes look identical to AC.

Betting this would have done a lot better if it was released a year ago. Can only see none switch owners buying into this. I like the additional aspects they added to the game like farming and furniture customization. Hope Nintendo devs take note of those additions and add them to Animal Crossing

This isn't merely similar or "inspired by", this is a straight up blatant ripoff. I'm surprised they didn't give it a cheesy look-alike name such as "Critter Crossing", or "Animal Village".

While they have also made Move Out where you can move furniture in a way it should also be possible to do in ACNH...?

I wouldn't mind an Animal Crossing competitor, but this looks too generic and low-budget to be that.

@Yorumi That's not the argument I'm trying to make whatsoever...part of what's fun about Animal Crossing is that you aren't handed anything from the start and just do whatever you want.

It's about time. People have been asking for this for ages.

@Yorumi I never said they didn't cut anything, nor did I say the game is perfect. I also never implied that's not something worth noting in a review, however not noting it doesn't automatically make the review dishonest. Not sure what point you were trying to make.

It looks rough, but it seems they're taking advantage of the PC interface and make the designing part much more detailed. That furniture designer uses standard 3D tools interface. It looks like it's going to have a few hardcore fans...
Also I appreciate devs taking Nintendo games as inspiration and making their own version with improvements (like Temtem being an actual MMO compared to lacking multiplayer in Pokemon and the more intricate grid in this).

@Yorumi I guess for you them giving a 10/10 means they think it's absolutely perfect? Since they don't literally say that. I would think you've been around this site long enough to know a 10/10 here doesn't mean the game is perfect. And even if they do think that way, a review is subjective. I do think it would've been better if they mentioned all the missing stuff, but I wouldn't say not doing so is lying by omission.

I also would've loved to see more stores, furniture and special characters, but not having them doesn't seem to bring the game down for most people, or at least not by much.

@Robzilla Maybe if they were robots instead of animals or something...

@DAHstroy Im not interested in this game but the game brings some cool features like how you can literally customize you furniture like add pillows or the color or stuff like that. But this just looks like its trying to hard to be an animal crossing game because a lot of the stuff in the game looks like it was taken from animal crossing.

Wait, no one is going to defend this game? People defended that Enchanted Portals game like crazy...lol

@Yorumi Right now you seem to be the one "getting so up in arms" about this. I already said it would've been nice if they included that information, but many reviews everywhere on the internet have incomplete information, that's also not the main purpose of a review. Like I said, it doesn't automatically make the review dishonest. If you think some "this game sux 0/10" review is equal to the the 10/10 review NintendoLife wrote for New Horizons, that's your opinion.

Bare in mind, I also don't think it's a 10/10, but I also don't think NL was being dishonest with their review. In the end no game is perfect and there's always going to be things that can be added/improved upon.

And there's always going to be inconsistencies when comparing one review to the other, especially when they're written by two different people.

Seems utterly pointless now that we got Animal Crossing on the Switch. This would have had a far better chance as a launch era game.

After Yooka-Laylee and this, maybe Team 17 could publish Enchanted Portals as well.

Hmm... 🤔
I don't think Hokko Life looks really bad.
I saw a potential.
Just need some polished animation and character design.
Overall, it looks quite interesting for me. 😏

The argument that it's a... serviceable PC replacement for the Animal Crossing styled experience aimed towards those who don't own a Switch feels really weak to me. Something that's very roughly emulating another game that has already been doing its own thing very well. I understand that one might want a certain type of experience from any game that could deliver it, but how that game presents itself is important, and Hokko Life appears hollow and rough compared to its obvious inspiration. I don't doubt that it could be developed and polished further to a point where it could feel more like its own genuine thing, but right now it truly doesn't seem like it's worth consideration.

I feel like a moth drawn to a flame.

aka, poor mans Animal Crossing.

Animal Crossing could always use the competition. Don’t want a good franchise to go stagnant like Pokémon did.

@Whalehome Pokemon and AC are different animals and don't do the same thing. The comparison is a dis-service to either game. I for one don't mind a different version but as long as there is no Copyright Violation of characters or deliberate copying then that isn't acceptable.

I'm mean, if you're going to shamelessly copy someone, copy the best.

I'll stick with ACNH though.

If they wanted this kind of thing to take off, they should have released it before ACNH.

@Yorumi I kinda miss seeing my mail delivered and some of the other stuff.

The game is still good, just very streamlined. I've seen this happen to other games I like, such as Final Fantasy 14, where things were streamlined to make things easier, but at the same time, everything feels the same since what made certain stuff special is gone.

I think that's what is slowly happening to Animal Crossing. It's still a good game, i just don't think it needs anything else taken away.

this will FAIL miserably..., Animal crossing already does this like 15x more and better looking. what a waste of development.

I am disappointed that Nintendo took out Pete, the Pelican!

If I could have him as a Villager instead, I would.

@PorllM
I would call a lack of bulk or automated crafting a huge omission; also tedious repetitive conversations between you and every single common task. And personally I find the animations to be about twice as long as needed, and some just aren't necessary at all. I already sat through 3 wood chopping animations, do I really need 3 more to pick everything up? Just put the materials in my inventory. Imagine if Mario had to pick up each coin individually! I like the game, and I get it's supposed to be about relaxing and enjoying the journey, but you can make a game about monotony without making it tedious. Dedicated servers would be nice as well, so I can visit my niece when she's not online and leave her messages or gifts, but online features are something Nintendo is always a decade behind in. Maybe some of this will be fixed, but it's valid criticism even on launch day.

It looks like a Chinese or Russian bootleg off the Google Play Store. Not a fan of the art style.

This is to Animal Crossing what the Natsume published knockoff Harvest Moon games are to the real series, Story of Seasons.

@Yorumi I think you're just making assumptions about them purposely hiding it, without any real evidence to back it up, but I do agree it would've been better if there was at least a mention of the things that are missing.

Let's just hope all or at least most of the missing things will be added in the future, I'm sure we will both be happy about that!

@Yorumi,

This new game is awesome, yes there are some omissions, but who knows what will be included in future updates, it looks like both Brewster and Redd will be returning, and to be honest I couldn't care less about the swimming or having my mail delivered in person.

I much prefer the amazing presentation, terraforming, nook miles, and the amazing new museum, you also seem to pass off the terraforming like it's just another basic feature, when it's far more than that, also the crafting which can sound like a basic feature get's more awesome with the ability to customize furniture, you are imho wrong about this, the new game is a revelation.

Also your view that a review is incorrect or dishonest just because you do not agree with it, the whole point is a review is personal and can't please everybody, as for review bombing of this game, the main issues seem to stem from the lack of cloud saves on this game, and individuals with far too much time on their hands crying they can't have multiple islands on one console, they tend to dress this up as poor families have to share an Island, when we all know that they really wan't another island so they can farm the hell out of it and sell balls, materials and furniture etc on Flea-bay.

Back to the reviews the game is currently at a 91 rating which is well deserved imho, guess all these reviewers must be wrong or in Nintendo's pocket, of course you and others will state that this is no indicator of enjoyment, which does sound like a case of wanting your cake and eating it, as you would be all over it if the game was getting poor reviews, which of course would be trustworthy and gospel.

As for the user scores it currently stands at 1646 positive and 1614 negative, so even with the core internet minorities it's still split between love and hate, and so many reviews 3408 which will be the tiniest percentage of an overall games sales, why the hell are Nintendo not listening.

Give me break fella.

@Yorumi,

You can disagree with the review all you want, it's your right to do so, I just disagree with your comments the developer is ripping us off in some way, hence all the great reviews, I don't think there is one under 80 from all 105 reviews, must be doing something right.

And missing content will be of different importance to individuals, so if the games inclusion of swimming is a make or break don't buy it., simple.

This game is not perfect, but what game is?, but it's very very far from a quick cash and grab, that to be honest not many people are suggesting in the first place.

@Yorumi ,

Your issue is when you say you have completed the game in two weeks, this is not a game to be completed, although there are collections etc, the game is a daily experience, a kind of parallel existence if you wan't to take it that far, so if you want to blame Nintendo for leaving things out, although at this point none of us know what may be added in almost certain future updates, then you can, but just because certain things have been in previous games does not make us entitled to have them again, or even be informed of their absence for that matter.

@Yorumi,

Fair enough, I suppose I just do not see the missing stuff as that big of a deal, I know you like the game, but I still feel the new additions are awesome.

i'll be getting this day one and yes i'll still be playing animal crossing as i been doing pretty much everyday, so eventually im going to 100% that very soon and probably stop when there's nothing else to do in it.

Is that a C&D I smell?

It's amusing to see people get into a snit over this

Animal Crossing at home be like:

This should be a mobile game, and I am not using that as an insult. There aren't many life sims like Animal Crossing on mobile, and this would fit perfectly. Games like this are better portable than strictly at home. Castaway Paradise doesn't have a day/night cycle and only has like 4 villagers, while Virtual Town is incomplete and hasn't been updated for almost 4 years at this point. Pocket Camp? Sucks. Don't even get me started, it isn't Animal Crossing at all beside name.

@Yattaze Let's not forget Super Pilot, which basically is a new F-Zero.

Watching the UTube episodes of the game play. Personally I would like to have it available for Switch. Will enjoy playing the game. Not playing ACNH much anymore. Playing Story of Seasons Pioneers of Olive Town and would like Hokko Life available on Switch also.