Lead Producer Michael Cox's, enthusiasm is contagious. As I watch him eagerly sidle up to show me The Sims 3 DS, I can tell that he isn't just some PR mouthpiece spurting off pre-planned talking points about a project he could care less about. No, for Cox, Sims 3 DS is an achievement, his baby, and he's proud of it. And honestly, he has every reason to be. The Sims 3 DS is the most robust handheld Sims game I've ever seen. While certain parts of the PC version just can't make it to the DS, the team at EA has done an amazing job at cramming as much of the Sims experience as possible into Nintendo's tiny little system. This is readily apparent as we start with character creation -- an essential part of any Sims game. Previously, players had very few options in how they crafted their unique Sim on the portable platforms, but with the DS the team has put the touch screen to use; clicking on a characters face allows you to poke, prod and manipulate their features until you have something akin to what you're aiming for. Preset options are also available, but with the amount of sliders (for things like body weight) and manipulation you're allowed, finicky players eager to create something they can call their own will find the DS version isn't lacking.
Likewise the build function -- something The Sims 3 on PC had an especially good version of -- is incredibly robust on the DS. In a completely 3D world, players can use the DS touchscreen to draw walls, paint walls, and drag and drop items into the environment with ease. Sure, it isn't all that pretty, but it's a technical marvel that the DS Sims team has been able to put this element into the game in as much detail as they have.
But while the Build and Create a Sim functions are impressive, what Sims fans will probably find the most engaging is that this is the first DS Sims game where you are able to craft your own stories. Unlike past handheld Sims games, which were largely tied to a pre-determined narrative, Sims 3 gives the players the openness of the PC version. After you pick your Sims' traits and Lifetime Wish you set out to determine how they reach their goals. Your Sims can wander the town, visit their neighbors, fall in and out of love, and live a life that's horrifically difficult or blissfully easy -- it's all up to you.
A huge part of the appeal in Sims has always come from the god complex the game affords its players, and Sims 3 DS gives you a few extra abilities to help you exert even more control over your character's lives. Karma is earned through finishing specific goals in game, which then awards players Karma points they can spend to cast spells on their Sims. Want to make your Sims pay for their insolence? Cast a fire spell on your house and watch them scream in terror. Alternatively, if you're happy with your Sims you can spend your Karma to give them things like additional luck.
What's most impressive about The Sims 3 DS is how true to the PC game it remains. While it's obviously not as feature rich, it includes the best Create a Sim and Build functions ever on a handheld. Where so many handheld games feel like rushed pieces of crap, simplstic tie-ins to the "real" versions on the console and PC, Sims 3 DS shows what the DS -- and a whole lot of passion -- can yield.
