KMGR of Sims 3 (mobile)

Image by brianjmatis via Flickr

Sims 3 for mobile is fun game by itself. It is only isometric, but it seems to have captured the Sims 3 spirit. You'll have a lot of interaction with other sims, and lots of minigames, from fishing to cooking to repairing. It's a lot of things to do, but then, that's life, isn't it?

Basically, you get to pick your avatar, with customization of hair, skin color, shirt, pants, and so on. Then you get to pick 5 traits, which will affect your interaction with the other sims. Once you're in the game, you have a house with some furniture, then randomly you'll get "wants", such as meet someone, fish, and so on. You can actually have up to three avatars (different everything) and they live independent lives.

As in all sims games, you have individual needs, like food, clean, bathroom, social, fun, and so on. Food is from fridge or oven, clean is from shower, and social is from other relationships. You get the idea. As time go on these parameters will fall, and you need to recharge them periodically with the proper activities.

You will also need a job, as you only have X amount of standing money, and you do eat quite a bit. Snacks are expensive, so sooner you get an oven and learn to cook the better. And in this game, you get 'skills' such as cooking and fishing and repairing by "doing", which means get the right tools, go to the right location(s), and play the minigames.

There are quite a few jobs in town. One at city hall, one at the cafe, and so on. Each develope different skills, and have different perks, different schedules, and so on. Don't be late, or you'll get fired!

As you walk about town, you will meet a lot of other inhabitants, and you can develop friendships or even more serious relations with most of the inhabitants. Depending on their traits and your traits different conversation techniques may be needed. Some prefer pointless chat, while others may prefer jokes, yet others may prefer planting or fishing talk, and so on. As you talk, you may get referals and additional "quests" such as "bring me a fish and I'll give you $50" and so on.

Interaction is not done once you're back at your house. You can call people on the phone and invite them over as in previous Sims games, and further interact with them, or just chat on the phone. Invite several people over and have a party, or just your "mate" over for a quiet cozy night, it's all up to you.

The problem with the game is you can only "lock" 4 wants at once, and most of them you can't act on at the beginning. Income level is low and consumption of food is high ($10 per SNACK? Come on!) so you will have to find a job very soon, and work for your money, and learn to cook pretty soon (or learn to fish, and sell the fish, but that means you need to buy fishing kit from the "hobby store") and lots more. Repair something means repair kit... you get the idea. But then, money ain't ever free, right?

Sims 3 mobile is a proper Sims game, and there are lots of things to do in this game. The wants can be ignored and they will expire of ignored for a while. Each day you have to manage your needs and wants, and balance them. And that is the whole point of the Sims 3, isn't it?

Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10 (hall of fame!)
Pros: Got the Sims vibe, outside-house interactions, more minigames and activities
Cons: A lot of wants can't be acted upon initially, money is tight in the game