Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fans Thrilled About Removal of Major Feature

The Animal Crossing franchise is celebrated for its charming characters and idyllic gameplay, although fans of the latest installment, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, have expressed a collective relief regarding one feature from earlier games that was notably absent. While the series is renowned for its delightful animal villagers and the soothing experience of decorating a personal island, one aspect from the past stands out as a source of unnecessary stress.

In a recent discussion, players shared their sentiments echoing the thoughts of user Scorbunny_Ear, who remarked, “I’m glad that grass deterioration didn’t return in New Horizons.”This feature, present in Animal Crossing: City Folk and Animal Crossing: New Leaf, introduced a realistic yet inconvenient mechanic where frequently traversed paths would lead to eroded grass and exposed dirt. Such a mechanic disrupted the aesthetic charm of players’ islands.

Grass Deterioration: A Feature Left Behind

A Disruption to Island Aesthetics

I’m glad that grass deterioration didn’t return in New Horizons. by u/Scorbunny_Ear in AnimalCrossing

Scorbunny_Ear illustrated their point with a screenshot of a barren island from previous titles, showcasing a desolate, grass-less landscape. The cheerful character, donned in a bunny hoodie, appears incongruous among the stark brown earth, emphasizing the dismal scenery. Furthermore, the Redditor highlighted the challenge of restoring grass once it had deteriorated, often requiring save editors or cheats to rectify the situation.

Veteran players concur with the sentiment that the grass deterioration feature felt “honestly so stupid and useless,”as noted by sumemodude. They further explained how the villagers could contribute to grass damage through their movements, leaving players little choice but to cope with gradual degradation despite careful navigation around their islands. Even after three years, sumemodude reported ongoing difficulties in regaining full grass coverage.

Our Perspective: Leaving Certain Features Behind

A Collective Respite from Grass Deterioration

While the grass deterioration mechanic was merely a minor aspect of gameplay, it significantly impacted players’ enjoyment. In a title focused on personalization and creativity, having diminished control over an essential visual feature was jarring. Many users, like TheGuy789, echoed their desire to see this feature left behind, describing it as a “bizarre experiment”that served as a punishment for simply engaging with the game. They expressed fondness for City Folk yet remained highly critical of the grass deterioration feature.

Interestingly, a handful of players found value in the mechanic, arguing that it added to the realism and immersion by illustrating a sense of history and time on their islands. User sleepydan333 proposed an excellent compromise, suggesting that a toggle option for natural path deterioration would allow players to customize their island experience.

Overall, while New Horizons has received widespread acclaim for its many features, there remains a desire among fans for future installments to offer more customization. Drawing inspiration from Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, it would be exciting to see increased player control over island aesthetics and functionality, including everything from visual elements to resident selection. For now, though, many are just grateful that grass deterioration is not part of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Source: Scorbunny_Ear/Reddit, sumemodude/Reddit, sleepydan333/Reddit

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