Official game trailer:
Ever wonder why God lets bad things happen?
Play the Sims and you'll soon find out. It's fun to have the ultimate control over your creations (and for some reason people are now finding in fun in creating wackier and wackier ways of killing their creations.. it's slightly sadistic but still fun to try)
Fuck it, it's even fun to even create yourself in sim version... (well you might make some 'slight' improvements, I went from a cup size B in real life to what looked like a D cup in my Sim version). Just be warned, when 'you' achieve the perfect life... you will most likely develop deep jealous feelings and end up killing your poor sim in the most imaginative form possible (see link above).
To begin, I know that the Sims is a major franchise and a lot of you will probably of played some form of the game in your lives. For those you who were avid Sims 2 players, there are several improvements to the base game but there are several 'non-improvements' that would make you seriously question the logic of EA/Maxis...
Positive improvements include;
- Travel is much more realistic. Now your Sim walk to the park, drive to the movies after work or get a cab home to your 'lot'. You do not spend hours staring at loading screens while this is happening as technically, the whole town is your 'lot'.
- Sims have personality 'traits' now, which shapes what type of person they will be. Although there has been a lot of debate over this, I believe that picking your sims personality traits is a positive move from the primitive 'Zodiac' system.
- The scenery within the game is beautifully done. This is probably the strangest aspect of the game. Almost everything is detailed and realistic. The sun rises and sets gradually now as asposed to the sudden 'lights on, lights off' at 7am/7pm within TS2.
Sunset Valley, beautiful scenic suburban base town
'EA, the fuck you were you thinking'/un-improvements include;
- No weather in the base game! And to this point (13th Feb, 2012), there is no expansion pack that includes weather. Enough said.
- There are certain aspects of the game that will make you instantly think 'lazy programming'. Such as when you drive your car/take a cab, you/the cab driver will drive straight through any oncoming traffic or cyclists.
- Emphasis is taken off relationship developments in the Sims 3 especially when you compare it to The Sims 2. You do not need to obtain friends in order to advance within the game and IMO, this makes the game less challenging.
- It still seems like theres not enough time in the day. Your Sim is knackered after work and accomplishing even the smallest tasks seem to take up huge chunks of time. 2 hours to do the grocery shopping? I don't think so, EA.
Annoying, seemingly lazy programming
I know, I know.. I haven't said the inevitable yet... if the Sims community forums has taught us anything, it's that there are different 'types' of Sims players. So, I'll break it down.
New Sims Players: 3/5
I didn't know where to start for you guys. All I can say is that the Sims in general, is very hit and miss. For some people, it can prove to be an addiction and for some other people it can prove to be one of the most repetitive things since Tyra Banks's talk show. All I'll say is, you need to play it for yourself in order to make your mind up. If you're into video games with a solid beginning, middle and end... forget about it. If you like the idea of having the freedom to come up with your own stories/plots, then maybe this is one for you.
House builders: 4/5
You will love the Sims 3 if you're into building houses for your Sims. It's easier to customize the textures and designs of your house now. Also, you can now do more with furniture itself, such as place it at angles or customize the colour/design (hello tacky leopard print rooms!). The reason I gave the house building aspect for the base game a 4 out of 5 though is due to the limited amount of furniture you receive in the base game. If you like building various houses throughout the neighbourhood, it is done slightly arseways. On the main menu of the map within the town, you'll need to click 'edit town'.
(FYI - those of you into building all sorts of mad big places in the Sims should check out The Curtis Paradis Show. This guy is man when it comes to making obnoxiously big and fabulous houses.. he's even done a Sims 3 version of the White House... yes THE WHITE HOUSE!! I chose not to watch his videos, they tend to put me in a 'I'm inspired to do things I can't achieve' mode and I end up frustrated with shitty houses)
Neighbourhood Building players: 1/5
If you enjoyed building neighbourhoods in the Sims 2, you're going to be epically dissapointed with TS3. You can only 'customize' your base town, Sunset valley. You can download more worlds from the Sims website but still, you're confined to the one world. There is a 'create-a-world' tool available to download from the Sims website but it is in BETA and for PC only. It's extremly hard to use, unless you know your stuff!
'God' Players: 1/5
Because the Sims 3 is more of a 'game', then a story telling tool.. those of you who enjoy creating multi-families, will NOT be impressed as you can only manage one family at a time. EA has demoted you guys from God status.
- If you enjoyed creating Sims, I can assure you that the new create a Sim feature is very well developed with good graphics and cool new features.
Create-a-Sim
And for those of you who enjoy the pleasure of having children within the game, I believe it's improved heaps and miles. You can now have a 'realistic' pregnancy (morning sickness included, lucky sim), dote on a newborn that will progress from a whinging toddler to a demanding child. And from demanding child spawns the spoilt teenage Sim. You can also have a 'young adult Sim' now which adds a nice new dimension to the game.
Family within the Sims 3
Overall verdict:
If you are new to the Sims franchise and like the idea of having the freedom to create your own 'stories', you will probably enjoy the game.
If you are an avid fan of TS2, beware and approach with caution! There will be of course elements that will please you and some other elements... not so much!
If anyone has any questions/observations about the game, feel free to say so in the comments.
Writing this has made me want to waste some study time on the Sims.
Until then
Love and rockets,
Ruth.
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