"PlanetSixam;c-17730865" wrote:
Something to note before I go into detail about the pack, is that I've been very lucky and I haven't had any crashes or other problems related to the recent patches. Fortunately for me, gameplay has been pretty smooth sailing.
The World:
- I like the overall aesthetic of Mt. Komorebi. It's very pretty and serene, but this is something that the developers always seem to nail no matter what the world is. While it is visually appealing to look at, that's pretty much all it offers.
- This should come as a surprise to nobody, but I would have liked the world to be slightly bigger.
- I don't think there are enough townies that ship with this pack. There's three families and that's it, which is not good enough in my opinion. I like to start off as a single sim household, and have my sim meet someone, but there are no other single sims as far as I'm aware, and I prefer not to ruin existing relationships lol.
- I would have liked different community venues. I don't think we needed a bar and a lounge, but I would have liked a library and a gym. Guess I'm building those myself then.
Create-a-Sim:
- It's nice enough, but I wouldn't say that I'm blown away by it. As usual, female sims get the best of the bunch while male sims are left behind. I can see myself using a few things over and over, but most of it is just kinda 'meh'. I've actually be using more CAS items from City Living because I think some of the traditional outfits have a better aesthetic.
Build & Buy:
- Again, it's nice, but I can take it or leave it to be honest. It's Japanese inspired as you would expect, but I don't know how much use I'd get out of most of it unless that was the style that I was going for, which probably won't be that often. I do like the plants and the art decor that came with the pack, as well as the shoji door which has some really artistic swatches, those are quite nice.
Gameplay:
- Lifestyles - They're a welcome edition, and probably the biggest feature that most players look forward to with this pack, mainly because it's different and we haven't had a feature like this up until now. My sims have already gained a few lifestyles, but when combined with sentiments too, things can go a little... awry. I'll be honest, the constant changes to my sims emotions is getting a little annoying. I don't mind my sims being in different moods, just not when they're up and down like a yo-yo.
- Onsen - It's a nice idea, but it's not vastly different from relaxing in a hot tub or a sauna. You get to watch your sims chill out in a small pool of water for a couple hours to get a positive moodlet that doesn't really do much. Yep, to me it's just boring.
- Rock Climbing and Hiking - We got rock climbing with Fitness Stuff, and I see virtually no difference to the animations etc. It also gets boring to watch after a while, the same can be said for hiking too.
- Snow Sports - It was cute and fun at first, but again, once you've seen all the animations, it becomes less interesting. The ski lifts are also a rabbit hole and your sim just teleports to the top of the mountain. I started out by practicing on the bunny slopes, but I spent most of that time watching my sim jog up to the top than I did watching her snowboard down the slopes. I don't know, I guess that's to be expected, but when you know what animation is likely to play, the repetition soon gets old.
- Festivals - I loved the festivals that came with City Living, and was initially happy to see them return in this pack, but they aren't any different from the City Living ones. The festivals just pop up whenever they're in town, and disappear just after midnight. You can expect to see similar things to the City Living festivals, such as food stalls, fireworks and collectables. You only need to visit them once to know what they're all about.
- Kotatsu Table and Hot Pot - This is a feature that I really, really love! I actually had no idea what a Kotatsu table was until I saw them in this pack, and I think they're an awesome edition. I use them all the time, and I love the family communal vibe that I get from it. The hot pot is also a great addition, and it's really wholesome seeing my household get together to eat and hang out.
- Salaryperson - I was pleasantly surprised by this career, because it does add a little difficulty. I would say that it's a very 'grindy' type of career, which fits in quite nicely. Every day you get a message prompt about work, and two choices to make, and depending on what you choose will alter your work performance. The performance gains and losses are pretty substantial too, and I got fired one time for selecting an option to pursue fame for writing an article instead of declining. It's a good one to keep you on your toes.
To conclude: I was pretty excited about the pack when it was first announced, but I think I've changed my mind. There are just too many nods to other packs for Snowy Escape to be considered anything but very average. It's not straight up bad, but at the same time, I don't think it's worth the price of an expansion pack, because it doesn't really expand on anything IMO. For me, there is no replay value in this pack, and I'm sure that once I've exhausted all the features, I'll probably never go back to it. Also, I'm kinda tired of vacation themes now, and I don't want to see any more of it.
Of course, all of the above is just my own thoughts. Fair play to those who are loving the pack, I just didn't anticipate being so disappointed.
Phew! That was a long one lol. I don't know if it's helped you in any way, but hopefully it's given some kind of insight. :lol:
Yeah, that seems to be the gist to what I thought the pack was. That's really disappointing since I really love Japanese culture. But, maybe after a few months there might be a sale and I'd consider purchasing just for the few things I
do want
