With an immense following and many
years of success, The Sims has considerable renown in the genre of social
simulation. Much of its popularity is owed to an excellent design, which is not
only crafted with outstanding attention to detail, but also goes the extra mile
to maintain a genuinely fun atmosphere. The ignorant bystander might find your
average play session quite befuddling, and wonder about the strange language the
characters seem to be babbling in. Yet as any Sims fan will attest, The Sims is
a game that must be played in order to be appreciated.
Continuing the success of the latest
version, The Sims 3: World Adventures takes players into further wacky
escapades. In true Sims fashion, the outing knocks on cheesy, stereotyped
elements of familiar locations – specifically, players will find themselves in
France, China, and Egypt. There was a large opportunity here for the developers
to introduce educational content to the players, many of whom will be young
people who know precious little of world culture. Admittedly, The Sims has
always placed fun above authenticity, so most of each region’s activities seem
like something out of a Scooby-Doo cartoon.
That being said, much of the new
content has been implemented very efficiently. As with previous Sims expansions,
there is a nice assortment of trinkets to collect and exotic garments to
acquire. However, it is really the addition of new gameplay elements that makes
World Adventures shine. Players can develop skills with nectar-production,
photography, and even martial arts. Dedicated martial artists can not only enjoy
the predictable benefits of their hard work, but learn how to execute a Mortal
Kombat-esque teleportation move, as well. Fans of mummy movies will find the
tomb exploration quite enjoyable, as there’s some very nice puzzle-solving to be
done. The adventures also carry a bit of substance, as they allow you to
decorate the home with various souvenirs pertaining to your exploits – not
unlike the trophies of Fable 2. It seems evident that the developers looked at
many films and games in their search for source material.
Audio is as strong in World
Adventures as it has been since the original release of The Sims 3. Of
particular note is the music, a somewhat cheap but effective device, which helps
drive home the distinct flavor of each region. Graphically, it’s hard to say if
The Sims has ever looked better. Intricate use of color and a fairly clean
aesthetic makes things very easy on the eyes, and even the bronze lion statues
look pretty darn good. Essentially, World Adventures emphasizes new gameplay
over simply a few extra collectibles, and that is what makes it so successful as
an expansion. If future efforts receive similar levels of attention, Sims fans
will have a great deal to look forward to.
|
|
Gameplay: 9.0
From one mission
to the next, there’s an excellent array of activities to keep your Sim busy..
Graphics: 8.5
New animations
and completely original environments ensure a visually refreshing expansion.
Sound: 8.0
Pretty good
atmosphere, although we’ve heard most of these sounds before.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
The puzzle
solving is meant to be accessible, but your average gamer might find them a
little too straightforward.
Concept: 7.0
Not exactly
inspired in its content or execution, but what’s there is very easy to get
hooked on.
Overall: 8.7
With World
Adventures, the Sims 3 receives one of its greatest expansions. If you’re a fan
of the original, there’s little doubt that you’ll want this in your collection.
