Sims 3 for the iPhone ($6.99, iTunes link) is a truly fun game that feels remarkably similar to the PC and console versions. I can save you the trouble of reading this review by briefly summing up my thoughts: buy this game. Sims 3 is incredibly addictive and a real gem among iPhone games. I can’t even tell you how much time I’ve already wasted on it.
For those not familiar with the Sims series, it works pretty simply. You create your own character by choosing a gender, skin tone, eye color, hair color, clothing and accessories. The choices are pretty extensive, as you can even choose from different styles of jeans and a few different hairstyles. Then you select the personality you want for your Sim. I selected ‘nice girl’ for my Sim, but you can also have fun with the ‘maniac’ and ‘sleaze’ personas.
The goal of Sims 3 for the iPhone is to build a life for your Sim. They have to do everything a normal person would, including eat, sleep, get a job and go to the bathroom.
Your job is to satisfy all their basic needs while also building relationships with other Sims and attracting material possessions. Every so often, your Sim will tell you a wish, some of which can be pretty strange. My Sim’s first wish was to kick over a trash can, and I’m not sure that fits in with her ‘nice girl’ persona. Satisfying wishes, keeping their basic needs met and forming relationships keeps your Sim in a good mood.
Building relationships is not as easy as it seems. When my Sim first moved to town, none of her neighbors would answer their door when she went to introduce herself, so she kicked over their trash cans instead. Your Sim has to engage other Sims by being friendly, telling jokes or flirting. Don’t go too far though, because the Sims get creeped out easily and then they’ll dislike you. My Sim has gotten kicked out of a bunch of houses in town already. She’s just trying to make friends, but I guess her ‘sexy dance’ was too much, too soon. Once your Sim has an established job and accumulates some money, you can buy new furniture and fixtures for your house.
There are several mini-games, including fishing and cooking, that take advantage of the iPhone’s accelerometer. Not a highlight of the game, but they are fun for awhile.
The gameplay is really very good. Graphics look great, and the game responds relatively quickly to all commands. There’s enough action to keep things interesting, and setting long-term goals for your Sim keeps the game from feeling stale. The game picks up where you left off, or you can create a new Sim and switch between the two games.
The only downer is that the game has to load each time you switch locations or perform a new task — going into town, going to a neighbor’s house, returning home or greeting a stranger all prompt a loading screen. It’s not a terribly lengthy process, but it disrupts the flow of the game. The town is also really small, and it could certainly benefit from some more interesting spots to interact with other Sims.
Conclusion
Other than that, Sims 3 is really a fantastic game for the iPhone. I can’t stop playing it, which is high praise indeed. If you are already a fan of the Sims — and even if you’re new to the franchise — Sims 3 for the iPhone is a no-brainer. We rate it a 9.0 out of 10, highly recommended.
Sims 3 is a $6.99 download from the iTunes store.