Animal Crossing on the GameCube came out in 2002 and is one of the most beloved Nintendo games. The nostalgia of playing it on the GameCube system is undeniable and it still holds up as one of the best games for that console.
There have been many updated versions of the game that were released for WII as well as the DS, the most popular one had to be New Horizons on the Switch. Since New Horizons came out in 2018, the game franchise has gained a new generation of fans. But true fans remember playing the original version and also remember how different it was.
10 Gyroids
In the original Animal Crossing, players use to be able to dig up little (or big) statues called Gyroids. These statues danced and made noises, making for funny decorations for any house. If players put music on their radio, the Gyroids will begin to dance and make noise on tempo. There was a limit though to how many players could have on at a time, that limit being 14. There is also a Gyroid that sits outside of the player’s house, which can be used to save the game or store items with him.
9 The Town Dump
The town dump was always a good spot to go to get items to use or sell. In this version of the game, letters are needed to send gifts and especially send fossils to the museum to appraise them, and often time paper is found in the dump. One could also find anything from actual trash to clothes and paper.
8 The Post Office
Ah, yes, snail mail. The post office was located on the Northwest side of town.
Run by the pelican sisters Phyllis and Pelly, players could mail anything from a simple letter to pieces of fruit. A total of 5 letters had to be mailed if a player wanted them to be taken immediately. Otherwise, it could take days to get fossils assessed by the Museum.
7 Mr. Resetti
The frustration of not saving the game was amplified by the character Mr. Resetti. If a player didn’t close out the game properly or reset without saving, the next time the game was opened a cranky mole would come out and berate the player. His job is to make sure saving ALWAYS happens. And after going through his speech a few times, it is hard to forget again. Every time a reset without save happens, he comes to yell and his speechs get harsher and harsher.
6 The Faceless Cat
Blanca is the name of a white cat who appears every so often on the train as players ride to another town. She has no face at all and asks the player to put one on her. This was super fun and creative, as players can make her face literally anything.
It’s never very consistent, so one can never know for sure when she will appear on the train, but it becomes something to look forward to. Occasionally, she can be seen walking around town with one of the faces that were drawn onto her. A little creepy, but one of the tiny details that makes the GameCube game all that more endearing.
5 How Time Travel Worked
It is super easy to change the time on the GameCube version. Almost too easy and this power could be used to an advantage. A player could change the season or time of day easily. If players got a bunch of fruit that needs to be sold but Nook’s shop was closed, no sweat, simply reset the time forward until it opens. Want to collect resources only available during spring but it’s the middle of winter? No problem! Simply jump forward.
But beware. If the town goes too far into the future, it will be overrun by weeds (which can only be plucked and not sold) and roaches. Also, moving backwards in time is tricky and can cause a plethora of glitches so it isn’t suggested.
4 The Ball
Another little detail in the game is the random appearance of a ball that can be kicked. It can appear in three forms; a basketball, soccer ball, and a volleyball. If the ball is kicked into a body of water, it will disappear. That can be tricky, especially if a neighbor has asked it to be retrieved. If a neighbor asks for the ball and it is successfully given, a player can receive a reward from them.
3 Fossils Worked Differently
Fossils have always been a fun aspect of animal crossing. Players can donate them, make money or simply collect them as decoration. Unlike the later generations of Animal Crossing, the fossils that are collected cannot be assessed by Blathers and then donated immediately.
Each fossil has to be mailed to the Farway Museum outside of the town. There, they are assessed and mailed back. This means that it could take a while to have the fossils donated to Blather’s museum. Especially if a player only collects less than 5 fossils, meaning the fossils won’t be mailed out until the end of the day. When players go to play the next day, the fossils will be in the mailbox and ready to donate.
2 The Train Station
The train station was located in the north end of town. There, players could see a little monkey who is the conductor. His name is Porter. At the station, players could travel between towns that were saved on a memory card and inserted into the GameCube. On Saturdays, players could go see K.K. Slider, a beloved character who plays his guitar and makes funky tunes.
1 The Wishing Well
The wishing well in the center of town was a place that players could go to attend town events and festivals or apologize for not completing a task. The apology can only happen if a player has an item from a neighbor that moved out. The well can be used as a way to deliver the item to them. Also, the wishing well could be used to check the environment of a town being visited. If a town was kept perfect for two weeks, a reward could be given out by the spirit of the well, Farley.