App Review – The Sims 3

Last night we reported that EA has several of their games available for just $.99 for the holidays.  One of those games, which I have had my eye on for quite some time, is The Sims 3. Normally running $4.99, at just $.99 for the next couple of days, this seemed like a great time to check it out. So, is it worth your time? Read on past the break to find out.

Those of you familiar with the Sims games will find the overall premise immediately approachable.  You create your sim, customizing  appearance, name, and personality.  Obviously, the Android version isn't as customizable as the  PC version, but overall it's pretty impressive.  The personality you choose affects how well your sim interacts with other sims, what his or her goals will be, and what jobs he or she is best suited for.

Gameplay is very similar to the computer version, except instead of having a whole family of sims at your command, you control just one character.  This does make keeping your sim's needs met very simple, but thankfully there are other aspects to keep the game interesting.  Social interactions are remarkably well fleshed-out, letting you choose exactly how to approach a relationship, allowing you to craft it more as you like.  There are also mini-games incorporated for things like repairing broken devices, cooking, and fishing, all of which take good advantage of the versatility of the Android platform.

One of the more appealing aspects of the Sims 3 game on the PC (or Mac) was the ability to custom build your house as you see fit.  Understandably, but also regrettably, this had to be scaled back for the Android version.  You can upgrade your house by degrees, but you can't custom-shape the walls to the degree you can in the Sims games you're used to.  You can still customize carpets and wallpaper, however, and you can still arrange your furniture however you see fit.  While some options may be limited, this game is still very robust for a game on a mobile phone.

So how's the overall experience?  I found it quite satisfying.  Changes were made to adopt to the Android platform, but I found most of those changes were well-executed and fit the OS's strengths.  I have seen the game in the market since I had an Android phone, and always wondered if it was worth a download.  The normal price tag of $4.99 has seemed a bit high for a mobile phone game, even a good one.  But at $.99, it's a no-brainer.  Even if you miss out on the holiday deal, if you're a fan of the Sims games, this one is definitely worth your time.  It may not be perfect, but it's excellent.