Hello and welcome back to The Backlog, the weekly column where we review video games based on a monthly topic each week. April is the last month of publishing for the semester, so I’m taking the time to review nostalgic video games. A lot of the games I’ve covered are large with a lot of action. But this time, we’re taking a step back and smelling the flowers in “MySims.”
“MySims” was developed by Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts in 2007. It was initially released for the Nintendo Wii and DS in 2007 but was later ported to Microsoft Windows and mobile phones in 2008. Currently, it’s also available on the Nintendo Switch as a bundle with “MySims Kingdom” and will likely be available for purchase on the Switch 2.
The basic premise of “MySims” is that players can rebuild a town and draw in residents, also referred to as Sims. After creating your avatar, players can build homes, restaurants, stores and more, based on each type of Sim that wants to move in.
Since it was mainly meant for the Wii and DS, the controls are designed with motion controls or a stylus in mind. Creating buildings and customizing them involves clicking and dragging items or blocks; it’s fairly easy to understand. Most games on the DS were designed to be easy for children and young people.
To add designs to certain blocks or objects, players must go around town and find “essence.” Essence is a resource that comes from certain interactable objects or Sims. Certain types of trees can give you light wood, dark wood or dead wood, along with any fruits or flowers on them.
Players can also collect essences from Sims around town. Each one can give certain types of essence depending on how you interact with them or what type of Sim they are.
Aside from customization features, there are other aspects of the city that allow your character to collect essence. Fishing, chopping trees and using a metal detector to prospect can help you find specific types of essence.
There isn’t a very strong plot in “MySims,” aside from rebuilding the town and getting more Sims. But like many cozy games, “MySims” is a satisfying experience and can quickly make you forget how much time you’ve spent on it.
Personally, I spent an entire 10 minutes on just fishing. It happens a lot for me in any game that has a fishing mechanic. “Stardew Valley” and “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” made me their victim…
Some complaints about “MySims” could be the lack of variety in what you can do. Customization is the biggest aspect of the series, but it can feel limited with how some windows and lawn objects don’t like to be next to each other.
It’s aggravating when you can’t get the symmetry you’re looking for when building, but as a designer, you have to learn to find beauty in imperfections. Luckily, there are a lot of Sims for you to find and invite to move into town. There is a limit to how many can live there, so you’ll have to pick and choose which ones you want the most.
Some of the first Sims you’ll meet include Chef Gino Delicioso, the nosy bellhop Buddy and the town’s mayor, Rosalyn P. Marshall. There are many more Sims with unique personalities for you to find, so don’t rush and enjoy the journey.
Overall, “MySims” is an artifact of the DS era and still holds up as a game. I just wish porting it to the Switch was smoother, as not being able to use a stylus or a Wii remote can make the building process long and tiring.
Rating: 3.5/5
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