MySims Kingdom: Obscenely Cute Adventure

So you’re looking at the Wii game MySims Kingdom. Not a bad choice… for the most part. I picked up this adorable Sims game to keep me amused until I really knew what I wanted. I can’t say I’m disappointed with the game, nor am I thrilled. It is a pretty average title.

In MySims Kingdom you play as a Wandolier and travel by ship from island to island in the name of King Roland. Your task is simple, although frustrating at times: rebuild, repair, and create what the people of the Kingdom need and desire. You are to solve petty problems, frequently build bridges, build and design homes, and repair mechanical devices. You can choose between male or female and customize your character. Don’t get too excited now, it is not at all like the PC Sims in which you mandate every detail. Simply pick an outfit, hairstyle/color, eyes, mouth, and facial design and be on your way. Throughout the game however you will unlock new outfits and hairstyles.

The entire purpose of the game is to travel the lands and repair. You collect mana by shaking trees, pulling up weeds, mining, and other trivial tasks. Mana lets you build using the items you’ve created from Scrolls. You get Scrolls by talking to people and complete them by collecting the materials needed to unlock the items within them. There are all sorts of materials to collect, so don’t be surprised when you pull a tire up from a weed. Each island has a theme and a set of problems and characters that need to be attended to! Prepare to be busy with some rather unique tasks.

The best way to describe the graphics is… adorable. They are cute, cartoony, and somewhat blocky. I can’t tell if this is a pro or a con. MySims Kingdom was obviously designed to be cute, but you will not be stunned by your surroundings. If anything you will laugh at the cuteness and continue on. The characters are well developed, quirky, and just amusing to watch at work. King Roland loves cupcakes that his daughter Butter bakes for him, and Buddy is a total goof that says the most random things. All fall into the cute and chibi category. The game is definitely for kids but can be fun for any age; just don’t expect any dazzling eye candy from this title.

Playability… meh. Like most every new game I was content to sit for hours and complete each tasks, feeling through the game. But it was about a week before I touched it again. You can progress through the first two islands within a few hours. If you are patient and feel inclined I’m sure you could beat the game within a day or so. However, I couldn’t imagine shaking trees, collecting materials, and fishing for 5 hrs. straight. I’d say it is certainly a fun game with new places to see and people to meet, but it isn’t a game I’d spend hours playing through in one sitting and I doubt I’d want to rebeat it. As far as replayability goes the only reason I see to beat it over again is to build each structure differently than the first time around.

This is a fun game to sit and play for as long as you can take the trivial tasks and lack of action. You get to use your Wiimote to fish, mine, and interact with the environment. You can also complete side Scrolls to get more items and create new stuff. If you are fortunate enough to find an unused patch of land you might even feel inclined to build a home and decorate the interior. Nearly pointless actions such as sleeping, bathing, and rummaging through a fridge might interest you for a moment or so. And if you are into puzzles then you might find some of the mechanical devices fun to figure out.

Despite this the game can get easily frustrating with slight glitches. Having to chase objects (ex. robotic legs that run without a body) when they only run into walls for incredible lengths of time bothered me. Minor flaws like this take away from the enjoyment of the gameplay. Otherwise it isn’t a half-bad title.

If you enjoy Sims games, cutesy graphics, or have a kid at home you might interested in MySims Kingdom.

GameSpot rating of 7.5 (Good)