iPhone Review: The Sims 3

Publisher/Developer: EA
Genre: Life Simulation
Price: $9.99
Verdict: A must if you’re a fan of the Sims games, not so much if you’re not a Sims fan
Pros: Unique, involved gameplay, spend hours playing
Cons: It’s the Sims for iPhone and that’s about it

The Sims is one of the best selling game franchises in PC gaming history. So when EA released The Sims 3 for PC and Mac last month, they also released a really great and comparable, The Sims 3 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The Sims 3 for iPhone is not just another port, it very much is it’s own game and EA put time and thought into the game making it worth the $9.99 price tag.

Having played The Sims on both the PC format and on Xbox a few years back, I think The Sims 3 for iPhone is more similar to the Xbox version of the franchise. Similar to the computer games, The Sims 3 starts out with you creating a Sim, choosing from different clothing and hair styles to customize your Sim-self. The choices of attire and looks are pretty limited but players can make a unique enough avatar. Then players choose a personality type and traits for their character like Jack of All Trades, Nice Guy, Jerk, Sleaze, Power Seeker, and Maniac. A quick note: Choosing the Sleaze means you need to woohoo (have sex) eight times! Which is tough since you need a lot of close relationships to be established in order to woohoo. Being the Sleaze may be considered the ‘advanced’ difficulty.

Game play follows in the same way as other The Sims games. You’re given a house and a bit of money. You need to keep your Sim-self alive by keeping hunger, energy, fun, social, and hygiene needs satisfied. Your Sim is also given some goals each day. You can complete the goals as you like. Finishing these goals might take some time since your Sim is also going to need to get a job if you want any additional money.

With the money a Sim earns from their job or by doing random tasks for other Sims, a housing upgrade can be purchased and some more stylish furniture than what you’re given by default. Like The Sims installments on the Xbox and the GameCube , Sims must also learn and purchase recipes and the food that go into the recipes if you intend to eat. Most of these items can be purchased at a store.Additionally your Sim self can grow their own garden and fish in the park’s lake for fresh food supplies. Food must then be prepared on the stove using the iPhone’s touch screen and tilt controls to be sure you don’t ruin the meal. This along with fishing and gardening is perhaps what sets The Sims 3 on iPhone apart from the PC/Mac versions.

Other than the unique controls of the iPhone and the detailed control of meals, there is really nothing about The Sims 3 for iPhone that screams new and exciting. The choices in clothing and houseware upgrades are really lacking. Maybe future versions will have more choices. Some connectivity with friends would have been nice too. Players are limited to their Sim self and other pre-made Sims for interaction. Since the iPhone can connect to the internet, it should be used to connect players.

For fans of The Sims games, EA really seems to do no wrong and this portable version might be just what is needed to satisfy the Sims addiction while on-the-go. If you’ve never played a Sims game and are looking for a reasonable and fair priced introduction, The Sims 3 on iPhone is a good choice. Conversely, if you’re someone who already shelled out the cash for the computer game but isn’t addicted to The Sims, this game might be a pass for you. There is much better customization and depth to be found in the PC/Mac version.