Is it just me or...

[whimsycreator]

Is it just me, or did they make some pretty serious changes to Isabelle’s personality between the two games?

I’m not sure if it’s the change in setting between the games or not, but in New Leaf, she came off to me as a rather hardworking secretary. (Regardless, we didn’t really get to see what kind of work she was doing, but it was implied she did a lot to keep things together. Remember the dialogue: “I actually got an entire hour of sleep last night, I’m just raring to go!”?)

Sure Isabelle was clumsy and scatterbrained in New Leaf, and that hasn’t changed in New Horizons, but at least it felt like she actually did something and had a job and some incentive for work.

In New Horizons, however, Isabelle just feels like a complete ditz who doesn’t do anything. This is especially apparent when she gives the announcements when you open the game. Most of the time the announcements are a joke. She talks about finding her favorite sock, her personal TV habits, what she’s been doing lately... all trivial things, and all things that aren’t related to work... you have to wonder exactly, when does she even work? And whenever you peek into resident services, she appears to be constantly goofing off, and often even sleeping on the job! The old Isabelle wouldn’t have been caught dead sleeping on the job. When I first saw Isabelle sleeping on the job, I talked to her, thinking she’d give me special dialogue pertaining to her sleeping. But she didn’t.

Not to mention, consulting Isabelle about the villagers’ clothes and speech does nothing in this game. You almost have to wonder if Nintendo did this on purpose to really capitalize that Isabelle is super-lazy in this game.

Well, it sounds a lot like I’m trash-talking the new Isabelle, but to be honest, I don’t really have anything huge against her, or lazy people/characters... it’s just that it doesn’t feel like the Isabelle I know.

So, what do you think?

 

[SmoochsPLH]

I think nintendo was going for "this is more of a vacation tom nook offered her so that's why her job isn't much" vibe and it just comes off as her not really needing to be there if you don't think about it as that. i think nintendo just excecuted it badly she works hard in new leaf and ssbu she deserves to rest

 

[Vio1et]

She seems pretty different to me too. But the announcements are the only things that really bother me. The first two weeks or so I thought it was pretty cute, but after that I kinda wish she'd give more helpful news, like which visitor was on the island that day. Although she does deserve a bit of a break after NL

 

[Rosch]

The complete drop of her workload in this game really made her somewhat... unproductive? I really wish the Resident services becomes more of a town hall and start offering more services. The island will continue to grow with the future updates after all.

Also, it would be great to see them walking around the island after their office hours. Or giving them days off.

 

[FishHead]

I'm just sick of her stories. Like I don't need to hear what your zodiac sign is for the 100th time.

 

[Manah]

This isn't just Isabelle on vacation, this is Isabelle stripped of everything that makes her more than just fan pandering and eye candy.

If I'm being cynical, she seems to be designed to appeal to that specific kind of fan that wants female characters to be cute and dumb. Less cynical, they had no idea what to do with her but had to shoehorn her in anyway because fan demand.

 

[wolfie1]

In New Leaf she had a central role, which is why players could interact more with her and get to know her. In New Horizons she's basically a flower pot lmao. I wish she announced actual meaningful stuff, like what special NPC is visiting today or stuff like that.

 

[Underneath The Stars]

In New Leaf she had a central role, which is why players could interact more with her and get to know her. In New Horizons she's basically a flower pot lmao. I wish she announced actual meaningful stuff, like what special NPC is visiting today or stuff like that.

right?
i've had enough of these fake stories "watched tv last night" girl you were at the residential services!!!!

 

[Tiffany]

my only issue is the announcements. I think it should be if there is nothing to tell us dont waste our time with it. I mean why have announcements to there is no announcements? or at least tell us who is visiting like another person said. i would be fine with them going back to the old way, a quick pop up when u enter the game. much more efficient.

 

[g u a v a]

i'd be fine with her if they at least patched in more jokes/dialogue... it's really repetitive, but to be fair the intro sequence to every single ac game before has been something just as (if not more) repetitive.

 

[marea]

I used to think of her as a second mayor or something in nl because she seemed to run business. In nh when my villagers talk about how hard she works to keep this island going i just wanna roll my eyes! Like she barely does anything, what are you people talking about?!! She would be of much more help if she could at least tell you who is visiting today.

 

[Le Ham]

There are some days where she just tells me "I have nothing to announce, so enjoy your Tuesday and don't overwork yourself" and honestly can that just be every day. I'm actually not bothered by her going on about her sock in the washing machine, but then I wasn't obsessed with her in NL either so

 

[Plume]

It isn't just you; I've noticed it too. It's like they saw all those "Isabelle is moe!" memes and shoehorned her into that specific role, voiding her of all personality.

 

[Nunnafinga]

Snoozin' on the job again.Isabelle is kind of a fifth wheel in this game.I think it would have been better if Nintendo rotated some of the NPCs that got cut from the series like Phyllis,Pelly,Pete or Reese(just to name a few)to do Isabelle's job.It seems like Nintendo considers Isabelle to be one of the symbols of AC like Tom Nook and if that's the case couldn't they have given her more to do in New Horizons?

 

[Nami]

I wish she did more, most definitely. I love her regardless, but still. Tom nook takes care of what was essentially half her job in NL.

 

[Stalfos]

Ah, I miss the days when Isabelle would stop me from putting down PWP:s in perfectly fine spots. I hope she never leaves resident services because she's gonna freak out when she sees what I've done with the island.

 

[Romaki]

Tom Nook and Isabelle are filling the role of Isabelle (+ Nooks Housing options) from the last game, so they both feel empty. I would have been fine with Isabelle doing something different, like a wandering NPC for specific items or just showing up to celebrate events. She's a cutie, but the theme and all really suits Nook. Isabelle just was not necessary for that role, she's only there because of her popularity and you can tell.

 

[pup]

This isn't just Isabelle on vacation, this is Isabelle stripped of everything that makes her more than just fan pandering and eye candy.

If I'm being cynical, she seems to be designed to appeal to that specific kind of fan that wants female characters to be cute and dumb. Less cynical, they had no idea what to do with her but had to shoehorn her in anyway because fan demand.

this unfortunately feels really accurate to me. while i love to see her goofy little face her depth and integrity are gone as a character. everyone i know who is new to AC doesn't understand why she matters.

 

[Bethboj]

Maybe once the nook shop upgrades, nook might move himself there and Isabelle will take over RS.
At the moment the only difference is that in NL I didn’t hate her, in NH I dislike her greatly some days.
I think I’d dislike her less if I didn’t have to listen to her recycled dialogue every day tbh.

 

[Sencha]

Sadly I agree, it really feels like they have focused more on "why did people like Isabelle and how do we make sure to keep this up" rather than "here is our character, how would she act based on her personality and background", and if you have that focus, I personally feel like it gets kinda forced. I think we all can think of one or two examples from other games or whatever. Maybe she could mention having worked at another town, she could possibly comment on there being less administrative work and feeling bored, or maybe she could host some event every now and then, because I honestly feel like the Isabelle I know from NL would work, like she was clumsy and forgetful, but she had great work ethic to balance that out. I like her a lot, and still think she's cute, but damn she is underused, no matter how you feel about her