The Sims series is like Marmite, you either love it, or you hate it. Some people like controlling other peoples lives, others like to ruin peoples lives, get there Sims killed and sell there urn for $2. And then there's other people who just can't stand the Sims full stop.

The beauty with the Sims is that you can do what you want. Build houses, make or break relationships, cook food, take the trash out. The list goes on. You're probably thinking "why would I want to take the trash out on a game?" But the latest addition adds a bit more fun than the previous instalments.

It adds a new town, appropriately named: Magic town. In the magic town you can buy ingredients, and magical items. Buy the ingredients, and go home and experiment with them, by adding different things to the pot. Its satisfaction guaranteed when you discover a new spell. And when you've made a new spell, go and test it out.

Turn your enemies into frogs, make friends more than friends, zap the trash away, banish a mortal Sim from the Sim world, the list goes on. It turns The Sims into something a bit more than a simulator. It feels like an adventure game, making spells & charms, earning "magic town money" by performing newly learnt tricks, doing tasks for Wizards, talking to people to discover new spells, and swap spells and ingredients.

This expansion pack interacts with the other expansion packs as well. If you've got Sims unleashed, you can turn dogs into humans. Unfortunately they never look nice when in the human state, and you can't turn them back into dogs. So you'll have a magical ugly brother called Fido. Also if you've got hot date, or vacation you'll be able to turn people into frogs, and cast almost every spell on an innocent guy, whose minding his own business, trying to enjoy his holiday.

Graphically this game stays the same as the 1st Sims in the year 2000, so they look dated. The sounds are still great; nice language and a magical musical theme tune, just what you'd expect from a Sims game.

The Sims: makin' magic adds new heights. If you've got The Sims installed, but you don't play it much, add this on, and you'll be magically hooked, and if you didn't really like how the Sims used to play, give this a try, because it makes it into a new game altogether. For Sims fans needless to say this is a must.