However, one of the biggest changes comes to Harv’s Island. Players were once only able to visit the island to take part in photo shoots, including a special wedding-themed shoot for Reese and Cyrus, but now they can donate funds for a co-op featuring different vendors. This offers infinite access to people like Redd or Lief who once visited periodically, but also fresh additions to New Horizons like Katrina the fortune teller. Fans were surprised to learn Tortimer is still alive and would be returning on Harv’s Island, but it’s even more surprising to see his alter ego Cornimer appear.
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Holidays and Festivals in Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing as a franchise is built around time. It’s a series of life-simulation games in the purest sense of the term, with players living out a virtual life that follows real-world dates and hours - it just happens to be life among anthropomorphized animal friends. Many holidays also take place in the world of Animal Crossing, and New Horizons goes a step further by releasing items that correspond with a variety of events through the Nook Shopping app.
While they have clear parallels to real-world celebrations, the holidays in Animal Crossing are mostly unique and have amassed their own set of traditions and special characters over the course of the series. Bunny Day (Easter) is overseen by Zipper; Toy Day (Christmas) is overseen by Jingle; and Halloween is overseen by its self-proclaimed Czar, Jack. All three events feature item hunts, though one similar event which has disappeared over time is Wild World’s Acorn Festival.
In the 2005 Nintendo DS game, the Acorn Festival takes place during the first full week of October (in other words, its first Monday through Sunday). Cornimer appeared in a player’s town as the special guest to celebrate, though in spite of the game trying to play dumb it’s clear he is just the mayor Tortimer wearing an acorn head. By collecting acorns all around town, players could receive the fall-inspired “Mushroom series” items. Acorn Festival never returned, but the Cornimer mask appears as part of a Hammer Tour in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and Cornimer cameos in Super Smash Bros. Brawl’s Town and City stage.
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What Cornimer Does in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The Acorn Festival may not appear in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but players are still able to gather up acorns and pine cones for special DIY recipes during the fall season. Tortimer did not appear until Version 2.0, where his co-op can be funded on Harv’s Island for 100,000 bells. He acts as an access point for the player’s home storage, which is particularly useful in conjunction with Reese and Cyrus’ shop that customizes a wider variety of items.
With this version update releasing in early November, many players likely only had a day or two of Tortimer himself appearing before being greeted by Cornimer on Harv’s Island. It’s good to see the jovial old man getting into the fall spirit as he did while serving as mayor, but Cornimer doesn’t do much for Animal Crossing: New Horizons players. He merely hands out acorns to use in crafting before giving people the option to access their home storage as usual.
It’s a nice reference that’s sure to please long-time fans regardless of how much Cornimer actually contributes to the scope of this update. However, with Nintendo confirming no more major content will release for New Horizons after Version 2.0, it’s a shame players may not get to see Cornimer return as a challenge in the Puzzle League mode introduced by New Leaf.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now on Nintendo Switch.
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