PGC NEWS

The Sims franchise, celebrating its 20th anniversary, shows no signs of slowing down. At EA Play earlier this year, alongside the announcement of The Sims 4: Island Living expansion, producer Michael Duke declared a “high season” for the series. The summer timing couldn’t be more perfect for an expansion focused on relaxation, ocean adventures, and tropical getaways. But does Island Living live up to the hype? Let’s dive in.

Discovering the Beauty of Sulani

For the first time in The Sims 4, your Sims can do more than just fish from the shore. They can now fully immerse themselves in the ocean, exploring the vibrant underwater world. Sulani, the new world, is breathtakingly beautiful, with lush palm trees, pristine sandy beaches, and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Colorful coral reefs teem with life, and seagulls soar overhead, adding to the idyllic atmosphere. Many consider Sulani one of the most visually stunning worlds ever created for The Sims 4.

Three distinct locations await your Sims: the beautiful beaches of Lani St. Taz, the vibrant Ohan’ali Town, and the volcanic Mua Pel’am, complete with flowing lava. The local villagers, dressed in traditional Hawaiian attire, offer a glimpse into the island’s rich culture. The waterfall at Mua Pel’am provides a romantic backdrop for couples.

The Sims Studio has meticulously crafted every detail, from the feeling of sand between your Sims’ toes to the splash of seawater as they run through the waves. Combined with the seasonal effects of The Sims 4: Seasons, the experience is even more immersive. Sunburns add a touch of realism, appearing based on your Sims’ clothing or the application of sunscreen.

The Sims 4 Island Living

Embracing Environmentalism

From its initial trailer, The Sims 4: Island Living garnered praise for incorporating environmental awareness. This resonates with players and experts alike, given the growing global concern for our planet. Joining the conservation career, cleaning up beaches, and protecting marine life instills positive habits and inspires players to take action in the real world. Sims can actively improve the ecosystem, leading to a cleaner Sulani and unlocking exciting celebrations for the island community.

The Sims 4 Island Living

The Sims 4 Island Living

Mermaids and Ocean Activities

Mermaids are a highly anticipated addition to this expansion. Customize your mermaid Sims from teeth to tail, with detailed options for both human and mermaid forms. While not as in-depth as the vampire powers in The Sims 4: Vampires, mermaids can still control the weather and enchant humans with their siren songs.

Sims can collect seashells and pearls, build sandcastles, swim freestyle or butterfly, lounge on floats, sail, jet ski, or simply enjoy a coconut drink while watching the sunset. New fish and fishing traps add to the gameplay. Dolphins, a delightful addition to the series, can be befriended, fed, and even trained. But beware of sharks, as they might just swallow your Sims whole! The possibilities are endless, from creating a mermaid coven to imagining hybrid creatures combining mermaids with vampires or aliens. The Sims 4: Island Living encourages creativity and storytelling.

Exploring the Depths…or Not

Despite Sulani’s vibrant underwater world, you can’t directly explore the depths as you could in The Sims 3. Diving is a “rabbit hole” activity, where your Sim disappears for a while. The Sims 3 allowed for underwater exploration with snorkeling gear or scuba tanks, complete with caves and sea monsters. The cool diving gear and flippers are absent in The Sims 4, along with the ability to capture underwater photos or collect exotic fish.

The Sims 4 Island Living

Even in first-person camera mode, the water lacks the translucent blue quality, diminishing the realism.

Missing Resorts and Management Features

Another disappointment, albeit minor, is the absence of resort management, a feature present in The Sims 3. Managing a hotel, maintaining guest satisfaction, and offering various services added a strategic layer to the gameplay. In Island Living, beach visits are limited to leisure activities and related careers. Even with The Sims 4: Get to Work, you can’t own multiple properties like in The Sims 3.

A more robust mermaid skill system (akin to vampires), diverse sea transportation (like houseboats in The Sims 3: Island Paradise), and more creative gameplay elements (like souvenirs in The Sims 2: Bon Voyage) could have extended the replayability. While Sulani is captivating, the lack of swimming in other worlds’ bodies of water eventually leads to repetition.

The Sims 4 Island Living

Conclusion

The Sims 4: Island Living offers a beautiful new world and engaging gameplay additions, but some omissions prevent it from being a true tropical paradise. The lack of underwater exploration and resort management features leaves room for improvement. However, Sulani’s beauty, the introduction of mermaids, and the focus on environmentalism make it a worthwhile expansion for Sims fans seeking a relaxing and culturally rich experience.