Review: A Sims Noob playing Sims 3 |
 |
After playing for a week on Sims 3, I finally have managed to grasp the entertaining game and at least, write about it to share with everyone.
As you can see, I have never played Sims before, although I did play simulation games years back. Yes, YEARS BACK. So after leaving the "game cells" aside for quite a while, you can't help but to feel rather rusty, especially when you need to watch out for the game's individual characters.
Overview: System Requirements
When I was watching the previews from YouTube and reading the system requirements for Sims 3, I was
worried that my laptop couldn't really run the game's potential, though it was a Core 2 Duo chipset,
with 2 GB RAM.
True enough, the game wasn't running on its full potential with totally detail graphics, but I suppose it is good enough for me to play the game, as I don't have an independent 128 MB display card.
Game interactions: Reading the instructions
Sims marketing director DID mention that Sims 3 is very easy to play, even for a person who has never
played Sims before. It is true enough, if you read the instructions and help carefully. Don't take it
as nonsense and just skip the intro and help guide. It is easier when it pops up whenever you are doing
new actions, where you can actually understand better and the best part is, you don't have to go searching
for it again.
Creating A Sim: The fun of creating your friends.
Well, I actually tried creating myself and my friends, which was
quite a fair bit of fun, especially you can turn the Sim you are creating in a 360 deg so that you can see
from and back, though you
technically can't create a replica out of it, or at least, I am not too good doing so at the moment.
LOL… and setting the traits was fun, but careful, if you set your Sim a workaholic you will need to
make sure him / her keeps working (even at home) to keep the happy level up. I have created a very
ambitious lifetime wish, which is Forensic Analyst, and another was an International Spy… so imagine
it will take me quite a while to get them to their level. I am almost there though.
My favourite part of the game: Buildings
As am IT support in an architectural environment, I often wonder how hard it is to create 3D buildings,
when I occasionally help them colouring floor plans. But with Sims 3, it's rather easy. Though you might be a
little confused with the navigation panel (Again, read Help when it pops up, it will definitely help you understand
better) but once you get the hang of it, you'll have loads of fun tearing walls down and creating partitions.
Tip: Sims love new environment, so when you do better modifications to the house, their happiness rises up.
Relationships: Love Interest, Girlfriend / Boyfriend, Engagements, Weddings
I must say I had quite a struggle getting this done. For many (human)
days I didn't understand how they can have a
steady relationship, and my Sim only managed to invite her Love Interest over and remained stagnant.
Criteria learned to move to the next level in relationship: You need your Sims to learn Charismatic first, then have
both of your Sims mood very happy or elevated,
while feeling "very alluring" towards each other before you can even have one of the Sim propose to go steady.
Because it took me so long, buy the time I learned this trick they already have 1 child together, so I jumped from
"Steady" to "Engage" to "Married" within minutes. Hahahaha….
I'd probably do better in the child Sim when she's young adult later.
Having the "Genius" Trait is a good thing
For many of those who has never played Sims before and needed an easier way to achieve your Sim's lifetime
achievement, "Genius" trait is useful as you set your Sim to learn fast and achieve better, not to mention less
possibilities from dropping grades and having the "Social Worker" coming in to grab your kiddies.
Remember to Pay your Sims Bills!
I recently discovered, from all the confusion and commotion of having 2 set of twins in my Sims house,
I forgot to set my Sim to pay bills and there's this Sim comes in with a "vacuum device" that sucks in some
of your furniture away. That lowers your Sims mood and it'll be hard to ask them to do anything later on.
Note: Even after you have added the new furniture in they won't be as happy and elevated as you want them to be.
Slow learners and observers (gamers, not Sims)
If you are a slow observer be sure to PAUSE and set your Sims' actions before playing it again to
avoid lagging of time, or having your Sims doing the wrong thing.
Well, I guess I have written enough as a noob for Sims game for now. At the end of the day it is quite an addictive strategy game to stimulate the logic side of your mind, and make sure you set an alarm beside you and not "over-clocking" yourself and having lack of sleep. Don't worry, when you save the game and quit, they don't run automatically behind.
So, go grab yourself a copy if you feel interested after reading my review, and happy playing!