Is IL worth the Full Price Tag

"Loanet;c-17138656" wrote:
Hmm. After the prices going up for players who aren't US, the price has gone up for players who ARE US. Who would have guessed that EA would do such a thing?

Oh, wait, I did. I said so myself, that they were doing it outside of America first. And a ton of people were like, "Well, I don't live in any country it's gone up in so I don't care. It'll never affect me. You're only complaining because it affects you."

Isn't naivety wonderful?

I'm not sure what you're referring to. I'm in the US and the actual cost is the same. EPs have always been $40 (plus tax). I believe this poll is asking if people think the EP is worth its cost because there have been a lot of discussions that it falls short of gameplay and feels more like a Game Pack.

To the OP, I'll say that the pack does feel like it's unfinished, in a lot of the same ways that the base game still feels unfinished. It has a lot to do with depth of gameplay. There are areas in the pack that feel like corners were cut because time ran out in development. The rabbit holes of the lifeguard career, diving, and the cave exploring are examples of this. Also, the Mermaids feel a little incomplete because some of their power effects fall short and are simplified, as well as there being absolutely no visual or audio cue when a Sim eats the kelp and can potentially turn into one. Also, the new beach lot doesn't feel well thought out. We got a new wedding arch, but Sims can't plan beach weddings. (Or so I've read. I haven't tried this myself.)

There are only two water vehicles, and both can only be used by a single Sim. No couples or family sailing. There is no underwater swimming in the sense that you actually play your Sim underwater, though there is snorkeling where your Sim goes under but you watch them from the surface. The bars still have the theme nights that came with Get Together, so you could still have knights, bears, Aliens or Ghosts show up on your Island on those nights, which is a little weird. Building on several of the lots comes with restrictions, so be aware of that, too.

Now that I've said all of that, I will also say that the island is beautiful and can feel immersive. The three segments each have little variations to gameplay that adds a very nice touch. There are, of course, some fun "beachy" things to do as well, like collecting seashells, building sandcastles and sunbathing. The main island does feel alive with culture, the volcanic island feels very exotic and alive in a natural way, (though I wish it didn't auto-generate trash, but only when you start the conservationist career.) There are still a bunch of things I haven't tried yet, so I can't really speak to those things.

So. In general I would say that it is still a good pack that is true to its theme. I can't say that I regret buying it because I am enjoying it, more than I expected to, but then I didn't really care about an Island theme to begin with, so it's a nice surprise. The Mermaids definitely had a hand in my decision, and the CAS for them is awesome, which is good for me because I love to create Sims. So I'm not saying it's a bad pack, and if you really want island gameplay, it's there, and you'll probably enjoy it. But that also means that the activities could get old quickly because there aren't a lot of them. And that's why I feel this pack is a good one to get on sale. For an expansion, it doesn't actually expand on a lot. For immersion, it's great. This is what makes it feel more like a game pack.