Review of The Sims Medieval and the Pirates and Nobles Expansion Pack

The Sims Medieval is a simulation game that resembles The Sims series of games, but it is quite different. In this game, you play as a hero and are required to complete quests to complete ambitions. Along the way, you can unlock items and clothing, but it is really all about the quests. The Kingdom that you build is up to you, and you can decorate it as you see fit. You can rule it with great power, or go on the side of peace – the choice is yours.

Game Description: The Sims Medieval

“The Sims go back in time and get medieval! The Sims™ Medieval takes The Sims into the Middle Ages with all new features, new graphics and new ways to play. For the first time, players can create heroes, venture on quests, and build up a kingdom. In an ancient land of adventure, drama and romance, players will be able to get medieval like never before.

Features:

o     A living world of Sims in an age of adventure, drama, and romance

o     Enhanced graphics, lighting, animations, and more lifelike Sims

o     Create heroes, build up their skills and send them on epic quests

o     Quests drive your kingdom’s story - Good or evil, cruel or kind, romantic or warlike

o     Kingdom Ambitions – Choose a ambitious goal for your kingdom and work to achieve it. Will you kingdom be the most wealthy, most enlightened, a conqueror or a peacemaker? The choice is yours.” – The Sims Medieval

Game Description: The Sims Medieval Pirates and Nobles

“The Sims Medieval™ Pirates and Nobles Adventure Pack introduces new quests, treasure hunting, and hundreds of new objects for your medieval kingdom! Your epic story starts when the Pirates of Aarbyville and the Nobles of Tredony arrive in your kingdom, followed quickly by sword fights, love affairs, grand adventures and mysteries. Go treasure hunting to uncover hidden objects. Embark on new quests to help your kingdom achieve a new ambition. Stylize your kingdom and Sims with new pirate and nobility themed objects and wardrobe. The fun never ends with this new adventure pack! 

Features:

o     A New Kingdom Ambition – Can you end the war between Tredony and Aarbyville?

o     New Quests that follow an epic story arc

o     New Signature Objects – The Interrogation Chair and pet falcons and parrots

o     New Traits a new Legendary Trait

o     Over 140 Pirate and Nobility themed objects

o     New pirate and noble outfits and hats

o     Treasure Hunting, complete with maps, shovels, rare treasure and some surprising dangers” – The Sims Medieval: Pirates and Nobles

My Thoughts

The Sims Medieval is a completely different game than The Sims 3 or other Sims games. In this game, you don’t have the option of playing as any Sim in the Kingdom. You only play as the heroes, and you can’t just switch between them during a quest.

When you are working on an Ambition, you start a Kingdom from the ground up each time. This can be considered annoying, but it gives you the option of having different types of Kingdoms, and gives the re-playability a better spin.

When you complete quests, you gain points that can be used to add in new buildings and hero buildings to your Kingdom. Choose what you place wisely or you’ll waste your points on things you don’t really need for the ambition you’re on. The quests are fun, but can be repetitive if you choose to do them the same way each time.

The clothes and décor are all based on the Medieval setting of the game. I think that it stays true to this throughout the base game and the Pirates and Nobles expansion pack. The add-on also gives the option of better clothes and makeup, so if this is something you enjoy in your Sims games, be sure to get this expansion!

Overall, I do enjoy playing this game and the expansion. If you are used to the regular Sims games, it might take a few quests to get used to this style of gaming. However, once you do, I think that you’ll enjoy it too. Just remember that it isn’t The Sims 3, so don’t expect it to be. I recommend this game to all Simmers out there and to those who want to play a game based on the Medieval era.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Sims Medieval, Electronic Arts, and Gamers Gate for providing me with a digital copy of this game and allowing me to review it. All experiences and opinions expressed are my own.