There are several characters in Animal Crossing. The amazing Harvey is one that players won’t soon forget. Some characters you quickly familiarize yourself with and others you may not as quickly. You meet them as they come to you. They could be neighbors, or just passing through. One of which you might not be familiar with is Harvey. He is quite an interesting character. He is a non-playable character (NPC) who gives off strong hippie vibes and appears in a couple of Animal Crossing games. Here’s everything you need to know about this awesome NPC!
When Harvey Appeared
Harvey has not always been in Animal Crossing. He is a relatively new character that first appeared in Animal Crossing: New Leaf in 2012. Amazing Harvey is an interesting character because he is a dog dressed in 60s hippie garb. And what’s more, he prefers to be called Harv. When he first appeared in New Leaf, he was added on as a software update and sold unique furniture items.
In the newest game, New Horizons, the amazing Harvey pops up and says he has his very own island called Harv’s Island, where you can customize rooms and take photos. This place is called Photopia because it is where you can design rooms and upload characters to your heart’s content. This place has endless possibilities. All you need is imagination! Players can stop by and have a photo session anytime.
Harvey appears when your third villager moves in on your island in New Horizons. He also works with Harriet, another dog, who helps Harvey have a more open market. Harv is said to have a crush on Harriet. In Pocket Camp on your smartphone, there was a time when you could build a replica of Harv’s cabin and he would appear. That seems to have only been an option for a limited time in 2021.
Harv’s Island
Harv’s Island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is unique and colorful. To go to Harv’s Island, you can go to the airport at Dodo Airlines at any time night or day. Nothing special has to be done in order to go to Harv’s island. As mentioned, Harvey is automatically unlocked in New Horizons when the third islander moves in on your island. It’s not easy to upgrade Harv’s island in New Horizons, though.
When you head back to your island after visiting Harv’s island and taking pictures, you first have to get a three-star evaluation rating. Talk to Isabelle if you have any questions as to what you might need to do in order to get a higher rating. Once you get that rating, you will receive a letter from Harvey saying he has something cool to show you. Upon returning, the Amazing Harvey will not be there, but there will be a large back area for players to explore. Here is where you can invest in shops with other NPCs such as Leif permanently.
The Amazing Harvey
So, who is the Amazing Harvey? He is generally a dog who has strong hippie vibes and is laid back. But it really just depends on the type of Animal Crossing you are playing. Amazing Harvey’s role changes slightly from game to game. He came later in the game in 2012 but that doesn’t diminish his overall role in the franchise. He is a welcome addition and fits right in with the whole schema of Animal Crossing.
Harv gives off a laid-back attitude which is how he would prefer you to be at his home/RV/island. Whether he’s a merchant of furniture or turns his house out for your photoshoot, Harv has it all. The 2.0 update done in New Horizons gives players many more options at Harv’s island. In fact, the addition is called the Plaza to Harv’s island. If players have visited Harv’s island before the update, they will receive a letter from Harv inviting them to come again.
Harv is a one-of-a-kind dog. He is a friendly, happy-go-lucky guy. If you haven’t had the 2.0 update yet to Harv’s plaza, then you may do so by opening up your game and the Switch will prompt you to make updates. When you go to Harv’s Island donate bells (currency) and the shops will start to appear! Some of those shops are Shampoodle, which is Harriet’s (Harv’s crush) hair salon, Sahara which sells rugs and wallpapers, Leif who sells bushes and crops, and Re-tail the two llamas Reese and Cyrus’ customization shop.
Concluding Thoughts
If you’re anything like me you will sometimes take a break from Animal Crossing and will binge on it for about a year and a half and then take a two-year break, but I am picking it back up again, especially after writing so much about Animal Crossing lately.
About the Author
A freelance journalist, Corinne Crowe has been writing for about five years. She worked as a journalist for three years for a small-town newspaper called The People Sentinel based out of Barnwell, South Carolina, and an online newspaper, Antioch Tenn based out of Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated Suma Cum Laude from Amridge University with her Masters in Human Services in 2020.
She is an avid collector of Pop! figures with an emphasis on Stitch and Disney Princesses. In her spare time, she loves to read. Her favorite genres are historical fiction and nonfiction, biographies, and young adult. Corinne lives with her husband, Andrew, of eight years, daughter Aspen, and her dog Piper who thinks she’s a lap dog, in Tuscumbia, Alabama.
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