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Sandbox micromanagement like only the Sims could do
posted by JCDenton (FREEDOM, NH) Jan 30, 2009
Member since Mar 2006
18 out of 19 gamers (95%) found this review helpful
If you've played the Sims series (any of them for that matter) you know that Will Wright enjoys the minutia of ordinary things. Micromanaging cities, towns, ants and, of course, people is what the Sims are all about. SimAnimals is no different, although the game seems much simpler and direct than other games in the series.
The structure of the game takes you to various areas of the forest, growing plants, befriending animals and keeping everybody happy. If you do well, you'll fill up your happy bar and unlock a new area, eventually earning a medal for a full meter. Each new animal has a set of objectives you can complete which earn you medals as well. These unlock special plants that have unusual effect upon the environment or animals.
While the game is accessible and makes good use of the Wii motion controls, there are problems with the functionality of the game. Planting seeds, collecting sticks from trees or petting animals require you to shake the Wiimote over the given area and the game has trouble registering these motions. I also found it quite tedious to continually plant seeds, please animals and manually place everything in my backpack.
If there's one real problem with the game, it's the odd paradox between playful animal fun and realistic animal kingdom. Each of the animals has it's own cute name and you're encouraged to play with them so they trust you. Of course, once a predator wanders in, it will likely eat your furry little friends as the game asks you to befriend the wolf or bear that just ate Cuddles the rabbit. Better yet, you can pick up a squirrel or bird that looked at you the wrong way and throw it a starving weasel. It makes me wonder if we're supposed to care for the animals or look at them as objective resources.
The game isn't all that hard and not at all long. Collecting all the medals will take some time, but your rewards for doing so are minimal.
It's an intriguing and functional diversion. But that's all it is.
The structure of the game takes you to various areas of the forest, growing plants, befriending animals and keeping everybody happy. If you do well, you'll fill up your happy bar and unlock a new area, eventually earning a medal for a full meter. Each new animal has a set of objectives you can complete which earn you medals as well. These unlock special plants that have unusual effect upon the environment or animals.
While the game is accessible and makes good use of the Wii motion controls, there are problems with the functionality of the game. Planting seeds, collecting sticks from trees or petting animals require you to shake the Wiimote over the given area and the game has trouble registering these motions. I also found it quite tedious to continually plant seeds, please animals and manually place everything in my backpack.
If there's one real problem with the game, it's the odd paradox between playful animal fun and realistic animal kingdom. Each of the animals has it's own cute name and you're encouraged to play with them so they trust you. Of course, once a predator wanders in, it will likely eat your furry little friends as the game asks you to befriend the wolf or bear that just ate Cuddles the rabbit. Better yet, you can pick up a squirrel or bird that looked at you the wrong way and throw it a starving weasel. It makes me wonder if we're supposed to care for the animals or look at them as objective resources.
The game isn't all that hard and not at all long. Collecting all the medals will take some time, but your rewards for doing so are minimal.
It's an intriguing and functional diversion. But that's all it is.