The Sims 3

by Raychul Moore
June 02, 2009 00:00 AM PST

When I first started playing The Sims 3, it was seven o'clock at night. When I next looked up from my computer to check the time, it was 7:30 - the next morning. That's when I knew that, once again, I was hooked on the Sims.

I've pulled a few all-nighters for games before. Master of Orion II, Civilization II, and Knights of the Old Republic are just a few titles that I've gone without sleep for. All of those games have something in common: they're ridiculously addictive and after reading Raychul's review, it's obvious that EA's crafted yet another Sims experience worth staying up past your bedtime for.

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I am what I am

Longtime Sims fans will be in for a treat from the minute they boot up Sims 3. but even newcomers will find something to like; in fact, this title might be the most user friendly Sims experience thanks to some great tweaks to the interface. The character creator is easier than ever to use but it still manages to offer up a wealth of customization options. You can style your Sims any way you want, from the color of hair roots to the material of their shoes -- no detail was overlooked. The new personality system is also great, allowing you to mix and match five different traits your Sims will take on; these range from good traits like 'enthusiastic' and 'creative' to negative traits like 'kleptomaniac' and 'slob.' After molding your Sims, you are then given a few career paths or "Lifetime Wishes" that fit the mixture of traits you chose. This means that if you create a workaholic Sim, you have a shot at eventually becoming a corporate CEO; create a charismatic Sim and your career path may take you on the road to becoming a world-famous spy.

After playing dress-up, it's now time to buy a new house which you can get either furnished or unfurnished. The customization options here are even more detailed than in the character creation tools. From the carpet and walls to the refrigerator or even a telephone, you can choose the patterns, colors, fabrics, and just about everything in between. And anal-retentive fans will love this: furniture can now be placed diagonally or in half-tile increments that make it possible to center everything properly. Yes, for us true Sims fans, it's the little things that count.