EA has brought us the first in what is sure to be many, many expansions for The Sims 3 - and it’s called World Adventures. If it’s not obvious, World Adventures is about going on adventures around the world, which wouldn’t have been my first choice for an addon, and has typically been my least favorite type of expansion in the previous games…

BUT

In my opinion they got it right this time. In The Sims 2, whenever I would take my sims on vacation, I would usually run out of things to do, and be bored before the vacation was over, because it was basically like being at home, and unemployed. In World Adventures you get plenty of things that you don’t have the option of doing at home. Let us check back in on the Awesometown family.

Lightning was starting to feel like he couldn’t handle the pressures of watching TV while his wife took care of their new child, so he called up a travel agent, and booked a trip - for himself. A cab picked him up, and he was whisked off to Shang Simla, China. Ready for adventure, he checked the Adventure Board without even looking at the place he’d be staying in. Turns out somebody was looking for a kind (and totally awesome) soul to explore a tomb - score! And they were even willing to pay good money - double score!

Bikes are the preferred method of travel for Sims in China, and so he was off to a strange man’s house, who didn’t seem to like Lightning very much, but gave him the key to a tomb anyway, and asked that he find an artifact for him. He also suggested that Lightning pick up some supplies before venturing underground. After making a stop by the general store, he was well equipped with a new tent, some dried food, and a couple shower-in-a-can’s. It was getting a little late, so he swung by ‘base camp’, read a couple books, and even ate waffles with chopsticks, because he’s fancy like that.

Nice digs!

In the morning, Lightning was surprised to see several people in the kitchen. Other adventurers - and they weren’t very friendly. He started to feel a little under-dressed for exploring, so before heading out, Lightening outfitted himself accordingly.

Adventure waits for no Sim (well, OK - actually it does) and so he was off! For real this time! Lightning found the tomb easy enough - it was actually right downtown - and ventured into it’s slightly foreboding depths. After making his way past traps, puzzles, underwater tunnels, collecting treasures along the way, and using a bit of hard work,

he found the lost artifact, and returned it to the strange man, for a pretty hefty reward. Lightning spent the last day of his vacation attempting to learn Sim Fu, and more or less failing. Before heading home, he purchased some Sim Fu training equipment, so he could continue learning. And like that - way too soon - his vacation was over. He does however, still sleep in his tent from time to time, and spends most nights practicing in the backyard.

Bottom Line

The Sims 3 World Adventures gives your Sims a nice break from the day to day, and offers three foreign locations (China, Egypt, and France), several new items, clothing, skills and decorations - they even saw fit to throw in basements, which will be a very welcome addition if you’re like me and have tried the very tricky terrain leveling technique and ended up with nothing but a headache, and a big hole in your front lawn. While some of the new mechanics are quite different than the core gameplay, it makes going on vacation different enough from everyday Sim life, going so is a nice change of pace. If this is setting the trend for things to come, consider me excited for more Sims 3 expansions.