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When Rare released Viva Piñata on the Xbox 360 many Nintendo fans cried out for a Wii release; unfortunately, this did not happen. Some time later, however, Microsoft Game Studios, Rare, Nintendo and THQ announced Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise for the Nintendo DS. Nintendo fans rejoiced. The title received positive reviews and Nintendo fans were left wanting more. Sadly, Rare could not deliver anymore and as a result the fans’ hunger was never satisfied.
Enter SimAnimals, Electronic Arts’ answer to Viva Piñata. The objective of SimAnimals is to befriend more than 30 animals and look after their habitat. In order to achieve this goal, players must complete a series of tasks. Unfortunately, all of these tasks are repetitive. An example of this repetition is how players are forced to feed and play with all of the animals to earn their trust. These tasks are fun for the first five minutes, but after that they lose their lustre.
The control style in SimAnimals only adds to the tedious gameplay. Electronic Arts has decided to make use of both the Wii Remote and nunchuk. This control style does nothing to enhance the game. The controls are clunky and the inclusion of motion control is unnecessary. All the movements require players to swing their wrists from side to side and after a while this becomes a painful action to perform.
Emo Wulf sez: No wun understannz me.
The visuals in SimAnimals are disappointing. The character models lack fine detail, and the environments are bland and lifeless. In all honesty, this title’s graphics are on par with a Nintendo 64 game.
There are also flaws on the animation side of SimAnimals. The video sequences, for example, shake, pause and skip, showing little to no effort has gone into this section of the game. The character models also experience similar problems. Often animals can be seen trembling unintentionally. All these animation troubles make no sense at all when the game’s visuals are the equivalent of a 64 title.
This picture is funny enough without a caption.
In terms of sound, SimAnimals is merely adequate. The game uses many tunes that are true to the Sim series. The only disappointment about the music is that it is not constant throughout the actual in-game sections of the title. The environmental sounds are spot on, and are possibly the only good part of this game.
In conclusion, SimAnimals is a second-rate Wii title that is sure to disappoint anyone who plays or purchases it. Avoid this game like the plague.
By Liam Doolan
Graphics: D+
You’ll want to stab your eyes out.
Sound: B
The sound is acceptable, but it just doesn’t play enough.
Gameplay: C
Disappointing.
Overall: D+
As previously mentioned, avoid this game like the plague.
