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After years of sandbox-play dominance and a gazillion expansion packs, we know EA’s colossal Sims franchise for what it is: one of the most seminal games ever created and the game most singularly capable of bringing your computer processor to its knees.
Nobody ever disputes the fun of caring for (or, if you’re warped, torturing) your l’il digital avatars, but the Sims 2’s notoriety as a class-A resource hog has always represented a serious barrier to the laptop-toting members of Casual Gaming America. Enter Sims: Life Stories, a laptop-optimized version that packs in some—but not all—of the gameplay joy of Sims 2.
 Want to live like common people? Try your hand at the latest false reality in the Sims dynasty. |
In a first-ever for the series, a story mode serves up a pair of his-and-hers options that double as game tutorials: You can choose to pilot Riley, a down-on-her luck bachelorette looking for Mr. Right in all the wrong places, or Vince, a tech god who could use the love of a good Sim woman. Both stories are cleverly told, entertaining and humorous, in a “Desperate Hosuewives”/“Friends” kind of way; still, it’s odd to see the Sims signature sandbox style hemmed in, even a little, by the demands of plot.
Luckily, there’s also a freeform play mode, even if it amounts to the gaming equivalent of a clichéd can of Miller Lite—that is to say, it looks and plays as great as the full-sized Sims 2, but there’s a lot less filler to play around with. From the number of the available neighborhoods (a paltry four) to the number of styles items and feature sets, it’s clear that laptop optimization comes with a price tag attached.
While there will be other stand-alone entries in the Sims: Stories series—pet- and castaway-based games are reportedly on the way—there won’t be expansions. For Sims newbies, Life Stories’ clear target audience, this isn’t a deal-breaker; if you’re the sort of Sims 2 vet who find yourself speaking Simlish to your loved ones, it may be one more reason to pass.
