A & E

Something about the innocuous, idle wanderings and ramblings of the idyllic world of "Animal Crossing" draws gamers from across the spectrum, from kids to -- gasp! -- the hard-core contingent.

The last "Animal Crossing" title to hit stores was 2005's "Wild World" for the DS, an addictive bestial soap opera perfect for easing nerves in long lines or in between more harried video-game endeavors.

Needless to say, in the time it has taken for "Animal Crossing: City Folk" to finally come to fruition, I was more than ready to start a new sim life.

However, despite some of the additions and improvements plugged into the latest installment, too much of "City Folk" treads old ground.

When you start the game, you pick your character's gender and name, and arrive in town via bus. Just like "Wild World," shop owner and real-estate mogul Tom Nook quickly gets you into debt after you select one of several houses to live in. The same ol' part-time job includes the same ol' couple of missions before you're out on your own to earn bells (money) to buy stuff and pay off your mortgage.

You have the option to transfer your data from "Wild World" to the Wii for "City Folk," but you can't take the items you've purchased, your museum collections, your money or your renovated house. Basically, the money-making process begins anew.

"City Folk" does offer new ways to spend your bells, but there aren't too many alternatives to raising cash than the usual fishing, capturing bugs and selling items. The auction house in the city is a new feature, letting you buy and sell goods via Wi-Fi connection on certain days of the week.

Taking a bus from your town to the city, you'll find a mish-mash of old and new. Repeat characters Redd -- the shady, fly-by-night salesman -- and Dr. Sprunk -- the incomprehensible psychologist -- have permanent residence in town. You'll still need an invitation to shop for Redd's overpriced forgeries, and Sprunk holds matinee shows where your character can learn emotes for use with friends. Purchase the new Wii Speak voice-chat device, though, and who needs emotes?

The most notable city storefront is Shampoodle, a salon where your character can get a makeover -- including swapping your default human head with a Mii head. It's fun to see your avatar making small talk about unreciprocated shortcake desires and who's spending too much time with whom. Downside is, accessories like glasses, hats or anything head-related will revert your character's head back to default.

The Wi-Fi function is great, but again, the use of Friend Codes makes traveling to different towns unnecessarily cumbersome, especially if you don't have any friends who are into "Animal Crossing."

While there are few updates to lure "Wild World" fans from their well-established DS abodes, "Animal Crossing" newcomers likely will find themselves spending way too many hours in the engrossing slow lane of "City" life.

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