The very firstAnimal Crossinggame was released in 2001, and since then, the franchise has added four more games to the series. Each game has a collection of iconic NPCs that are always present, including Isabelle and the infamous Tom Nook. Not all of the fan-favorite NPCs made it intoNew Horizons,though, and some veteran fans of theAnimal Crossingfranchise are eager to see their favorite friends live the island life.
Nintendo has been listening to fans, though. One of the biggest player requests was forBrewster, a pigeon who runs a coffee shopin the museum. Fans have been requesting Brewster since day one, and according to the recent Nintendo Direct, Brewster is finally coming. Not every NPC is so lucky, andNew Horizonshas been going for a quieter environment compared to the bustling cities and towns of past installments. However Kapp’n, the green turtle from previous games who made an appearance inSuper Smash Bros.,seems like a perfect fit forNew Horizons.
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Kapp’n Is a Sailor At Heart
Kapp’n has undertaken a lot of different roles in variousAnimal Crossinggames, but he’s a sailor at heart. In the originalAnimal Crossing,Kapp’n was the ferrymanthat transported players to Animal Island. Having him joinNew Horizonswould help Kapp’n return to his roots in a way that’s almost too perfect; there’s plenty of room for him at the docks.
InWild World,Kapp’n drove a taxi and inCity Folk,he drove a bus before moving back to a boat inNew Leaf.Even when he wasn’t at the helm of a boat, though, Kapp’n never let go of his sailor identity. The turtle is known for singing sea shanties even while driving in the city, and there are more than a couple of songs.InAnimal Crossing: New Leaf,Kapp’n has 160 different songs that change depending on whether the player is male or female. The song also changes in multiplayer sessions.
New Horizons has Dodo Airlines and some delightful NPCs that operate it, but because it is an island, it would be great to have Kapp’n show up every now and then and ferry the player to new locations. Kapp’n also frequentsBrewster’s coffee shop, the Roost, so with Brewster joining theNew Horizonscast, it would be very fitting to have Kapp’n join too. Kapp’n has been criticized for the borderline sexual way he speaks about women, however, which might be a major reason why he has yet to make an appearance.
Kapp’n Has A Close-Knit Family
SeveralAnimal CrossingNPCshave family histories that they share with the player.Animal Crossingis all about building relationships with friends and neighbors, and as those relationships deepen, the NPCs reveal more about themselves. InNew Horizons,the most players really get is some of Mabel and Sable’s family backstory with their fashion designer sister Label, but players can actually become acquainted with everyone in Kapp’n’s immediate family inNew Leaf.
Kapp’n’s wife is Leilani, a turtle that only appears inAnimal Crossing: New Leaf. She reportedly doesn’t like Kapp’n’s singing very much, but is friendly and kind to the player. Leilani is something of a concierge on Tortimer Island inNew Leafthat helps the player manage their inventory on the island and arranges their inevitable departure.
Kapp’n also has a daughter that appears inNew Leaf,Leila. Leila’s primary function on the island is to help players clear their inventory by buying items at 5% of their original price, which isn’t the best deal so many players may not interact with her much at all. A couple of Kapp’n’s songs shed more light on Leila, revealing that she tends to prefer her mother and that “ahoy” was her first word.
Finally, Kapp’n’s mother Grams can be seen inNew Leaf.Grams runs the souvenirshop on Tortimer Islandand will exchange special island goodies for medals that can be won by participating in tours. Kapp’n’s family is all over the place inNew Leaf,and it’s nice to see all of them together. They’ll probably remain on Tortimer Island, but they shed light on Kapp’n’s life and help make more sense of his sea shanties.
With Kapp’n and his family being such central NPCs inNew Leaf,it makes sense why players would want to see him return inNew Horizons. It will probably be a while before any more NPCs getadded toNew Horizonsfollowing Brewster, but Kapp’n’s legacy continues to live on in all the previousAnimal Crossinggames.
