God like control plus more! (The Sims 3 (PC))

Member Name: hannahgibbins3

Product:	The Sims 3 (PC)
Date:	22/10/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hours of fun, good to experiment with sims

Disadvantages: Limitations of the game, gets boring just fufilling wants

The Sims 3 is a game for PC, the trilogy in a line of exciting simulator games!
The Sims is definetely a cult icon in video gaming, and even the most un-gamer of people will love the Sims.
There have been many other simulator games in the past such as the 'Tycoon' games and 'Theme' games, but nothing as indepth and free as the Sims.
Having played and been completely and utterly addicted to the first two in the series, there wasn't a shadow of a doubt whether I would be purchasing the Sims 3 during the build up to it's release.

The differences between this series and the first two is quite vast. Firstly sims have 5 traits which define them as people and affect the gameplay of the sim themself. For example, a sim who is 'artistic' will level up with painting skills faster, will be able to discuss art with other sims and gain more fun from painting. By choosing 5 traits for your sim during the Create-a-sim process, you then are given 5 options for your sim's 'Lifetime Goal', depending on which traits you chose. A flirty, charismatic sim (among 3 other traits) will be given the option of 'Heartbraker' as a lifetime goal. This means to achieve your sims goal, he or she will have to be the boyfriend or girlfriend of 10 other sims all at the same time! There are a great variety of traits and goals. The traits are focised on social, physical, mental and hobby traits and the goals can be skill related, career progression related, or some random ones like forming a perfect garden!

The Sims 3's main difference is that when you create a sim, he becomes your main sim in that town, and you have to make a replica of that town for another sim that you want to play with. What I mean by that is, there is only one active sim per town, you cannot simply click on different families to play as them in the same town, you would have to start a new game with the same town. You can copy sims over and move them in but you will not be able to play as them in another sims' game. The point of this is so the game playing is seamless, you can move the camera and let the sim walk to other people's houses of the shops, theatres, classes and other amenities in town.
Overall I don't particularly think this is a bonus of the game. I don't really use the other things in town and find it limiting that you can only have 1 active household per town. To have to have lots of replicas of the exact same town to play with other sims seems more like a step backwards.

Generally the Sims 3 is less about fufilling needs which can get dull, and is more about fulfilling 'wants' (which are related to the sim's traits, career, social life and long term goal). Some examples of wants are; a sim who is good, frugal, party animal, good sense of humour and green fingered in traits, may want to Throw a Party, Grow a Tomato Plant, Donate at least 100 simoleans to charity, Clip Coupons. Depending how big the task is, you are rewarded in lifetime happiness points which can be exchanged for things like 'Steel Bladder', 'Free Theatre'.

Overall the sims is still an amazing game but there still are some limitations, a lot has progressed but the idea of 1 active household per game in my opinion is a step back.
Still definetely worth the money.
It prices at about £30 at the cheapest these days.

Summary: Worth buying