intendo has never been misleading about the Animal Crossing DS entry. The game has always been discussed as more of an update than a sequel and, even though Wild World is true to its word, I’m a little bummed that more tweaks hadn’t been made. Added items, new characters, and some new events are nice but predictable additions. I’m not knocking them, it’s just that they’re exactly what you expect and not much more.

What’s great about this offering is that the few aggravating control issues in the GC title are largely taken care of in Wild World. The stylus makes selling items (now in bulk!), designing clothes, and writing letters a snap. In fact, the entire game can be played with the stylus alone, and a full control scheme allows the same functionality with just the face buttons.

The other major reason to look at this title, even for obsessive AC fans like myself, is the Wi-Fi enabled online. The friend code system keeps like-minded players in the same villages, as there is no lobby setup to roam through the world. You have to know the people running the villages you’re visiting. It’s a limiting way to do online, but I understand Nintendo’s desire to keep this online arena prim and proper for those who care about naughty flags and inappropriate messages.