The last game you’d expect to be discussed during Spooktober is most assuredly the cute and relaxing life sim, Animal Crossing.  After all, what could possibly be scary about decorating your house or meeting new animal friends?  Well, ever since the franchise’s debut on the Nintendo GameCube, there has been one, no, make that two things that could ruin an otherwise pleasant day.  After 7 PM, there is a small chance you could be chased by one of two frighteningly aggressive arachnids, a tarantula or a scorpion.  While not terribly common, the occasions this has happened make for some of the most tense moments in gaming, rendering me terrified to leave my house after dark!  The problem is, if you want to complete your museum, then you’re just going to have to face your fears and figure out how to nab one of these things before it catches onto your scheme and you receive the inevitable fangs to the face!  Fortunately, at least as far as New Horizons is concerned, you’re in luck!

I may not be certain of the exact mechanics in past games, but in New Horizons, these speedy bugs will only chase you if you have your net out.  That’s great if you just want to stroll on by and avoid a frightening altercation.  It’s not so great if you intend to, well, actually catch these things and force them into poor Blathers’ unsuspecting wings.  Or just sell a bunch for 8,000 bells a pop!  But fortunately, there is a very effective trick you can try next time you visit…gulp, scorpion or tarantula island.

Although the odds of it are pretty low, when you fly to mystery islands during the correct months between 7 PM and 4 AM, there is a small chance you’ll find one of these horrifying islands, which are flat with a circular river.  And if this happens, don’t panic and remember my tip.  They will not attack you as long as you don’t take out your net.  Or make prolonged eye contact.  Or make any sudden movements.  Or…okay, just keep that net out of sight, and you should probably, maybe, most likely be okay!

It’s been a long time since I did this, but I remember digging little “cells”, if you will, all over the portion of the island inside the river.  While I was securely within my own little safe zone (remember, you can jump over holes), a fairly small spot free of threats, I then took out a net and provoked one of the bugs confined in its own little prison cell next to me.  And the way the trick works is: if one tarantula or scorpion is already provoked, none of the others will attack.  Even if they rear back and look ready to pounce, they won’t, and you can literally just walk right up to them and catch them.  Easy peasy!  Yes, it’s still a horrifying and disgusting affair, but boy, is it effective and will earn you lots of sweet, sweet bells!  And you conquered your fears in the process…or just gave yourself PTSD for years to come!