Developer: Electronic Arts Publisher: Nintendo Release Date: October 28, 2008
GOOD…GOD…SO…CUTE. GAG! OH LOOK, AN ADORABLE ZOMBIE!
There’s always something about a SIMS game. I doesn’t matter what the release is, I’m always up for a play to see where they’re taking the franchise. I’m pleased to say that despite the incredible ‘cute’ factor, MySIMS Kingdom is still an amusing addition to the Wii library.
But seriously, this game is really adorable. It’s like a puppy covered in pancake syrup sitting on top of a soft pillow strapped to a pony. All the bright colors and cute characters with their nonsensical gibberish will, on occasion, make me want to chew out my own central nervous system. It can’t be helped, I’m afraid.
But that being said, still a fun game. Click to see how.
This entry in the series is once again geared towards a younger crowd. The social aspect from past games is now much more of a trial and error process with no real consequence for failing. Gameplay mainly consists of light construction and decoration, with a hint of base level mechanical application.
And really, that’s most of the game. The kingdom has fallen into a deep state of disrepair. You play as the newly appointed Wandolier. For whatever reason, all the other Wandoliers have long since retired or ‘moved away’. That’s one hell of a hiring freeze. I can’t imagine the frustration that must have occurred during the talks with the ‘Wandoliers Union’. And as far as the ones that ‘moved away’ – did you know that Jimmy Hoffa was a Wandolier? True story.
Anyways.
The Wandolier seems to be a federal employee of sorts that has been charged with repairing the kingdom. After a brief ‘competition’ with some local chums (as in “no way to lose unless you have a stroke while playing the game”), you begin to bring the kingdom back to its former glory (with some help from your friends, of course). In order for construction to begin however, you need to seek out and collect ‘essences’ from various object in your surroundings. A collection of mini-games (shaking trees, mining and fishing to name a few) make gathering fun instead of a chore. Some longer than others depending on the type of essence needed. This of course makes up the bulk of the gameplay and is very time consuming – but not in a bad way.
The game brings you to several different lands inside the kingdom each with its own inhabitants with their own set of favors/challenges for you to complete. There are even separate storylines for each land! This is actually quite an accomplishment when you think about it – no repetition = awesome.
Your level of interest denotes how long this game will be. A quick run through can take around 10 hours, but a serious fine-toothed comb approach can almost double that time. For some that could be a stretch, but fun objectives and interesting characters with witty dialogue keep the pace well – revisiting islands is needed later on which slows things down but hey, it’s worth it for the ending.
There are a couple things that keep this from being a more engrossing experience. The main problem is the camera. The problem with the camera getting stuck on random objects from time to time is to be expected from some games, so that’s mildly forgivable. But it’s not just that. Depending on the proximity to a non-playable area, the camera can’t pull back far enough for you to effectively work on your structure. Even a two-story building can be a chore. Why is it that this game is all about building and creation and I can’t even see what I’m doing on the roof of a two-story building?! More to the point, how does a problem so entwined with the core gameplay make it past testing? It’s disappointing considering how well the rest of the mouse-style control scheme works.
The second issue is the essence gathering. Much like the DS version, a more streamlined method would be a benefit. Most people will tire of the process halfway through the story. The game is fun enough to muddle through, but no one like to pay money to muddle through anything now do they?
Overall, if you or your kids are up for an uber-cute adventure, MySIMS Kingdom is for you. If you’re not sure than of course do a little recon at your closest rental store. A SIMS game with an actual ending is worth a look, I think. And despite a few frustrating moments, it’s still a fun little romp for those seeking it. And it’s so much better than the DS version.
If getting over the cuteness is a problem for you, try this: blast some Slayer when you’re playing. That will totally make the game ‘metal’. Works every time.
Overall: 7 out of 10
