The Sims 3 Review: Revolutionizing a Virtual Dollhouse

To fans of The Sims, The Sims 3 has been a long time coming. Announced in back in 2005 we finally have our hands on the third true game of the series.
The Sims series has always been known as a jewel of the game industry. Originally created by legendary game designer Will Wright, The Sims took off selling over one million copies in less than ten years. Smashing records the game moves into its third evolution.

The Sims 2 expanded upon the original Sims by introducing a brand new 3D engine. The Sims 3 adds greatly to the 3D engine rendering an entire town all seamlessly. The visuals for The Sims 3 look fantastic. You will see many breathtaking vistas upon your tour of sunset valley. Many visual areas from The Sims 2 have been improved as well. The foliage has had an incredible amount of detail put into it, and it shows beautifully. The Sims themselves have also gotten a facelift making them more realistic looking then their Sims 2 counterparts.

The biggest new addition to The Sims 3, that sets it apart from previous entries in the series, is the new seamless neighborhood. Your Sims can walk around and talk to other Sims in the neighborhood, which was previously never possible. There are no loading screens to split up the action. If you want to go shopping all you have to do is click on the location, and the Sim will immediately go. No loading screen, no slowdown. The town works incredibly well and is a great addition to the franchise. It refreshes the way you play and feels like a living, breathing town.

Another big addition to the Sims 3 is a new way to characterize your Sim’s personalities. EA has gotten rid of the old personality points system in favor of traits. You no longer have an outgoing rating of 6. Instead you can pick the “Flirty” trait. The new traits feel much more personable and realistic. There are a lot of neat personality traits to explore ranging from things like “Good” or “Neat Freak” to straight up bizarre like “Kleptomaniac” or “Never Nude”. Some traits effect your Sim’s physical interactions with the world and are pretty obvious. “Athletic” or “Natural Cook” are good examples of traits that are pretty easy to figure out. Other traits require more playing to see how they affect your Sim’s behavior such as “Daredevil” or “Family Oriented”. You can mix and match any 5 traits to make your Sim different than any other Sim. The traits feel much less robotic then the personality points in previous games.

One of the big differences between The Sims and The Sims 2 was the introduction of aging. In the Sims 2 your family would age and move on as the game progressed. The Sims 3 expands on this premise by aging the entire town as you play. As your Sim’s life progresses so does the entire town. While playing your Sim’s boss may pass away, thus your job performance may suffer or improve depending on how well you know your co-workers. It’s this new take on an old trick that makes The Sims 3 a more dynamic game then its predecessors.

The Sims has always been about creating a community, and this continues with The Sims 3. The new “Create-a-style” feature lets users “recolor” in game objects however they like. This new tool allows you to create very consistent homes. This tool is also used on clothing. If there is any object in the game you don’t like the color of you can change it in just a few clicks. The create-a-style tool is very simple to use yet at the same time can be very deep.

The Sims 3 is much more impressive on the web then The Sims 2 ever was. The new website provides tools such as a movie mashup maker that allow for casual players to experience a whole new area of gameplay without requiring expensive tools and tutorials. Obviously the tools aren’t very expansive but they’re not there for experienced movie makers, but rather for aspiring new directors looking to get started.

The sound design is as always a subtle mix of ambient noises such as birds and crickets mixed with a peaceful soundtrack composed by Steve Jablonsky. It’s a very nice and upbeat soundtrack that nicely compliments the gameplay and never gets in your face. It’s just there to back up the atmosphere.

Overall The Sims 3 is a definite pickup for any Sims fan out there. All the basics have been covered and improved upon. You won’t find much from previous expansions to the game in The Sims 3 but I’m sure they’re not far behind. If you enjoyed playing with dollhouses before you’re sure to enjoy playing with an entire town. The Sims 3 is a game that appeals to everyone whether a casual player or a hardcore gamer. There is always something to do in The Sims 3. Now stop reading this review and go buy the game.

1Up Review The Sims 3

1Up has also posted their review for The Sims 3.

While this new persistent community approach makes the game feel much more dynamic and alive, it also means that your Sims are going to have to juggle a whole lot of relationships, in addition to handling their everyday needs. This can lead casual players, and even some of the more hardcore, to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information you have to process simultaneously, and the number of social-life plates you'll need to keep spinning. The game's built-in AI is helpful in ensuring that your Sims automatically handle these tasks, to some degree, but who wants to just sit back and watch AI have all the fun -- after all, The Sims is a series for the control freak in all of us.

Read the full review here

Gamespot Review The Sims 3

Gamespot reviewed The Sims 3 before heading off to E3.

For experienced Sims players, the laundry list of new features in The Sims 3 is extensive, but the one overhaul that has the biggest impact on the game is how seamlessly you can now move around your virtual town. In previous games, the presence of various neighborhoods led to a disjointed experience, so you rarely felt like you were in a living world. Now, your burb is freely explorable, so traveling to the gym, the art gallery, or your place of work means walking, biking, driving, or taxiing to the location in question without any loading times to break things up. Want your sim to head to the library and read up on the latest mystery? Just zoom out to the city map and select your destination, and your sim will travel there automatically, using the most efficient means of transportation. You might even get the option to invite someone along with you, so you won't have to head to the diner alone if you've got a friend or acquaintance nearby who's available to tag along.

Read the full review

Gametrailers Reviews The Sims 3

IGN Reviews The Sims 3

IGN Gave The Sims 3 an 8.9

Video Review:

More The Sims 3 Info

Written Review

PC Gamer Reviews The Sims 3

The 2nd Sims 3 review has come in, and it's from PC Gamer. They gave the game a 9.2, the same score as PC Zone.

The best Sims game yet. It's still about playing with virtual dolls, but it's never been this big, beautiful and eager to please. [July 2009, p.69]

That's the only quote i can find as of now. More reviews should be coming in this week!

SimSocial Impressions

The SimSocial feature on Thesims3.com is a very interesting online based version of The Sims. The Sims is all about creating everything in the world, and then watching it grow, prosper, and mature. SimSocial takes that philosophy and streamlines it to a turn-based system.

SimSocial has many features you would expect from a Sims product such as the ability to create your own sim. The options, while limited, allow the user to personalize his sim to make it 1 of a kind. There are enough options so you can make a completely different sims, although a few more clothing and hair options would have been welcome.

A big aspect of SimSocial is the ability to socialize with your Sim’s friends. The socialization sector of the game seems to be a game more so of chance then actual decision making and chemistry. Granted there is a panel where it displays your friend’s interests and dislikes, but some of this is hard to match up with things you might actually do. While the actual socialization mechanic is a bit of a letdown the robust options more than make up for it. There are a lot of things to do, people to meet, and places to go in SimSocial. Things ranging from “Go to the movies” to “Stare at the walls”. Even the TV has channels to watch, giving you different mood or skill benefits. The interactions are divided into 2 sections, one you can do with friends, and the other you can only do alone. Each section has a bevy of places to go, and some you can obviously only do when you have the money, whereas others might be free.

One of my major gripes with SimSocial is the career system. When you exit the “Create A Sim” feature you are prompted to choose your lifetime goal and career path, which you can change at any time. This works fine for a while, but then you begin wondering “Why do I have the same job?” or “Am I ever going to see a different line of dialog?”. The career progression is never really explained, and feels like it was tacked-on. With the exception of the career panel there isn’t much to telling you what you are supposed to, and the information on the panel is lacking at best. There is an option to take evening classes in addition to your day job. I really wish this feature will be implemented in The Sims 3 when it ships this June, as it is a fantastic idea, even if in SimSocial it lacks grace. The idea of being able to take classes in various skills is a really nice alternative to using the bookcase to study skills every day. IT breaks up the reputation of collecting skill points. The problem with this feature it gives you very little in terms of details as to what you are doing. “How many classes do I have to take until I unlock the next class?” As you ask yourself that question the game never answers it. The career features were really good in feature, but felt more like an afterthought.

Another issue I have with SimSocial is the needs and skills system that is implemented. None of the needs are never explained, and seem to just be there. There is no real way of seeing what is affected because of needs. The job performance is about the only thing I can see that is affected, and that is because they tell you that in the career panel. Other then that the needs section of SimSocial just seems not needed, and pointless. The same can be said for the skill section, “Why am I going to classes again?” I often wonder to myself while I play, the game gives you no reason to actually gain skills. My other issue with the needs and skill sections is that there are too many of them. Since when do we have a “Loneliness” need? Or an “Excitement” need? The skills are the same way, dividing skills up into different levels such as “Basic Cooking” or “Food Safety”. It just seems to be too much micro-managing for a small web game that could have been simplified and streamlined.

The last issue I have with SimSocial is the timer. After a certain number of days your sim will “Fall Asleep” or at least that is what the game tells you. Once your sim falls asleep you cannot play for another 4 hours. This is obviously a means of getting you to come back often to continue your game, it is just an interesting way of implementing it. It reminds me a lot of the strategy used for Nintendogs where you could only do 3 competitions a day, and then you would have to come back the next day. While this feature isn’t disappointing it breaks up the gameplay quite a bit.

Overall I enjoyed SimSocial. It is a neat little web application which for the most part works really well. If it is any indication of what The Sims 3 will be like then we probably will not have much spare time for a few months. The social aspect of the game is the best part of SimSocial, even if it is flawed in some of the gameplay. The user interface is the most problematic part of SimSocial. It pollutes the screen with unnecessary information which is not needed to play the game, and hides the more important features under a layer of junk. I recommend SimSocial, just expect to be taking frequent breaks, and don’t plan on getting anywhere quickly, it will take time.

IGN Reviews MySims Party

IGN posted its review for MySims Party today giving it a 6/10 or "Passable". This is the lowest MySims game rating thus far. Daemon Hatfield has this to say

What is here is enough to be a fun little mini-game collection (again, for kids). In our review for MySims Kingdom last year we wrote that Electronic Arts could be doing much more with this franchise. That is still the case.

In a Nutshell it is a decent Mini-game collection for kids, similar to Mario Party or Carnival Games.

Read the full review here [IGN.com]

Official Nintendo Magazine UK Reviews Sim Animals

Also released today along side IGN's review, was a review from the Official Nintendo UK Magazine. They gave the game .1 higher then IGN with a 5.4/10. With that they had to say

"Of course, looks aren't everything in the real world - if they were no one would own a bulldog - but it would be easier to have a bit more compassion for your creatures if SimAnimals wasn't so ugly. You begin by controlling a hand high above the forest and if you thought the world looked bad from a bird's-eye view, just wait until you swoop down to ground level. The animals don't look particularly cute and the forest environment looks awful. Everything has a slightly muddy hue and the trees are so blocky that it looks as though it could have been made for the N64. You can't help but feel that a cartoony art style would have been a better idea than this poor attempt at realism."

Read the review here

IGN Reviews Sim Animals

IGN today released their review for Sim Animals giving it a 5.3/10 (Which is Mediocre). With that they said

"It didn't take long for the controls to get on my nerves. The remote is used to point and select objects while the nunchuk handles movement and camera rotation. Pointer control is very finicky, often making it difficult to select animals or enter menus. To do some planting or heavy petting you have to waggle your onscreen icon over a seed/animal, but the game won't always register your actions. Worse, if a seed lands in a bed of flowers or is similarly obstructed you can't even get at it. "

We will keep you updated on reviews!

Read the full IGN review here

First Sim Animals Review

The first of many reviews for Sim Animals arrived late today courtesy of Cheat Code Central. They gave the game a 6.4/10 stating

"There is one glaring element that is enough to make this pretty good game into a bad one: the graphics. The visuals in this title are sub-par on every level, from the level design to the animal animations, and really bring down the overall quality of the game exponentially. Each area uses the same basic structure, design, and color palette, and it is difficult to distinguish one place from another based on visuals alone."

You can read the full review 2 page review here

IGN Reviews MySims Kingdom

IGN has finally reviewed MySims Kingdom, giving it a decent 7.3 "Decent" score.

"MySims Kingdom is a safe sequel with just enough improvements to satisfy fans of the first game. While some enhancements have arrived free of sacrifices, others have come with trade-offs. I love the new themed kingdom design, the significant improvements to load times, on-the-fly construction and Wii controller implementation. Meanwhile, I think the more focused storyline has also nurtured a more linear experience, a fact that clashes with the nature of the franchise. On the same note, the underdeveloped AI characters and missing online component seem at odds with the other Sims games. This is still a fun title -- one with more polish than the original -- but I think EA can still do much more with the series and am eagerly awaiting the next version."

Metacritic has yet to add the score from IGN.

View the IGN review here

Review Index

Since we have done four reviews thus far, i figured i would set up a list of our reviews, and when they will be posted.  Check out the list.

The Sims 2 Expansion Packs:

University Review

Nightlife Review

Open for Business Review

Pets Review (NEW!)

Seasons Review (Coming Soon)

Bon Voyage Review (Coming Soon)

Freetime Review (Coming Soon)

Apartment Life Review (Coming Soon)

The Sims 3 Review (Coming March 2009)

The Sims 2 Pets Review

Well ive been doing reviews, and the most recent was for Open for Business.  So shall we bring on the Pets review?

Loved:

The Pets:

The Core aspect of the Pets expansion is obviously the Pets.  The Pets themselves look really good.  The Dog and Cat animations are very well done, and the whole pets aspect of the game is well blended into the Sims experience

The Music:

While i'm not a big fan of country music, the music that has been added is really good.  The new Neighborhood theme in particular really does stand out.

Hated:

Strays:

Strays are just flat out annoying really.  They will wander onto your lot, hang out for 4-5 hours, and then leave.  They cause a big lag when they enter and leave the lot, as any normal sim would do.  They however come more frequently.  They really don't add a whole lot to the gameplay either.

Its Shallow:

The main problem i have with the pets expansion is the fact that it's just too shallow.  Your pets have about 10 tricks to learn, and three career paths to follow, eah having only like 4 different levels.  The unlock system for collars and furs is need, but really doesn't extend the depth fo the game at all.  Its just very, shallow.

Lack of New Objects:

Now pets might have a hard time following in Unleashed footsteps, and it shows.  Unleashed added well over 125 new objects to The Sims 1, along with a multitude of Pets such as Dogs, Cats, Turtles, Fish, and even Birds.  It also added a really neat gardening system.  Pets really only adds 2 main Animals (Cats & Dogs), it adds a Hamster, and a Bird cage, but they are really limited in how much you will actually use them.  Pets also only adds about 60 Objects which is dissapointing, most of the objects it adds are also just decorative.  And the one main collection it does add, has nothing to do with the theme of the pack (The Atomic Collection)

Overall Pets is the worst expansion to date for The Sims 2, will the others be better?  Stay tuned for more of our reviews over the coming weeks.  Played careers to completion, along with playing the game for countless hours.  Published in Fall 2006

The Sims 2: Open for Business Review

Another one of my Expansion pack reviews, this review is for the 3rd Expansion to The Sims 2, Open for Business!  If you need help with our review system simply search for "Review" or check out our earlier reviews:

The Sims 2: University Review

The Sims 2: Nightlife Review

Loved:

Deep Gameplay:

Its sometimes hard to see a lot of depth in sims expansions sometimes, but OFB (Open for Business) is a shining example of depth.  Theres just so many things to do with this pack.  You have a ton of options to control your business.  A massive benefit is the ability to sell catalog items, rather then making everything yourself

Talent Badges:

A great thing OFB bring to the table is the talent badges.  A system like skill points, but it actually unlocks you the ability to make better objects (again a lot like skill points).  Talent badges are very useful, even if your not running a business.  Other packs like Seasons, and Freetime add more talent badges to the collection that comes with OFB

Simple yet Complex:

While it is easy to start up a home business (Home businesses is what i would recommend), it is hard to master them, giving you a grand sense of accomplishment when you reach say a level 9, or 10 Business

Bluewater Village:

OFB adds a new Sub-Neighborhood, which is probably my favorite of all the packs.  It has a well constructed story, and comes with Tons of Pre-Built lots and families.  Its a great place to start out, and learn the ropes of owning a business.

Hated:

Managing a Community Lot Business:

The real only thing i don't like in OFB is owning and managing a community business.  I really don't understand why they made it so difficult to manage your community lot businesses.  It is MUCH easier to do a home business

The Sims 2 Open for Business Expansion Played to full many times, reaching a level 10 business once, and many level 9 businesses.  Released: Spring 2006

The Sims 2: Nightlife Review

So in the week for reviews, i have written up another, this time for The Sims 2: Nightlife Expansion.

Loved:

New Objects and Interactions:
A Majority of the objects and interactions in the Nightlife expansion are simply top notch. The ones you find when going out to a club are particularly well done, and really present a good sense of feeling like your actually in a club.

Downtown:
The new Sub-Neighborhood in Nightlife is really well done. Its pretty much full, with a few spaces here and there to build your own clubs and houses. A Majority of the clubs are good, the same goes for the community lots and restaurants

Cars:
One of the biggest aspects of the pack are that your Sims can FINALLY own cars. After 5 years they have finally have decided to add cars, and they work really well. While there are only a few types of cars, they all run well, and look nice. The Animations are fantastic!


Hated:

Chemistry System:
I'm not a fan of the Turn-On, Turn-Off system, i think it makes the game a bit harder then it needs to be. I liked the old way of simple attraction, or i would have liked this idea for if it had more Options for turn-ons and turn-offs. 2 Turn-Ons and 1 Turn-Off isn't a hugely effective system

The Lack of Good Nightclubs:
While the nightclubs that are downtown are fantastic. There's only a few that are just nightclubs. There are a few others that are "Partial Nightclubs" where they give you the Dance floor and Bar, but no Dance- Sphere. I wish there could have been more maybe

The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion, Retail copy, played through many times, use a majority of its aspects regularly including Careers, Objects etc. Released: Fall 2005

The Sims 2: University Review

Now i plan on borrowing a review system, from the guys over at Kotaku No Score will be given, just a short review with several "Love/Hate" descriptions.

The Sims 2: University Expansion Pack Review

Loved:

New Content and Objects:
University (Uni for Short) adds TONS of new objects, my personal favorite is probably the band instruments. All of the object work well, and are well animated. There are plenty of them to keep you occupied in college for a long time

Dorms:
The Dorm system works surprisingly well. Your Sim simply claims a door and it is theirs for the next 4 years (or about 25 Sim Days?). The majority of dorms also feature objects that will for the most part, get your Sim through college with no trouble at all

Its Easy:
Graduating from university with a 4.0 is really easy. It is also worth a BOATLOAD of aspiration points (i tend to near 100,000) , so it is well worth the time, but at the same time it is very easy, and simple to go through

The Cowplant:
Whenever you put the head of a Cow, on a man eating plant, it just has to be great. The cowplant (A Natural Scientist Reward) is one of the best objects in the game. Fluid Animations, nice textures, and a nice creative object.


Hated:

Its Too Long:
While Yes it is very easy to master getting a 4.0 GPA, it takes forever. Normally in the 3-5 Hour range. It takes a really big time commitment, this simply multiplies when you add more Sims into the mix

Its not all that rewarding:
Sure it unlocks a few careers (The Showbiz one is the most notable), but other then that, its not like you gain a whole lot of Skills, or Money. Overtime it will, but you still only have §20,000 to buy a house with, and that's just not fun

Repetitive:
The game tends to grate on you about halfway through sophomore year, it feels like your just doing the same 4 or 5 things each semester (There are 8 Semesters). Write a term paper, go to class, do an assignment, gain a certain skill, Repeat. I just think they could have added more gameplay




The Sims 2 University Expansion; Retail Copy Played through University many times, have explored a majority of the careers, and objects. Date of Release: Spring 2005