The Sims 3 launches the first expansion pack, World Adventures, which features adventures in China, France, and Egypt. Different locales and new items/actions within the same interface make this installation yet another must have expansion. Begin the adventure by choosing a vacation party (usually your immediate family and other Sims you have the strongest relationships with; toddlers and pregnant women not included). Players can easily coral the party (even better when "free will" is turned off) and maneuver through fun hotspots for food, culture, shopping, and, of course, adventure. The adventures open up an expanded role playing experience – a welcome addition to the already deeply involving Sims 3 game.
Vacation accommodations are always important. In this installment, length of stay depends on the goals and adventures players complete. Completing them can increase one's "visa" for longer stays. Vacations longer than three days are ideal and eventually progress into 15 day adventures in the vacation home, a definite step up from the initial “base camp” settings. In the beginning, players peruse a display board and choose base missions while experiencing secondary and special missions along the way.
New skills include martial arts, nectar (a sim beverage) making, and photography, which yield profession tracks like disciplined, adventurous, and photographer’s eye. New items exist in shops and various Sim interactions. Players can buy several great items while also selling items they find.
New activities include treasure hunting in Al Simhara, Egypt; fireworks in Shang Simla, China; and nectar-making in Champs Les Sims, France. These activities will even follow you home as you practice them with others and share and/or display your unique items. The activities incorporate various difficulty levels while chaining together with other activities. For example, Sims can not defeat mummies until they learn martial art skills.
Incorporation between Sims' travels and their home life represents the strongest game element here. Sims can bring souvenirs home and continue interactions with Sims they meet on the road. Players can also bring home a new basement building option from Egypt. Basements offer up to four levels for that special architectural masterpiece or “man cave.”
Hidden stairways, object “foggers,” floor switches, wells, portal connection, and traps ensure this underground area excites and surprises. The traps and other danger-filled objects open up expanded puzzle play. Many solutions incorporate common sense but the real appeal here is the creation of the special areas. Players can evoke Indiana Jones-type logic to maneuver through elaborate set ups.
Article comments
1 - Chip R
Gotta get this one. Hope I have enough $ left. :-) Thanks for the review