Environment rating

The environment rating, town rating, or town evaluation is a gameplay element featured in all installments of the. The only way to check a town's status is by checking the Wishing Well, talking to Pelly or Phyllis at the civic center ( and ), or asking Isabelle at either the front desk in the Town Hall or at the Civic Consultation Counter at Resident Services.

After a number of conditions are met, the player may achieve "perfect town" status. This usually involves planting many trees and flowers (and in New Leaf, Public Works Projects) in addition getting rid of weeds and trash completely. The benefits of achieving perfect town status include getting the gold watering can, lilies of the valley, rare mushrooms (in City Folk and New Leaf), and new Public Works Projects (in New Leaf).

Vegetation/Plants
Various plants impact the player's town's environment. Sometimes, villagers will also comment about the town's environment when talking to the player.

Trees
Trees impact the town's environment in a major way. The town's environment rating can decrease if there are not enough or too many trees in one or more acres.

Flowers
Flowers are one of the simpler ways to improve the town's environmental status (with the exception of, where they don't affect it). Placing at least one flower in each acre improves the town's environment immensely—a very high amount of them may cancel out other flaws in the environment, such as weeds. Any type of flower can be grown anywhere, but the player can keep it evenly distributed for a better environmental status. In all games before, players must water their flowers often, as wilted flowers impact the town status negatively.

Weeds
A small number of weeds (two or three in most games) appear each day. The weeds will accumulate if they are not picked, so it is best for the town's status to pull weeds whenever they're seen. For a perfect town, no weeds should remain in a town overnight.

Trash
Boots, cans, and tires fished out from the river or ocean, as well as spoiled turnips, must never be placed on the ground, as they are considered trash and the environmental status of the town will instantly decrease. These items also attract the fly, an inexpensive bug. Trash should be placed in the Dump, disposed for a fee at Re-Tail, thrown away in the trash bin (which can be found in homes or built as a public works project), or sold.

Dropped items
Furniture, accessories, and other drop-able items are considered trash. Therefore, items should not be left on the ground if the player wants a good environmental status for the town. Seashells (when they're on the beach) and fruit are not counted as dropped items.

Public Works Projects
A certain amount of Public Works Projects are required to achieve perfect town status in New Leaf. Some projects, such as the Garbage Bin, detract from the town's status (but will not permanently keep it from attaining perfect status).

Furniture
As a new feature in New Horizons, players are able to decorate their island with any type of furniture that is not wall-mounted. In accordance with this, furniture is no longer counted as trash as long as it is displayed rather than dropped. The environment rating will improve depending on how much is displayed.

Villagers will also gift furniture items to the player, recommending that they place them outside to improve the island's rating (although doing so with that specific item is not required).

and
In and, the player may access their town evaluation and learn about anything keeping their town from reaching "perfect" status through the Wishing Well. The spirit of the Wishing Well, who is later revealed to be Farley, will tell the player the following:


 * Too many weeds: "Too many weeds... there are so many that you can pluck..."


 * Not enough trees: "In areas where there is very little green... a feeling of despair overshadows all else. Go to Acre X-Y to see what is amiss."


 * Almost perfect: "This town is getting better."


 * Perfect: "Everything is perfect!  is a very livable place."

and
In and, when talking with Pelly or Phyllis about the town's environmental status, the designated pelican will relay messages that other villagers have given her. Her response will inform the player if the town is prospering or not. Here are the responses that either Pelly or Phyllis will tell the player:


 * Horrible: "This place is the pits! Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong! There's not a single thing I like in this town!"


 * Bad: "I'm not sure what good it will do to write this, but... Could you try and be a bit more thoughtful about your town? Because at this rate..."


 * Neutral: "Hmm... it's not a passing grade, but it's not a failing grade either. It's like more than milk, but not quite a milk shake, you know what I mean?"


 * Good: "This town is fantastic! But even so, it still seems to be missing something"


 * Perfect: "Fantastic!  is in great shape right now! Yep, it's pretty sweeeeet!"

After Pelly or Phyllis relays the message, she will give a player a hint regarding how to make the town healthier. For example, at the "getting there" phase, Pelly may tell the player that some areas have inadequate green, which is a tip to plant more flowers and trees in areas lacking them. Phyllis's messages tend to be a little more straightforward about what the player needs to do.

Generally, for perfect environmental status in and, eight of the acres should be classed as 'perfect' and the rest as 'good'.

In, a points system is used instead, which is divided into three hidden categories. Public works projects are necessary for a positive rating, and the requirement for a specific number of trees/flowers in each acre no longer applies.

Advice to get a perfect town is given by various special characters in the game, relayed through Isabelle when speaking to her at the Town Hall. Each quote designates what the quality of the town is.

"Hmmmm... It's not a passing grade, but it's not really failing either... So middle ground! It's like this town is more than friends but not ready to be a couple yet. It needs real commitment!"

- Timmy and Tommy

"I think it's riding the so-so rails. So average!"

- Timmy and Tommy

"Well, they're certainly giving it their all! The difficult challenge is the reason town building is so worth it!"

- Digby

"Goodness gracious! Even from an academic standpoint, I must say this town is becoming quite good! If the town grows like this, I have no doubt that its value will keep soaring even higher, eh wot?"

- Blathers

"It seems that is starting to gain some attention as a popular sightseeing destination! I hope they continue to work hard to really keep revitalizing this town! Eek eek!"

- Porter

"It's great! The very best town ever! I wouldn't mind being mayor again for a town that looks like this!"

- Tortimer

"Why, it's amazing, and I truly mean that! This town is simply the best! They've clearly worked very hard! This old man is really pleased!"

- Phineas

"Great galloping grasshoppers! Were I to give this town a rating, I'd say that it's exemplary, old bean!"

- Nat

"Woohoo! What a glorious town! Pavé wants to just sprawl out right here and caress the ground... Viva !"

- Pavé

"Goodness gracious! I can say that, even from an academic standpoint, this town is simply the best! Hoo!"

- Blathers

In New Leaf, the Flower Clock and Town Hall renovation Public Works Projects become available after the town achieves perfect status.

In, islands are rated on a five-star system, with five stars representing a perfect town. Like in New Leaf, players may access their island's rating by talking to Isabelle once the Town Hall is built and requesting "island evals." Many different factors from the past games return, and new factors, such as outdoor furniture placement and the amount of villagers in the town, have been added. The town needs at least a three-star rating in order to host K.K. Slider concerts.

When talking to Isabelle about town status, she will relay a critique given to her by another character (anonymously, but usually identifiable by their speech patterns):

1 star
According to Isabelle, all of the 1 star evaluations are provided by the same person (implied to be Wisp). "It's great that there isn't too much going on. I hope it'll stay nice and unassuming, like me."

- Wisp

"I like how there aren't any ghosts around. It's a place where free spirits like me can just be free!"

- Wisp

"It's a place I've been quietly watching. It's a secret to everybody. I don't want it to be famous."

- Wisp

2 stars
"It's like when a snowperson is built juuuust right. Sure, it's a good thing to be well made and to feel the love. But I don't know that a snowperson would get the proper attention here. That's my take, anyway."

- Snowperson

"I keep hearin' all things should be in moderation, but an island's image is worth workin' hard for, ain't it? Well, me an' my bro'll be backin' you up from behind the scenes, so you better just do your best, capice?"

- Mr. Resetti

"I've been shipwrecked there a few times, so I consider myself an authority—and I've got ideas! Here's one. I feel like a fella's rescue party might arrive a BIT sooner if that place had more stuff going on. Add some hustle! Add some bustle! Make your island a port of call that'll turn heads and drop anchors."

- Gulliver

3 stars
The first time the 3 star rating is achieved, Isabelle will relay the following quote: ", man... Hearing about how chill it is... I'd go if I had the chance."

- K.S.

Hearing this evaluation will complete "Project K" and schedule a K.K. Slider concert for the next available day.

After this, the following quotes will rotate randomly: "I look forward to my Sunday visits. When Gram-Gram's knees get better, it'd be swell to bring her with me!"

- Daisy Mae

"It's been growing real nice, like a big tree that's getting plenty of love and care. I'll be visiting a lot, tryin' to copy its secret sauce for success for my artists' collective!"

- Flick

"Talkin' as one of two birds who've seen EVERYONE come and go from here, this place is goin' places! Keep up the good work! We'd love to need a second plane someday."

- Orville

After giving feedback, Isabelle will suggest actions the player may take to improve their town status (for example, placing more outdoor furniture and fences, planting or trimming foliage, moving in villagers, or building more stores).