Party with The Sims or exercise in annoyance?
Developer: EA Sims Studio
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: March 27, 2011
Score: 2 / 5
In previous Sims game, I usually played on the computer. Now with a Nintendo 3DS version, I wanted to check out how a portable Sims would fair.
When starting The Sims 3 you are given three menu options. New Game, Continue, and Credits. You aren’t able to adjust any gameplay options until you actually start a game. You also don’t have the option to start multiple games. If you start a game and want to do a different Sim it will delete your current game. Once you choose New Game, you need to create your Sim. You can have your Sim generated randomly along with the name, but I opted to create my own from scratch. You’re able to choose your gender, body type, and skin color to start off with. After you’ve selected these options, you can create your facial features. One neat thing I enjoyed was the ability to take a picture of your face using the 3DS camera. Once it finished, it generates a Sim face modeled after yours.
Further customization includes shape of your nose, ears, eyes, eyebrows, lips, jaw structure, and head. After creating your face you’re able to select your hair. If your Sim is a female you have twelve different hair styles options with only four selections of color. Those being brown, black, red, and blonde. If your Sim is male you get six with the same four color selections. The facial hair selection is limited. You can choose from clean shaven, goatee, and full beard. Now it’s time to dress your Sim. You’re not given much to choose from in the beginning, but once you make friends and start a career in the game your wardrobe increases. You are able to select your formalware, casualware, workout clothes, and sleepware. A few accessories are also available such as socks, watches, and glasses, more unlocked just as clothing is. When selecting personalities, I was impressed with the variety you can pick. You’re given sixteen different traits to choose from, but can only choose three. Once you have these selected, the game generates five lifetime wishes pertaining to your career that you can achieve.
Finally, I got to the game with my Sim. To start, you’re given $25,000 so that you may buy your first house and furnishings. Once you’ve selected your home you are given the option to play the tutorial. If you’ve never played Sims before I would recommend playing the tutorial. If you do feel the need to skip it however, during play, the game gives you pop up tips. Now you’re also able to go in to town. Unfortunately there are only a handful of places to visit, an area with a library, a few shops, a theater, an eatery, an area with a gym, an art gallery, and a club.
Unfortunately, the 3DS version is lacking in many areas. The pop up tips are very inconsistent in a lot of areas such as removing a Sim from your household (roommate, girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse) and “woohooing” to name a few. You are also not able to build a second floor to your home or expand much on the preset lots. Not that this matters much anyway when you begin a game because $25,000 can only go so far. I found that working for a while, getting married or getting a roommate with a job, then moving provided the easiest path. As a side note, you’re not able to have kids in this, which for some may be a positive.
I didn’t enjoy playing The Sims 3, mostly because of the inconsistencies with the pop-up tips, the very short tutorial, and the lack of places to visit. It feels like a rushed cash-in on the Sims brand with attached 3D that doesn’t add much to the game. Extremely disappointing considering how much I enjoyed previous versions.
Hy! Your post is actually very usefull. People who have pleyed other versions of Sims might think it will be just as good or dynamic in the Nintendo version. Really, good inside info. I’m adding your link to my blog. Thanks!