It all began in 2000 for the Sims series,and since then,it's grown to be
the best selling PC video-game franchise of all time with sales of over
100 million units.It's a lot for a PC game,given the piracy.
The original Sims,was a life simulator which let you create a Sim and
guide him through his life.It was a very complex game at the time and it
was very well received by gamers and critics alike.For years after the
release of the original game,and many expansions later,Sims 2 came
out.It used the same formula but it got bigger and better.It featured
everything the first game did plus many other new stuff to make the
experience feel fresh.It was once again a huge hit,and many expansions
followed.
Now,in 2009,Sims 3 was released and despite my huge doubts about the game,it seems to be quite enjoyable.
Sims 3 is bigger and better than ever before.Everything about it is
better.Even if graphics look a little old and wiped out,the gameplay is
where the game stands out.As I said,everything is bigger and better.The
game interface and menu's are are almost identical to the ones in Sims
2,and the Sim creator is almost the same with some small
improvements.The biggest change in the game is probably the traits
system,which let's you choose 5 traits for your sim,which will affect
the way they live,react with other sims and the way the game
progresses.These traits are numerous and you will find it difficult to
choose just a certain number of them, as you'll wish to experience the
game with more of them.After creating your sim,and choosing his
traits,you will have to choose his lifetime wish,which is one of the
best things in the game,as it will keep you playing for a reason,to get
that lifetime wish.It can be either to become a novelist,or being a
mayor or even marrying someone rich and to be left alone with the whole
wealth.These lifetime wishes are very varied and depend on the traits
you choose at first.After creating your sim,you will get a lot and build
a house or buy an already built house,which this time can be either
furnished,or not furnished.The whole building system hasn't changed that
much,and the new items are not really that impressive,but the many ways
to interact with them is all new and will make past Sims players to
feel a little astonished by the number of actions they can do with an
object.After settling in,you'll start your "sim" life.As in Sims 2,you
have some aspirations which if are completed,will get you points which
are used to buy special things or upgrades like better charisma,never to
feel hungry or a teleportation pad.The amount of things to do is huge
as for the first time in the series,you won't have just you're house to
stay in,you'll be able to walk in you whole town,through your
neighborhood,and go anywhere you want on the map.The map isn't that big
but the fact that you can wonder all around it is great.Also for the
first time,you can buy a bike in the game.OK,that's not the big
thing...you can buy a car.Yep,that's right,you can buy a car and use it
to go to work or travel around town.Building a garage for it is also
possible.
One of the coolest things you can do is to buy businesses.You can buy
restaurants,libraries,stadiums,power plants and all sorts of
things,which will bring you profit.So it is finally possible in a Sims
game,to work hard,get a lot of money buy a business and stay at home
afterwards,with a steady income.
One big dissapointment is the fact that even 9 years after the first
game,the sims still speak "simsish" . Other than that,there aren't many
bad things to the game.Of course you'll want some other stuff in the
game,like more furniture or clothes,but as always,expansions are
expected.
To sum up,I'd say that Sims 3 is finally there.It's finally a game that
really let's you live a second virtual life.It's the best life simulator
I've played but because of poor graphics and some technical
glitches,the game fails to be perfect,but it's the best it could have
been.
