At last! We finally have the Sims on the Wii with the new Wii Sims 3 Console. I’m not sure why it has taken EA so long, but thank you EA anyway! And I honestly think this takes Sims to a new level, especially with the new multi-player option. As with all Sims games you are in control of character creation where you can pick and choose characteristics and looks. But I really do think Sims 3 on Wii is a little bit different, especially if you’re used to playing on the PC.
I was really surprised to find people dissing the game in forums and in some reviews. But the thing all the bad reviews had in common was that they had failed to really dig into this version of Sims to see what made it tick. You have to work at Sims 3 Wii, but if you are prepared to do that, the rewards are outstanding and you reveal a multi layered game of subtlety and technique with lots of new functionality and fun.
Sims is based around the ability to make what you want of your characters. All the usual facets are there and your Sim can be romantic, evil, paranoid, you are in complete control of his / her destiny and traits. You can make their dreams come true or banish them to the depths of despair! Do you want to be a rock star…or maybe a cat burglar, or how about a global leader…with all the corruption! This is what makes Sims so much fun and is what has made people become such ardent Sims fans over the years.
“Karma Power” is one of the exciting new features in Wii Sims 3. Be warned this power is like a drug, and whilst it can bring you everything you could possibly desire in terms of wealth, power, ultimate beauty and love…it has a dark side. Yes, you can even control the weather with “Karma Power”, but be careful, use it poorly and you could end up face-to-face with the Grim Reaper – not what you want!
The new Wii Sims 3 allows for multiplayer mode so you can play Wii Sims 3 with your friends in the new co-op mode. But be careful because your friends may help you, but they may just hold you back as well! Multi-player allows for up to four players in the Life Moments Game where you can all earn rewards.
I really like the new Beach Town area. With lots of new residents, traits, careers, weather, and lifetime wishes and this is exclusive for the Wii Sims 3. Is Beach Town Home and Away? Well, now Sims has arrived on the Wii there are certainly even more options to help create your own interactive soap opera, while you either pamper or torment the people in your very own virtual Beach Community.
As usual in this version of Sims you fully control your Sim in terms of personality, character and looks as well as traits. However one new angle on this is “mini-challenges”. These are great fun as you try to find your life best friend or get that all important first kiss!
There are also great new and very powerful tools to customise your Sim, the homes they live in (new pre fab quick build is fun) and fill the city with your own creations. You can even go online and choose from a huge library of downloadable new objects and designs from other players and you can share your own Sims with other fans.
One of the really fun facets of Sims in the past has been adventure quests. There are many more and new quests as guide your Sim through your City. Look for new landmarks and buildings as well as search for hidden secrets.
Simsville has all the features from the PC games and lots more as well. Plus the graphics on Wii and online communities are really excellent.
As always you can “Create-A-Sim” right down to facial features. Create your personality traits, life goals, in fact customize to make your Sim exactly as you want.
Karma Chameleon is a really fun new “Power”. Karma Power can either give your Sim a helping hand with power ups such as ‘instant beauty’ (not fair it is?), ‘get lucky’, ‘love connector’ and ‘age definer’… or you can punish your Sim with ‘epic fails’, ‘alien abductions’ or as I said earlier set the Grim Reaper onto them…however, beware use this new power wisely! This has become a theme in gaming recently to allow huge power but…to also have unexpected results of using it.
You have been warned!
Build and Share – This is great. Join the online Sims community you can download items and Sims’ other people have created as well as upload your own creations and share them with fans around the world. This is an amazing new feature that is sure to expand the horizons of Wii Sims 3 far beyond anything seen in Sims before. This is what I mean about new dimensions in Wii Sims 3 and why I can’t understand the odd negative review that’s around?
Another great addition is “Format Specific” where you can use the new direction control method (on Wii) to let your friends see what you’re up to…on Facebook!
Wii Sims 3 does need a bit of digging to get the best out of it, even if you are an experienced Sims player. But stick at it because it is so worth it once you get into the game properly, and it won’t take long to get to your normal level if you’ve played Sims before.
So my advice is don’t be put off by the odd bad review. That little bit of effort and learning will reward you amply. Yes, it took me a bit of time, but it was so worth it. Once I’d got in and understood the new layers and dimensions and it all fell into place, I just loved this new “take” on Sims…and I’m sure you will too – enjoy!
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