For default my laptop runs The Sims Castaway Stories on the HD Graphics 4000, but to get a better experience I'd like to run it on my Nvidia Geforce GT-630M since the Intel option doesn't allow me to use antialiasing. The Sims: Castaway Stories addresses most of these issues, but in the process creates a few more. It's a good-looking game that can be played on systems such as laptops that barely meet the bare requirements. Just don't try it on a Pentium One-powered Thinkpad.
System: Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, DS | Review Rating Legend | |
Dev: Maxis | 1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid | 4.0 - 4.4 = Great |
Pub: EA | 2.0 - 2.4 = Poor | 4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy |
Release: Jan. 29, 2008 | 2.5 - 2.9 = Average | 5.0 = The Best |
Players: 1 | 3.0 - 3.4 = Fair | |
ESRB Rating: Teen | 3.5 - 3.9 = Good |
Castaway Stories Literally Covers New Ground
by Cole Smith
by Cole Smith
One of the most popular computer games of all times, The Sims, sure has withstood the test of time. One may be tempted to say that the franchise has come a long way, but take a moment to reconsider that most of the improvements have not been directed at the core of the gameplay. We've witnessed the development of a more streamlined interface, new and improved 3D graphics, larger environments, and the addition of more diverse elements.
Some may say the gameplay has gotten deeper, but that's a direct result of adding more elements to accommodate the increase in computer processing power. The basic premise of micromanaging a virtual person in a virtual world remains a constant despite the changing variables that constitute different games in the series.
As you may or may not know, some of these Sims games can be huge hogs on your system's resources, especially if you want to view the graphics at full resolution. That may be fine for some of the techno geeks that keep up with every micro-trend and seem to have unlimited funds to purchase the latest PC upgrades. But what about the rest of us schleps that have to spend money on things like rent, food, car payments, underarm deodorant, and autographed Conway Twitty posters? Also, what about the people that want to play these games on a laptop that is seriously under-powered? Well until recently, we were relegated to graphics that looked like third-generation VHS copies. Not to mention the slow processing. By the time a hot chick came out of the shower, she would be middle aged.
The Sims: Castaway Stories addresses most of these issues, but in the process creates a few more. It's a good-looking game that can be played on systems such as laptops that barely meet the bare requirements. Just don't try it on a Pentium One-powered Thinkpad. Not only does the game look good (just don't select the highest resolution), but it sounds great and runs fairly smooth, although I ran into a few mechanical bugs that caused me to have to restart the game a few times. There are some framerate issues, and the load times can really get on your nerves, but overall this is a solid offering. As an added bonus, it does not require any previous version of a Sims game to run. This is a completely stand-alone game. But as I alluded to, these features come at a price. I'll discuss that in detail after an overview of the gameplay.
Castaway Stories has you play as a shipwrecked character that find him or herself stranded on a seemingly deserted island. You start with nothing but the basic will to survive. After performing a series of missions in which you acquire food and tools for survival, you discover the island is not so deserted. Interacting with the other people on the island, you begin to build an economic system from the ground up. You will harvest resources, which you will sell, trade, and barter for other necessities. Food can be hunted and/or gathered. Eventually, you can produce commodities from your resources, which will increase their worth. Currency is in the form of resources instead of Simoleons. The missions in the story mode will take you all over the island, allowing you to explore it. You'll find all kinds of interesting things in the different locations, which will definitely pique your interest, but once you've seen everything the island has to offer, the gameplay starts to get old, like a dead fish lying in the sun.
Now, let's get right down to the hard, cold facts. The downside to this game is that it's not as deep as you may have come to expect from a Sims game. It's relatively short, and there isn't a lot of variety. The story mode will take you a couple of days to complete, although it's possible to complete it in a day if you are a dedicated Sims gamer. The Free style mode may seem endless, but since you are on a deserted island, you will eventually realize there is a finite limit to who, what, where, when, and why. How's that for simulated realism? You're stranded on a deserted island, and after a while there isn't a hell of a lot to do. The story does not resolve itself in the story mode. Instead, it propels you into the Free style mode, making sure you are properly prepared and equipped for the challenges that lie ahead. It's too bad the entire game is single-player. This game screams for a massive online multiplayer mode. That would extend the replay value into next year. Alas, although the game is short, it's sweet. It's definitely a good addition to the series, just so long as it's understood the gameplay isn't going to last you a virtual lifetime.
Sims Castaways Download
The Sims Castaway Stories | |
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Developer(s) | Maxis Redwood Shores |
Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts (PC) Aspyr Media (Mac) |
Series | The Sims |
Platform(s) | Windows, Mac OS X |
Release | Windows Mac OS X
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Genre(s) | Life simulation game |
Mode(s) | Single player |
The Sims Castaway Stories is the third and final game in The Sims Stories. It was released on January 29, 2008,[1][2] with a port for Mac OS X released by Aspyr on March 17, 2008.
The Sims 2: Castaway - The Sims Wiki
Despite sharing a similar name with The Sims 2: Castaway, The Sims Castaway Stories is not a PC port of the former game.
An updated version of the Mac OS X port was released on December 10, 2015 to the Mac App Store by Aspyr for OS X Mavericks or later.[3] After the announcement of macOS Catalina dropping support for 32-bit apps, Aspyr removed the port from the Mac App Store on June 17, 2019,[4] though it still remains available to play for users on older versions of macOS who previously purchased the game.
Features[edit]
The Sims Castaway Stories features the choice of either playing in a story-driven mode titled 'Shipwrecked and Single' or a more sandbox 'Wanmami Island'.
Shipwrecked and Single[edit]
In 'Shipwrecked and Single' mode, the player is subjected to a scenario-driven style of gameplay. The player must choose whether to play as David Bennett, Jessica Knight, or a customized Sim, who boards a cruise ship for singles named Solomon Queen, only to have it crash and leave them drifting on the ocean clinging to a crate. The crate happens to float onto land, after which the player is left to help the Sim survive. This game is very controlled.
Wanmami Island[edit]
Gameplay on Wanmami Island is much more open-ended, enabling gameplay reminiscent of more traditional Sims games. The player is allowed to design their own Family and start Jobs as in The Jobs 5, The Jobs 6 & The Jobs 7.
Comparison to other The Sims series[edit]
- The clock format used in the game is represented visually instead of numerically. There are 8 orbs representing the 24 hours of the day, with 1 orb being equivalent to 3 hours.
- The currency used in the game are Resources rather than Simoleons. Sims can choose a career as a Gatherer, Hunter, or Crafter in an effort to earn Food and Resources. All jobs have the same working hours and Sims are to work daily. However, there are no penalties for missing work.
- All of the objects, clothing, and building tools available in the Sims series are designed to fit the Tropical and Tiki themes. Most of the icons used in the game are also designed to fit the theme.
- If a Sim wants to go to a community lot, they must go through a portal and go to adjacent lots or use their map for instant travel.
- Unlike the other releases in The Sims Stories series, The Sims Castaway Stories offers one 24-chapter story, compared to The Sims Life Stories and The Sims Pet Stories which offer two 12-chapter stories. Moreover, some of the rewards are not directly delivered to the main character. They have to dig at the shore to unlock them.
- The Sims Castaway allows multiple player profiles to be saved, saving the need to delete profiles to reset the game. However, sometimes this may interfere with one of the other files.
Reception[edit]
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The Sims Castaway Stories was generally well received. GameRankings has an average score of 77% based on 7 reviews,[5] while Metacritic has a score of 73%.[6]PC Gamer US gave the game an 83%, praising the low system requirements, the music, the original setting, as well as the low retail price, but noting that there are a few bugs and long loading times.[9]IGN gave the game an overall score of 7.3 out of 10, stating 'The Sims: Castaway Stories is the first game in the entire series that really feels different despite being based on the same engine and principles', but also saying that there is little to no replayability.[8] Some critics enjoyed the game less than others, however. PC Zone said 'By peddling this sort of single-minded crud to children EA are creating a new generation of absolute morons who won't be able to think one step ahead of themselves.'
References[edit]
Reference
- ^'The Sims Stories'. EA. August 1, 2007. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
- ^'The Sims Castaway Stories'. August 1, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^'The Sims Castaway Stories'. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^'MacOS Catalina, 64-bit, 32-bit, and related Questions'. Aspyr Support. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ ab'The Sims Castaway Stories (PC: 2008) Reviews'. GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ ab'The Sims Castaway Stories (PC: 2008) Reviews'. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^Steve Hogarty (March 13, 2008). 'The Sims Castaway Stories review'. GamesRadar+. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ abHabib, John (February 4, 2008). 'The Sims: Castaway Stories'. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ abDulac, Anthony (October 2008). 'The Sims: Castaway Stories'. PC Gamer US (174). Future Publishing. p. 81.
- ^'The Sims Castaway Stories'. Games Finder. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
Sims Castaway Stories Download
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