The Sims Makin' Magic

predecessor in the series, The Sims Superstar, by providing gamers actual goals and missions to achieve instead of simply building bigger and better Sims domiciles, dating, going on vacation, or caring for pets. Just like Superstar, there’s some actual work to be done if you want to be a Making’ Magic maven.

Still, even with one of the most ambitious worlds of the Sims franchises (as far as the additional tasks and goals that you can choose) in Magic Town, general gameplay it isn’t too much of a difference overall from the basic simulation-of-everyday-living that is at the heart of The Sims, especially following Superstar’s similar task-based gameplay. Disappointingly, there still isn’t the ability to drive around in vehicles from place to place as will be available in the upcoming Sims console title Bustin’ Out (What’s with the names of some of these Sims games? Bustin’? Livin’? Makin’? Someone at Maxis sure doesn’t like the letter “g”).

Many activities in Magic Town allow you to earn MagiCoins to buy new ingredients and therefore increase your magical powers. The most basic is performing in a variety of magic shows and acts, where the magic and illusions are real, not slight-of-hand parlor tricks. The most stimulating action in Magic Town happens in the duel arena, where you will square off magician-versus-magician for best-of-the-land bragging rights to go along with those MagiCoins you can earn. Becoming a top-notch magical master isn’t quite as difficult as gaining stardom in Superstar, but Sims veterans will indeed find it challenging enough and charming, I’m sure.

Makin’ Magic wouldn’t be a typical Sims expansion pack without a whole slew of new items that you can use to remodel your Sims home, and there are another 175 here, many with magical qualities including carnival rides, and newer everyday items that will make everyday Sims life a lot easier away from Magic Town.

The game remains graphically the same in line with exactly every previous Sims title with a burst of colorful chicanery flair and ghostly glow to create the perfect magical aura around Magic Town. But after getting a glimpse of Sims 2 on the preview disc included with Makin’ Magic, it’s clear the visuals of the original Sims lineup, which have held up surprisingly well after four years, are ready to give up the ghost and evolve into its new look early next year. And the Sims wouldn’t be the Sims without great music, given an appropriately magical theme in Makin’ Magic, and the now-famous Simlish language spoken amongst Sims populating your PC.

The witching hour has finally struck for the original Sims series as Makin’ Magic passes the torch to the next era in Sims gaming next year. As one of the more ambitiously designed expansion packs, Makin’ Magic will captivate and magically delight Sims fans everywhere. Obviously, the legion of Sims fanatics will want Makin’ Magic as part of their Sims collection. Its new features will keep them more than happy and for those that haven’t been hooked on The Sims before, it’s a good introduction to the series before The Sims 2 surfaces sometime in 2004.

- Lee Cieniawa
lcieniawa@armchairempire.com