Game Review: The Sims 3: World Adventures (PC)

World Adventures is the first expansion pack for The Sims 3, the newest version of EA game's vastly popular simulation/virtual life series of games. The Sims 2, its predecessor, saw its last expansion pack with Apartment Life in the summer of 2008. The new edition of the Sims-universe has been met with strong fan support and enthusiasm; this holds true for World Adventures, which was released in November of 2009.

World Adventures introduces players and their Sims to many new features, including tropical and exotic vacation locations. Characters can visit the Sim-universe version of China, Egypt, and France; each provides an opportunity to learn new skills, purchase new items and supplies, as well as new recipes and books. This expansion of the Sim-universe is typical for EA game's additional game releases, putting an authentic, literal meaning to the term "expansion pack."

Google Products lists this game at $32-40, and it carries an ESBRrating of Teen; available exclusively on PC.

The Pros:

As any The Sims fan will tell you, additional content can never been too much, too creative, or offered too frequently. World Adventures manages to open up whole new portals of interaction for characters, and I was keenly impressed in their implementation of the "Adventurer" personality trait in conjunction with temples and tombs the Sims can explore. New clothing, furniture, and special items are staples of every EA expansion pack; World Adventures is no different in providing a solid, vast array of this new options. The addition of the Photography skill and career, the Martial Arts skill, and the option to take your Sims on a vacation are all welcomed new experiences improved upon from versions fans saw in The Sims 2.

The Cons:

Fans had many complaints immediately following the release of World Adventures due to an unusually high amount of bugs and game glitches. A prompt release of a patch from EA silenced most of these complaints, and the game has remained favored by fans and critics alike since. As an avid fan of The Sims games, I found it difficult to find many complaints with this expansion beyond the high risk of a relapse in my Sims addiction.

The Verdict: 4.5/5

Ultimately, World Adventures is an extremely well done expansion pack, and I would rate it as one of the best "EPs" that EA has released in recent years for either TheSims 2 or The Sims 3. If it is any indication of the level of quality EA intends to update this popular game with, the fans can look forward to many more quality expansion packs in the future. To date, this is my highest review score for any video game, and I highly recommend this "EP" for any The Sims fan. Now, if they'd only re-release Sim-pets and Sim-universe weather...

Sources:
Gamespot, "The Sims 3: World Adventures"
Google Products, "The Sims 3: World Adventures"
ESRB, "Entertainment Software Ratings Board"