The Future of Animal Crossing: Double the Fun with Mr Resetti's Return
Animal Crossing, a beloved series brimming with adorable villagers, could potentially bid farewell to two characters who have seemingly lost their significance
Highlights
Animal Crossing: New Horizons multiplayer, facilitated by Dodo Airlines, was a lifeline for players during the pandemic, but the loading screen animation is too slow.
The upcoming Animal Crossing game should prioritize improving multiplayer connectivity to enhance the overall gaming experience. While Dodo Airlines may not be essential for multiplayer interactions in the future, characters such as Orville and Wilbur can still play a role in the game, similar to Mr. Resetti's occasional appearances at The Roost.
Nintendo's games have consistently maintained the essence of their beloved IPs while pushing the boundaries of innovation. Animal Crossing, in particular, has continuously evolved to cater to the needs and desires of players, introducing gradual but significant changes. While the Blathers' museum has retained its familiar structure, other features such as Cap'n's boat and bus rides have adapted to fulfill specific functions based on different game settings.
Typically, Animal Crossing presents players with the opportunity to live in a quaint town, granting varying degrees of control over its development depending on the game. New Horizons takes this concept to new heights, empowering players not only to determine who resides in their town and their designated locations but also to customize every aspect of their island, from furnishings to landscapes. Moreover, the Happy Home Paradise DLC lets fans design homes for their beloved villagers as well. However, despite the immense freedom provided by the islands in New Horizons, there is one noticeable flaw that could be rectified in the next iteration.
The Biggest Problem With Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Multiplayer
Since its humble beginnings on the Nintendo GameCube, the Animal Crossing series has always provided ways for players to visit other towns. This feature expanded with the introduction of online multiplayer in Animal Crossing: Wild World, becoming a series staple. Animal Crossing: New Horizons further enhanced this feature, allowing players from around the world to connect and share their islands. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the multiplayer aspect of New Horizons served as a source of solace for many players, allowing them to experience virtual togetherness while in quarantine.
However, as time passed and the game was no longer solely a means of passing time in isolation, certain aspects of the multiplayer experience became repetitive. Each player lives on their own island, and when visiting other players' islands, they travel via seaplanes operated by Dodo Airlines. The arriving player enjoys a bird's eye view during the flight, while the host player can track their friend's progress on an arrivals board. Although this animation is visually appealing, it unfortunately interrupts the flow of the game, requiring over a minute of overall playtime. This has led some players to suggest that Dodo Airlines employees Orville and Wilbur should seek alternative methods of transportation for their customers.
What the Next Animal Crossing Should Do with Orville and Wilbur
Dodo Airlines should find a faster method to enhance multiplayer connectivity in the next Animal Crossing game. The current loading screen can be incredibly slow, particularly when players are trying to bring numerous friends to their island. While this poses a challenge for Dodo Airlines to maintain its role in multiplayer, Animal Crossing has a tendency to retain characters even if they no longer serve a purpose in gameplay. Take Mr. Resetti, the well-known mole who used to confront players for not saving their progress, as a prime example of how Wilbur and Orville can be utilized in the future.
Orville and Wilbur, the two dodos, have the opportunity to emulate Mr. Resetti and make appearances at The Roost cafe. They can either visit occasionally or make it a regular part of their schedule during work hours. Another option is for them to join Tom Nook's real estate ventures, following in Mr. Resetti's footsteps as he now serves in the Nook Rescue service. Regardless of the fate of Dodo Airlines, it is highly unlikely that Orville and Wilbur will be absent from the next Animal Crossing installment.
