Track of the Week: New Year’s, Not at Party (Animal Crossing)

The last few days of December have always been a time for reflection, whether it be looking back on some of the defining moments of the past year, forging resolutions for the coming one, or, in the case of gaming websites such as this one, reflecting on the most notable releases we’ve played over the last 12 months. It’s in this spirit of contemplation that we’ve selected our final Track of the Week for 2013, from one of my personal favorite GameCube titles:

This week’s selection is appropriate for a number of reasons, not least because New Year’s Eve is only a couple of nights away, and soon people around the world will be gathering to celebrate the arrival of another year in the warm presence of loved ones. One of my favorite aspects of the original Animal Crossing is the way it was able to instill this sense of community in its gameplay, thanks to special holidays like New Year’s Eve and the Harvest Festival, and this theme, perhaps more than any other piece of gaming music, has come to represent, at least in my mind, the feeling of gathering with family and enjoying the holidays.

It’s also fitting that the tune, which replaces your town’s hourly theme after the clock strikes midnight, is a gentle rendition of “Auld Lang Syne,” the song that is traditionally sung at New Year’s celebrations. While the Animal Crossing version may lack the original song’s lyrics (which serve as a reminder of all the friends with whom we might have parted ways over the years), their sentiments are suffused in the melody, making it just as poignant.

From all of us here at Nintendojo, we hope you have a warm and happy New Year!