Like some other gamers, IGN felt that SimCity Societies lacked the more directed challenges of previous games in the series. Though IGN appreciated the unique energy concepts and the overall visual appeal of the game, they still felt that something was missing in terms of focus and conflict.
Fortunately, the gang at EA and Maxis have added plenty of these elements through a series of free game updates over the last few months. Soon they'll be increasing the sense of challenge in the game with the release of a new expansion pack, SimCity Societies: Destinations.
Gamedaily writes: "Ultimate Sims 3 Add-Ons
Nearly a decade has passed since The Sims arrived -- control freaks and escapists know it as the game where you play god to virtual people as they go about their everyday lives. In that time, this simulation game broke records as the best-selling game in PC history and was followed by a sequel, The Sims 2, and dozens of add-ons that introduce new activities, furniture and other items to the basic game experience."
Destinations is hard to recommend. That price for just Societies, on the other hand, gets easier to justify with each update. Societies still doesn't compare to the orchestrated intricacy of SimCity 2000, and that still isn't good enough. But Destinations is even worse value for what it adds.
You'll love:
- Societies itself is better now
- Many new Venue buildings
- Adds considerable challenge
You'll hate:
- An overpriced add-on
- Flimsy and irrational
- Doesn't change any core mechanics
Expansion reviews can sometimes be a bit predictable. In 90-percent of cases you can predict that you'll like or hate the expansion based on whether you like or hate the core game. But SimCity Societies: Destinations is a bit different. While it doesn't address the arbitrary nature (and seeming irrelevance) of the social energies that forms the core gameplay, it finally adds some focus and direction to the game with an entirely new traveler mechanic. Now instead of simply plopping buildings down according to their energy impact, you'll need to consider how each new building can attract and serve the new coffer-boosting vacationers.
Presentation: 7.0
Graphics: 7.0
Sound: 8.0
Gameplay: 5.5
Lasting Appeal: 6.0
Overall: 6.7/10
