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The Sims 3 Pets
I think the day that EA stops releasing new
Sims games then the world of gaming is indeed in a sorry state. Dubbed
by some as a people simulator, the journey of the Sims which started in
2000 has lead this franchise to become one of the most popular series to
date for not just casual gamers but also "some" hardcore gamers. There's
something endearing about being able to control a virtual person as they
interact with their virtual environment.
Although the series did
come into a slump, it was renewed with the Sims Medieval that took the
whole franchise to a whole new level with the inclusion of RPG elements
and some truly whacky objectives for your medieval Sims.
The game is also heavily
influenced by cause and effect which causes a ripple effect through the
life of your Sim and more importantly, every decision you make will
influence how the game will play out that adds to the replay value of
this title.
So here we are again but
unlike the native PC platform, we're actually reviewing the title on the
PS3 that allows gamers to Sim from the comfort of their own couch and
more importantly, FULL HD graphics on hopefully a BIG TV. Although the
game plays almost identically to the Sims 3 which was also released on
the PS3 last year, this version now includes pets and we all love our
pets.
Whether you have a cat
or a dog, this game definitely caters for the animal lover and EA have
successfully merged another franchise with the Sims. That franchise in
question is Nintendogs which creates life-like animals in the Sims as
they play, get hungry and sometimes get into all sorts of mischief.
The biggest difference
with the PC version and the PS3/360 version is that the PC version does
have additional species of animals but in the grand scheme of things, it
doesn't make that much of a difference. I'm sure we might see some DLC
in the future... besides dogs are the coolest animals around anyway.
Although the game is
almost identical to the previous version, This incarnation of the game
allows for considerable more options due to pets. Unlike other Sims
titles where you got to control a human, this game allows you to create
your perfect pet (even their traits such as intelligent or aggressive)
and there are a variety of species to choose from as you control your
pet.
However as a dog lover,
the choice was obviously and like my real dog Ruby, I created a virtual
pet called Ruby the dog and best of all, I could see the world of the
Sims from her perspective as you play an angel or a devil or something
in-between as you chase your tale or other pets!
And just like your Sims,
pets also have their own quests and skills to engage in such as hunting
for dogs or even the chance to become a mastermind in the world of
animals and humans. It is not as in-depth as humans but there's still
lots of fun to be found.
But it's all about the
pets and if you want to engage in some Sim activities, you can create
your own virtual mansion or pet friendly paradise. AI plays a key role
in the game and you'd be surprised at how like life the emotions of
these virtual pets are.
Whether you're scolding
a pet or playing with them, they are extremely lifelike and on more than
one occasion, I was laughing at the antics of my pets, especially when
they were getting involved in something they shouldn't have been such as
the humble destruction of a couch to criminal activities.
It's also great that
when you're in the body of a pet, your Sim does look after its pet and
they do this quite well. No matter what you do, even "accidentally"
going to the toilet on the floor, the unconditional love between the
owner and their pet was unmatched.
Like The Sims 3 and The Sims Medieval, quests play an integral role of
the lives of pets and their happiness. I mean what game actually lets
you live out your Scooby Doo fantasies as you create a loyal dog who
gets frightened easily but needs to hunt ghosts and search for treasure.
It is possible with The Sims 3 Pets.
With so much to do in
the game, there is sometimes simply not enough time and I'm sure that
gamers across the globe will continue to return to this game to try
something different as they create their perfect or sometimes imperfect
pets. The only downside to the game is the slowdown and stutters caused
by the gaming engine. It does not effect the gameplay but this was an
issue in previous game. It's a shame that EA have not addressed this
issue.
Graphics/Sound
Graphically, the The Sims 3 Pets is a beautifully presented game with
some detailed environments and realistic animations. Even though it's
quite cartoony in appearance, there is something uniquely real about it.
As mentioned, the only downside to the graphics are the sometimes long
loading times and occasional stutter here and there. Nonetheless, it's
great to see the world from a pet's perspective.
In terms of sound, the
game features that classic Simlish talk and these are transferred to
your pets in quite amusing ways. A special mention should be about New
Zealand singer Kimbra who lends her beautiful voice to the soundtrack of
this game.
Final Level
The Sims 3: Pets is a thoroughly enjoyable title from start to finish
that creates a virtual world for your pets to roam with a healthy amount
of traits, skills, quests and mysteries to embark on. As you make
friends or mortal enemies, the choices are up to the player, even with
the few nuisances in the game such as the loading times and stutters,
the gameplay works and delivers on all emotional levels. Definitely one
for the casual gamer or Sim lover! |
