I just can't tell if this game is a clone of the original. By the way, that's not a bad thing...
In the beginning, you are bombarded with the menial labor of the shop owner, Tom Nook. The tasks are boring, tedious, and annoying, but DO NOT let this discourage you from contiuing to play. These tasks take about 15 minutes to a half an hour (for the slackers) to complete, so it is not long until you are freed from work to do whatever you want, whenever you want.
The game is set at a real time clock, so it adds a signifigant amount of "personal depth". The graphics and gameplay, although hard to believe, are both better than its console predecessor. The graphics, though very farmiliar with the original, maintain the exact same look as the gamecube, with an added bonus: you can actually see in front of you. The gamecube one was broken up into seperate acres, which got VERY annoying, but worry no more, they are gone! All of the control problems with the gamecube version have been fixed, such as the INCREDIBLY TEDIOUS selling of items. Instead of selling things one by one, you are given two areas: your items, and the items you are selling. Also, for example, if you have a broken hand/arm, do not despair, if you want you can control the entire game with the touch screen, which highly utilizes the DS's capabilities.
This game, though, is not for everyone. If you are a fan of action games, first person shooters, and fighting games, don't touch this game with a 20 foot pole. The "action" is limited to delivering letters, fishing, bug catching, letter writing, house decorating, clothes designing, well, you get the idea. In no way is having a game that actually relaxes you a bad thing, but every once in a while, you want to blow a demons head off with a shotgun.