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RATING: 5.0 stars

The third in a line of severely addictive games in which one can either grow a family and love their little sim-minions or totally annihilate and torture them, The Sims 3 has now reached its second expansion pack. Following their recent Sims 3 Stuff Pack: High End Loft addition and Sims 3 Expansion Pack: World Adventures, the new Sims 3 Expansion Pack: Ambitions is, at least in Dragon's opinion, yet another Sim-Win! Bear in mind to play this you need Sims 3 basegame first, so don't go buy this unless you have the original Sims 3 game. 


NOT RECOMMENDED FOR SLOW COMPUTERS.
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR COMPUTERS WITH OLD/CRAPPY GRAPHIC DRIVES/CARDS.
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PLAY WHILE OTHER PROGRAMS ARE RUNNING.

WARNINGS
Game may lag.
Running game while other programs are running may effect game performance, the performance of the other program, or both!
Game may take a while to download.
Game may take a while to LOAD.
Game may be a pain in the ass to install.
After initial installation, old save files may experience problems.
  • In case of old save files acting up, remove all custom objects/mods and download the game again. Once you've gotten it working, reinstall all custom objects one by one to pinpoint the addition/mod which caused the problem
  • If "this-game-is-being-a-pain-in-the-ass" symptoms still persist, try resetting your system.
  • If symptoms STILL persist, try making a new file and playing there.
  • If symptoms CONTINUE to persist in your old file but not your new one...sucks for you, you have to start over with the new family unless you can find an archived but probably now corrupted version of your OLD save.
  • If symptoms continue, sucks even more for you, because your attempts to install the game have resulted in:
  • A.) Deletion of essential game component
  • B.) Deletion of SEVERAL essential game components
  • C.) Blowing up your computer
  • D.) Blowing up your game
  • E.) Corruption of your computer
  • F.) Two or more of the above
  • G.) All of the above and either <A> or <B>
  • In any of these cases, I can't help you.
REVIEW INFORMATION
PLATFORM: Mac/PC
RATING: 5.0 stars

PRODUCT INFORMATION
ESRB RATING: T
PEGI RATING: 12+
DEVELOPERS: The Sims Studio
PRODUCERS: EA Games
GENRE: Life-simulation game
PLATFORM: Windows and Mac
MODES: Single Player
RELEASE DATE(S): June 1, 2010-June 3, 2010

GAMEPLAY
GAMEPLAY RATING: 5.0

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Okay...so...let's start out with a little warning, shall we? DO NOT GIVE THIS GAME TO ANY KID THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE "WOOHOO" BUTTON MAKES SIMS DO, if you catch my drift. If you are easily offended by sexual innuendo, do not even touch this game. In fact, get your ass away from this review RIGHT NOW. 


Now...back to the review. The Sims 3 is, as stated, the third in The Sims video game line. This newest addition to the game makes gameplay much easier by improving the UI (user interface) menus and making activity popups much more organized. Though the game can be tricky to master at first, with alittle practice, you'll soon be happily growing a Sim family or lighting Sims on fire in NO TIME! Oh...that reminds me...now can you not only light things/Sims on fire, but you can now blow Sims/things up! Sure, doing that on public property gives you fines out the wazoo, but it's fun! You know what else is fun? EXPLODING OTHER PEOPLE'S CARS! And again, that reminds me. Now your Sim can be a wild hog with his/her own Beast motorcycle


The best thing, in my opinion, it that there are NO CUTSCENES, just gameplay! It might take a while to load, but after that, you're off! You get about 1-12% loading time and the other 88-99% is pure gaming bliss! Ambitions introduces a whole menagerie of ways to play, too. Now, not only can your Sims do good in their jobs, they can do exceptionally evil in them as well! Doctors can torture patients with new tests or help them...I like torturing them, personally...much more fun.


Another great aspect of The Sims games, especially with Sims 3: Ambitions is the amazing amount of custom items/sims/cars you can make/find. It's truly amazing. All they're missing now is Sims that can: (a.) get run over by cars/anything else and sustain injury, and (b.) imperfect Sims (fat, dysfunctional...et cetera).

GRAPHICS
GRAPHICS RATING: 4.5-5.0 stars

Due to the amount of work it takes your computer to run a high-quality, top-of-the-line simulation game such as The Sims 3 (this applies to all of them, base game, World Adventures, High End Loft, and Ambitions), your graphics can reach ratings as high as 5.0 stars or as low as 4.5 stars. However, no matter how low your graphics settings are,  you're still guaranteed a wonderfully immersing gaming experience! On my system, the graphics are down at 4.5 stars, though faster systems (or those running on external hard drives) can probably reach graphics up to or comparable to 5.0 stars


As with all The Sims games, Ambitions is top-of-the-line when it comes to graphics. Everything is mega-detailed, and just plain out spectacular. The only time this rating would drop lower than 4.5 stars is when the game: (a.) stops working properly, glitches or freezes, (b.) when the game is run while other programs are running, or (c.) when the game is saving or lagging.

SOUND/MUSIC
SOUND/MUSIC RATING: 5.0 stars

With amazing high-quality sound effects and marvelous scores by Steve Jablonski, The Sims 3 Expansion Pack: Ambitions earns a solid five golden stars for its audio department. Not only that, but you can (as in other versions) upload your own music to play. That music will consequently be found under the Custom Music radio channel. Setting your Sim's favorite music to Custom Music is the same as saying your Sim likes the music you like. In total, the sound and music of Ambitions is beyond marvelous. Not only does Ambitions still carry the classic Sims 3 basegame music, but it also comes with new genres!

EXPANSION PACK FEATURES
FEATURES RATING: 5.0 stars

To sum it up, Sims 3: Ambitions comes with a hell of a lot of new stuff! Need some examples? M'kay, you asked for it! Ambitions comes complete with ALL of the following new features!
  • NEW TOWN: Twinsbrook
  • NEW CREATURE: Simbot (known as Servo in earlier Sims games)
  • NEW MODE: Renovation mode
  • NEW MODE: Makeover/styling mode
  • NEW MODE: Create-a-tattoo mode
  • NEW MODE: Build mode upgraded with new features
  • NEW OBJECTS: New clothing, hairstyles, and furniture!
  • NEW OBJECTS: New vehicle type: MOTORCYCLE!
  • NEW OBJECTS: Working washer/drier
  • NEW SKILL: Sculpting
  • NEW SKILL: Inventing
  • NEW SKILL: Tattooing
  • NEW INTERACTION: More control over Sims at work!
  • NEW INTERACTION: Some jobs can chance whole town!
  • NEW INTERACTION: Job performance can be good or ebil!
  • NEW INTERACTION: Ability to wash clothing!
  • NEW INTERACTION: Medical career can now be outside of Hospital rabbit hole!
  • NEW PROFESSION: Kick ghost ass as a ghost hunter
  • NEW PROFESSION: Be a criminal investigator!
  • NEW PROFESSION: Become self-employed!
  • NEW PROFESSION: Become a stylist/architect and change the town!
  • NEW LIFETIME WISHES: More lifetime wishes out the wazoo!
  • NEW LIFETIME REWARDS: More lifetime rewards than who knows what!?
  • NEW EVENTS: More events!
  • NEW EVENTS: Earthquakes appear!
  • NEW PLACES: Firehouse, salon, Red Rendezvous (Twinsbrook), Consignment store, More lots (Twinsbrook), Laundromat
  • NEW PLACES: Overhauled real estate system which allows you to practically buy out the whole town...it's fun!
  • YAY! KILLKILLKILLKILLDIEDIEDIEDIE! New way to die: DEATH BY METEOR!!!
  • NEW TRAITS: Including Savvy Sculptor, Eco-friendly, Perceptive, Born Salesman/Saleswoman, Dramatic, and Eccentric!
  • REFRESH THE OLD: Includes elements from Sims 2 Expansion Pack: Open for Business!

IMAGES/SCREENSHOTS

Click on image to enlarge.

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