The Sims 3: Review

There comes a time in a mans life where he has to admit to the mistakes hes made and own up. This is what I'm doing here. I have never found The Sims, as a series, to be that compelling. I always found enjoyment in other Maxis games like SimCity or SimAnt, and a man of my insecurities could never play with a "virtual dollhouse". Now don't get me wrong, I owned the first Sims game and a couple of expansions for it. I also bought The Sims 2 Double Deluxe when they released a special pack that contained the Apartment expansion and I gave each of them a go-around. Other than the quirky animation, I just couldn't get into it.

I bought The Sims 3 thinking my attitude towards the series would change. I'm here today to say that is the case. With a charm and polish that is unmatched The Sims 3 is one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played.

The devil is in the details, and The Sims 3 has the details covered. When you start the game EA has opened up and made it easier than ever to get into. You can have your sim stay the same age always if you want to. You don't have to play with any of the creation controls or deal with any of the lifetime achievements. If your sim dosen't want to clean up after him or herself, you can do it for them.

Now, if you played The Sims 1 or 2 then you know what your getting gameplay wise. It really is more of the same in the gameplay department, but EA has added more to the core game. The trait system for example has over 60 traits to choose from you can really make some screwed up sims. I must say its enjoyable watching my Sim, Slapyfitzgood Jones rise to his proper place in the criminal underworld. His traits (evil, computer wiz, insane, athletic, genius) make him and unstoppable force of unpredictable carnage. Here is a list of what I've accomplished so far and it is truly evil.

• Killed an old lady by scaring her to death.
• Broke up numerous marriages by performing adultery.
• Found out that insane people hang out in the graveyard.
• Got someone to spend so much time with my sim that they would not even bathe, when she left to go to her friends house they made fun of her for it. She came back to my sims house ( the green mist still following her) and Slapy started being mean to her about it. All she does is walk around town crying now (green mist still following her). She did that for a couple of days then she disappeared. ( I think the MIST got her).
• stole candy from a baby
• Knocked over every trash can in the neighborhood.

That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to freedom and it has consumed my gaming time since it came out.

Now to the gripes. This games micro transaction model scares me. Some of the packages, which really don't have a lot of content cost $20.00. (are you F@$%in' kidding me) also, there is some issues with the interface especially when it comes to inventory that could use some fixing. My sim was always in a bad mood about something to do with trash and I found out I was holding a bag of it in my inventory for about a week.

And finally the last burning question. If I have The Sims 2 and all of its expansion packs should I get The Sims 3? I would have to say no. With that much time and money invested in your sims it is easy to say that. EA should have included some way of rewarding Sims 2 players by giving then special items in the game or a special title your sims could be called. Maybe just a shirt that says "I bought every Sims 2 expansion and all I got to show for it is this stupid shirt!"

Now if you never tried The Sims series or fell away from the series you should definitely pick it up. It has never been easier to play or enjoyable to watch. Addictive, rewarding, classic, The Sims 3 and its forthcoming expansions are EAs World of Warcraft and we get to come along for the ride.