Above All Else, Tales of the Shire Proves It’s Time for Animal Crossing to Fix This Flaw

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The long-awaited game, Tales of the Shire, has arrived! Although it’s not an entirely flawless life simulation game, it boasts several compelling features that could make it stand out in the future. As a snug and inviting life simulator inspired by the cherished The Lord of the Rings series, Tales of the Shire captures the essence and lore of its origins beautifully. However, as a life simulation game, there is still room for improvement that hasn’t been fully realized yet.

In the realm of charming life simulation games, titles such as Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing are unquestionably dominant. Given these heavyweights in the genre, it’s a challenge for Tales of the Shire to live up to those lofty expectations. However, there is one unique aspect where the game outshines Animal Crossing, and that’s the depth of its Non-Player Character (NPC) personalities. As we eagerly anticipate the next installment of Animal Crossing, Nintendo might find it beneficial to examine how Tales of the Shire develops its NPC characters.

After Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the Next Entry in the Series Needs to Take the Tales of the Shire Approach With NPCs

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched on March 20, 2020.

It’s been more than five years since the last installment in Nintendo’s cherished cozy simulation series, and while New Horizons benefited from a wider audience due to a global pandemic, there were certain aspects of the game that seemed regressive for the franchise. One of the most striking was with its non-player characters (NPCs). In New Horizons, many of the characters players encounter on their journey felt rigid and mechanical, devoid of unique personality traits. This isn’t a characteristic that’s been consistent throughout the series, making the absence of NPC personalities in New Horizons all the more noticeable.

Admittedly, while the NPC interactions in “Tales of the Shire” may not be flawless, their overall personalities seem more developed compared to those in “New Horizons”. As you traverse the landscape of Bywater, engaging with the diverse NPCs within the village serves as a gateway to uncovering quests. This results in an enjoyable encounter with a variety of side characters.

Tails of the Shire nails the atmosphere and lore of its source material.

In the game Tales of the Shire, while the NPC interactions are rich and engaging, they do have their drawbacks. For instance, none of the characters in this game speak, which can lead to some uncomfortable moments of silence. Compared to this, although Animal Crossing doesn’t use human speech, its unique in-game language helps fill silent gaps. If the next installment of Animal Crossing were to blend this distinctive form of communication with the expressiveness found in Tales of the Shire, its characters could become even more dynamic and engaging.

A notable character familiar to many “Lord of the Rings” enthusiasts is Rosie Cotton, the one who oversees the local horticulture group in the village.

Future Plans for the Animal Crossing Franchise Are Still Being Kept in the Shadows

With the arrival of the Switch 2 and five years elapsed since the last installment, fans of the series are eagerly awaiting news about the return of Animal Crossing. It’s surprising that the announcement and launch of the Switch 2 didn’t include a new Animal Crossing game, but considering we’re at the beginning stages of the console’s life cycle, there may still be exciting developments to come.

There are 15 unique NPCs that players will interact with in Tales of the Shire.

Time will eventually reveal when a fresh “Animal Crossing” title is prepared, however, in the meantime, “Tales of the Shire” offers a unique appeal to many who love snug and relaxing games. Although it might not reach the heights attained by many prominent titles within its genre, “Tales of the Shire” remains a commendable choice for some comforting gaming experience.

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2025-08-03 19:37