The Sims 3 (PC & Mac)

What is the Sims 3? Is it to much of a 'Loser'? To 'Brave'? Are we being to 'Over Emotional' when it comes to the latest installment of EA's Sims franchise. Or maybe we're just 'Unlucky'? These are just some of the traits from the Sims 3.

However you look at it, the Sims 3 is an amazing game in that it has taken many leaps and bounds ahead of Sims 2, providing features that thousands of players from around the globe have wanted. Features such as the trait system are truely unique, making your sim who YOU want them to be. This means you can make anyone you want. With dozens of trait choices you can make a unique sim and take them into the amazing new town of Sunset Valley.

Other great features that have been included in the game is the way in which you now have a free-flowing environment. There are no loading times accept when you start up the game to play it. This means you can move from one household to another with no trouble. You can even take your sims to work, going… more »

What is the Sims 3? Is it to much of a 'Loser'? To 'Brave'? Are we being to 'Over Emotional' when it comes to the latest installment of EA's Sims franchise. Or maybe we're just 'Unlucky'? These are just some of the traits from the Sims 3.

However you look at it, the Sims 3 is an amazing game in that it has taken many leaps and bounds ahead of Sims 2, providing features that thousands of players from around the globe have wanted. Features such as the trait system are truely unique, making your sim who YOU want them to be. This means you can make anyone you want. With dozens of trait choices you can make a unique sim and take them into the amazing new town of Sunset Valley.

Other great features that have been included in the game is the way in which you now have a free-flowing environment. There are no loading times accept when you start up the game to play it. This means you can move from one household to another with no trouble. You can even take your sims to work, going with them and telling them how hard (or not so hard) they should be working. These new features make the game truely unique in almost every way. The customization of nearly everything from shoes( yes you can pick your own shoes now too!) to your own car and changing the height of your roof. If you can dream it you can probably do it.

However, there are some faults with the game. EA said that when it came out you could play it on a medium spec PC, but really most PC's won't be able to handle the data that the game has. Lots of people are putting down 1 or 2 stars because of this, but this review is meant to review the game, not the fact that some people's PC's won't handle its demands. I had to use a high end PC to get my game to work, so its something important to bare in mind if you want to buy the game.

Other negatives is the choice of clothes, hair styles and objects to use and buy within the game. Alot of the best objects and styles have been taken out, and it feels like a big hole. The great thing we all loved about Sims 2 was the quantity and the great quality of the objects. In the Sims 3, its seems like great quality again, but little quantity.

Also, and this is just a personal nag at the game is that for a game that is meant for 2009, certain features feel very archaic. By this i mean the car animation. It feels like the cars all have built in rocket engines with the speed they rush around the map, how cars pass through each other, how they suddenly appear and disappear. You don't even see your sims drive the car out of the driveway! They stand on the pavement, then the car suddenly appears and they drive off, how come in Sims 2 Nightlife they could do that, but in the latest installement they leave that out? Its just not on.

Overall, im giving the Sims 3 a solid 4 out of 5. This is just due to the loss of features, but not the character. In some ways the game has gone back to its roots from Sims. This is great for players such as myself, who have been playing Sims since it came out in 2000. The loss of features is a serious pitfall for the game, but the new streamlined town and trait features give the game truely something speical. Buy it if you have a high end PC, i suggest not to follow the min specs exactly, and make sure you have something a bit better. It is a great game, and i would truely recommend it to anyone who is a long time lover of the Sims series, and to anyone new looking for something just that bit different. The set of expansion packs set to come out in the next few months or the next year look set to make the game even better, introducing old favorites such as universities, holidays, nightclubs and pets. Oh and yes, you still have the Goth family

Taraz all!

First I think it's important the people complaining that the game running slow or bad graphics need to understand this is a direct result of the PC your using and has nothing to do with the actual game, those who incorrectly state the graphics on the Sims 2 are better is because the game is four years old and the basic system requirements were significantly less, naturally you need a better graphics card to meeting (preferable exceed) the game requirements.

Clearly they have taken more time on the little details that have no doubt been suggested from fans of the game, the ability to choose how your Sims spends their day at work is a real nice idea, mood modifiers, character traits and the wishes system all add depth to the game play, the map is now fully open which mean no tedious loading screen so you can go visit other house's and really get to explore which adds a feel of openness to the game.

The customising idea is another winner as you get to add your own personal… more »

First I think it's important the people complaining that the game running slow or bad graphics need to understand this is a direct result of the PC your using and has nothing to do with the actual game, those who incorrectly state the graphics on the Sims 2 are better is because the game is four years old and the basic system requirements were significantly less, naturally you need a better graphics card to meeting (preferable exceed) the game requirements.

Clearly they have taken more time on the little details that have no doubt been suggested from fans of the game, the ability to choose how your Sims spends their day at work is a real nice idea, mood modifiers, character traits and the wishes system all add depth to the game play, the map is now fully open which mean no tedious loading screen so you can go visit other house's and really get to explore which adds a feel of openness to the game.

The customising idea is another winner as you get to add your own personal style to everything and some options might be limited but you can't put everything imaginable into the first game as they would never finish production. Although, you do get the feeling they have held back 10-15% of what they could have put into the game for the 1st expansion packs.

This game is based around freedom and that's the best part you don't have to spend hours micro managing each Sim, it's all about getting out there exploring, having fun and chatting with friends. Plus if you visit the Sims 3 website you can download an addition town for free!!!!

This game is good, actually this game is very good but a serious word of warning, ensure your computer is capable of running it otherwise you'll be disappointed so check your processor, RAM and graphics capabilities before you commit to a purchase.

If your computer's good enough it's easy to become addicted!!

The Sims 3, unlike a fair few reviews like to suggest, is actually very well executed, deep in gameplay, much more forgiving than 1 and 2 and most importantly brings a whole new level of fun and interesting features to the Sims franchise. Without going into crazy detail (you can probably access a much better credible source from a review site), for me, the game looks, plays, sounds and controls in the way I feel is a true evolution for the franchise and definately trumps in the new gameplay areas explored.

My only concerns are the initial lack of objects to purchase -- having the ultimate dollhouse aint so ultimate since you have less to choose from compared to 1 and 2 (No hot tub sex!!!). This is said to be rectified through micro-transactions through the online store (A scheme I am not entirely at ease with) and future expansions.

My other concern is the hardware demands on the user. I have noticed that many people are trashing this game simply because they can… more »

The Sims 3, unlike a fair few reviews like to suggest, is actually very well executed, deep in gameplay, much more forgiving than 1 and 2 and most importantly brings a whole new level of fun and interesting features to the Sims franchise. Without going into crazy detail (you can probably access a much better credible source from a review site), for me, the game looks, plays, sounds and controls in the way I feel is a true evolution for the franchise and definately trumps in the new gameplay areas explored.

My only concerns are the initial lack of objects to purchase -- having the ultimate dollhouse aint so ultimate since you have less to choose from compared to 1 and 2 (No hot tub sex!!!). This is said to be rectified through micro-transactions through the online store (A scheme I am not entirely at ease with) and future expansions.

My other concern is the hardware demands on the user. I have noticed that many people are trashing this game simply because they can seemingly not run it properly. I play the sims 3 on a current gen macbook I bought last October. Despite being very much a target system to support a current-gen game, I must run my game on medium details to maintain a stable -- but never silky smooth -- framerate, and this only dips when introducing more characters. However, I simply cannot suggest that this is the games fault. There is so much happening in this game that you WILL need a good machine to run it on else you WILL have to scale back the details. Pay premium to play premium, it's simple. The animations are excellent and the AI --though sometimes curious to it's decisions and logic-- are a step up and will drain your resources.

This game does have niggles and does require a good machine to run it at a level I'd say was acceptable. However the scope of the game, the reward and funfactor are spellbinding and well worth checking out.

Patches are released to address issues such as buggy AI, crazy instances, crashes and the rest so it can only get better, and with the horizon undoubtedly rife with expansions this game will only get bigger and more consuming of your time!!

Hope this helps:)

I'm used to this now, but it's still disappointing when it happens. I wish I could review the developer separately, I might give the game a 4 and EA a 1 in that case.

Starting on a good note, I'm addicted to the game. Few problems with it, wish I could play it on full settings but that's fine. It reminds me more of the Sims 1 with how it plays, a big plus for me. It has a more serious and realistic tone to it, and while I love the fun aspects and wish there were more in some places, I'm not marking it down because of that.

My huge ******* problem is expressed in the title. Where is the rest? EA the huge money milking beast that it is is back to give us a great game, and steal from us. Hardly any clothes or furniture, we are expected to pay 29.99 and buy the rest from the store. Not only this! No pets, nightclubs, holidays or anything that resembles stuff we are clearly going to get in an expansion pack, some for the THIRD time!

This is not on and should not be… more »

I'm used to this now, but it's still disappointing when it happens. I wish I could review the developer separately, I might give the game a 4 and EA a 1 in that case.

Starting on a good note, I'm addicted to the game. Few problems with it, wish I could play it on full settings but that's fine. It reminds me more of the Sims 1 with how it plays, a big plus for me. It has a more serious and realistic tone to it, and while I love the fun aspects and wish there were more in some places, I'm not marking it down because of that.

My huge ******* problem is expressed in the title. Where is the rest? EA the huge money milking beast that it is is back to give us a great game, and steal from us. Hardly any clothes or furniture, we are expected to pay 29.99 and buy the rest from the store. Not only this! No pets, nightclubs, holidays or anything that resembles stuff we are clearly going to get in an expansion pack, some for the THIRD time!

This is not on and should not be allowed, micro-transactions are one big mess-up by the gaming industry as it is, but EA is allowed to give us The Sims 3: Animal Kingdom in about 4 months when it should have been in the original game. Not to mention The Sims 3: More Clothes and Items... all of which were probably ready before the launch of the first game!

To conclude, I do love the Sims 3 but it was hugely disappointing to not see any of the expansion stuff from the Sims 2... or any of the humour... or many items/clothing/hair... or anything really. It just mindboggles me how something such as a wardrobe or a diving board could be in THE SIMS 1 but not the 3rd!

EA disgust me... but we can't change it. If you love the Sims, you'll love this, just be prepared to donate another £200+ before the Sims 4.