Since most of my specifics will of course change in your version of the game, returners will be happy to know that practically everything you’ve come to love about the little woodland wildlife simulator has stayed largely the same. Tom Nook’s store is still alive and kicking, the Able sisters are still as talented as ever, and the majority of your time will undoubtedly be spent hoarding up bells to pay off your mortgage and searching for the perfect wallpaper. If you're worried about losing all your hard work collecting every item in the game, City Folk actually allows you to bring over your "DS Suitcase:" AKA Tom Nook's catalog from Wild World. While you’ll still have to purchase whatever you’d like to actually own again, the ability to bring over your favorite Elegant Rug or exclusive Master Sword to furnish your new apartment is a huge bonus for anyone looking to craft the perfect home.

Each version of Animal Crossing emphasizes interactivity in all new ways, and this game looks to be no different. Instead of solely communicating via short phrases and gestures, City Folk brings it to the next level by allowing voice chat among friends via the Wii Speak microphone. Since each town will now have its own kinds of local breeds of fish and bugs, you’ll definitely want to head outside of your town gates and chat it up with your friends if you want to collect them all, Pokémon style.

If you sunk half the amount of time that I did trying to pay off my house, catching every species imaginable, and creating the perfect home in any of the Animal Crossing games, it’s inevitable that Animal Crossing: City Folk will be one of your top titles for the holidays. With an entire new area to explore, Wii Speak capabilities, and at least twice as many items as before, this game looks to trump any prior title in the series. Snatch it up before your neighbor does on November 16th.

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