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As many role-playing game enthusiasts can attest to, sometimes there's nothing better than a really great battle system. Sure, an emotionally moving story, stunning visuals, and/or a vast gaming presentation can all do quite a lot to tickle our senses. But there's nothing like the thrill of the fight.
How, then, does an RPG remain an RPG without the battles? I submit to you that Animal Crossing: Wild World (ACWW) for the Nintendo DS not only fits the bill for an RPG, but perhaps defines the genre in a truer sense than most other games.
It's been called a "sim," but what does that mean exactly? Simulating daily routines and chores? Sure, there's definitely a bit of that in ACWW. But the real meat of the gameplay lies in your interactions with neighbors. No, you won't be slaying them (they're helpless, cute animals for crying out loud) but there's usually a decent bit of gossip to catch up on, or something to buy, sell, or trade with them.
If you haven't yet played this game (or the GameCube iteration), here's a little bit of detail about how it works. Your character, either boy or girl, will reside in a small town that is created based on a short selection of questions you answer at the onset. And the thrust of the gameplay?
Plant flowers, decorate your house, fish, harvest fruit, buy, sell... But there are also many events that play out as the weeks go by, and special visitors that appear in town from time to time. Additionally, there's the option for you to visit other towns via local wireless play or Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection.
However, ACWW, in my view, epitomizes role-playing because it is played in real-time. Game time moves according to the DS's internal clock. So, if it's midnight in real life (and your DS clock is set correctly) it's midnight in the game, and as the seasons change in real life, so do they change in your town. Technically speaking, the game could last you a lifetime. From a strictly role-playing standpoint, it offers one of the greatest opportunities to immerse one's self in a created character.
Animal Crossing: Wild World has been out for over a year now, and I still haven't completed my adventure. Granted, I might not spend as much time with it now as I did when I initially purchased it, but it was one of those games that really sucked me in from the get-go. Why tell you about it? Well, it's a tremendously fun and endearing title that should appeal to a large chunk of the role-playing audience. It's also a great game to come back to anytime. So, if you're ever feeling like there's a drought of decent RPGs to pick up, look no further than the backyard you create with this game.
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