The Sims 3 World Adventures Review – A hollow version of the PC hit
App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Electronic Arts
Version #: 1.0.0
Date Released: 2010-04-02
Developer: Electronic Arts
Price: 2.99
User Rating:
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The Sims phenomenon is immediately recognisable, whether you’re a games geek or not. You create a character (usually an idealised version of yourself), build them a house and guide them through the banalities of everyday life – from eating, to excreting, to marriage.
The Sims 3 World Adventures is one of confusingly many Sims titles on the iPhone, with its niche being the option to travel to locations in Paris, Egypt and China. And travel you will, since there is pretty much nothing to do in your sim’s home town. There is no house-building or expanding here, and the dreary jobs on offer make it feel like you’re living in some rural American backwater.
Your sim has various goals and dreams that you need to fulfill, and all sorts of skills to learn. The problem is that all these targets only really contribute to keeping your sim happy, rather than unlocking new areas, items or features. What sort of twisted game relies solely on keeping a digital character happy?
There are several mini-games in Sims World Adventures to keep you distracted, such as tilting your screen to prevent your sim from getting travel sickness during a flight. Unfortunately, these feel like afterthought that the developers tagged on after realising that the main game isn’t varied enough.
Visiting foreign locations does provide a welcome change of scenery, but while you can spend up to five days on holiday, there is hardly enough going on to keep you busy for even one day. Sure, you can have a lesbian fling in France, or visit the Pyramids, triggering a strange cut-scene in which your character floats across the screen in strange poses, but you can probably do all the sight-seeing malarkey within an hour.
World Adventures feels like a cunning cash-in rather than a well thought-out Sims title adapted for the iPhone format. The graphics are pretty enough, if a little lacking in vibrancy, and sleeping around all your neighbours is always amusing, but the fun soon fades in this hollow Sims offshoot.
Quick Take
Value:Low - medium.
Would I Buy Again:No.
Learning Curve:Medium.
Who Is It For:Blindly loyal Sims fans.
What I Like:Sleeping with everyone in sight, since there's nothing better to do.
What I Don't Like:Not enough activities around any of the locations.
Final Statement:A content-light cash-in on the far superior PC version of the hit game.
ea Take your Sims on thrilling adventures to world famous destinations! “Al Simhara,” Egypt… “Champs Les Sims,” France… “Shang SimLa,” China. Each exciting location is loaded with a world of possibilities for danger, adventure, and romance for your Sim.
MEET GLOBAL CHALLENGES
Enjoy an international twist on the Sims-style gameplay you know and love with 52 new goals, 4 new mini-games – plus personas, careers, and quests.
ENJOY MORE CUSTOM CONTENT
Let your Sim sport the local looks of the cultures and acquire worldly tastes. There are lots of new clothing styles, furniture selections, and even new face types to choose from.
IMPORT/EXPORT BETWEEN THE SIMS™ GAMES FOR iPHONE & iPOD TOUCH
Yes! You can transfer your Sim back and forth between the iPhone & iPod touch versions of The Sims™ 3 World Adventures and The Sims™ 3. So bring your favorite Sim on your adventure.
INCLUDES SIMS-STYLE MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT FROM WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS
Travel to the tunes of artists like LeAnn Rimes – singing in Simlish, of course!
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Article By Robert Zak
I'm an up-and-coming freelance writer (or so I like to think) specialising in film, apps and gaming. Aside from writing app reviews on what sometimes feels like a mass scale, I've also contributed work to The Independent and IGN.com, and am on the writing team of the popular Lifestyle blog, WhatCulture.com. Like what you see? Follow me on Twitter @Rob_Zed and get in touch!
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