All Articles: Animal Crossing: New Leaf

3DS owners will finally get a chance to purchase Animal Crossing: New Leaf when its released for the 3DS on June 9. The game, which has been available in Japan since December, will be the first game in the series available for the handheld.

New Leaf will add plenty of new things to the Animal Crossing formula including a Main Street shopping plaza and the Happy Home Place model home showcase. And, of course, this time you get to be the mayor. Bill Trinen, Nintendo’s Director of Product Marketing, had this to say: “You’re the boss now. No more doing chores for Tom Nook.”

As the boss, you also might like to know that Nintendo is adding an Animal Crossing-themed clothing line to Style Savvy: Trendsetters. The Gracie Grace line is inspired by “the fashion-forward giraffe from the Animal Crossing series” and is available for download now. Another new clothing line, based on the popular Japanese brand Liz Lisa, will be available to download later this year.

Nintendo is finally ready to talk about Animal Crossing on the 3DS and it sounds like it was worth the wait. Debuting during this morning’s Nintendo Direct broadcast, the game has officially been titled Animal Crossing: New Leaf. It’ll be available early next year and New Leaf casts players in a new role, the mayor. As mayor, Animal Crossing: New Leaf players will gain control of the entire town, placing landmarks, overseeing businesses, and “sitting in the big chair.”

New Leaf also promises plenty of new customization options including clothes, furniture, and decorations. All of these items can also be shared with other players thanks to the game’s built-in QR Code generator. Finally, Animal Crossing: New Leaf will contain “Paradise Island,” a place where players can take part in new minigames or just swim in the water.

You can get a good look at all of these new features (as well as DJ K.K. Slider) in the trailer above.

Animal Crossing 3DS has been a big secret for so long that I can hardly believe it’ll be out in Japan this year. But believe it I do after Nintendo announced a November 8 release date for the game during their most recent Nintendo Direct presentation. A North American release date has yet to be announced, but presumably the game will cross the Pacific sometime next year.

In the meantime, you can check out the new gameplay trailer above. Also feel free to think of creative ways to use the new “share clothing designs with QR Codes” feature. A forehead tattoo would probably be going too far.

[Source: Kotaku]

A new trailer for Animal Crossing 3DS, set for release in 2012, was shown at the Tokyo Game Show. It features some really calming piano music in the background while showing you the improved graphics and interactions with neighbors. Perhaps the most noteworthy addition to the series is the ability to swim. I’m almost hoping to see Mr. Resetti, the mole who treats to you filibuster-like speeches if you reset without saving, pop out of the water in an inner tube.

Take a gander at your future anthropomorphic neighbors in the trailer above.