As you wander the island you will eventually come across other abandoned individuals who, like you, just want someone to talk with. The combination of exploration and multi-tasking makes for an interesting change to the series, which usually revolved around living in an average, suburban neighborhood.Īnother primary purpose of the title revolves around interaction with other Sims. Though that doesn't mean you can't occasionally go for a midnight stroll along the shore with a friend.
Knowing when and where to travel on the island is also important to factor in, since on certain days, it will be vital to get a lot done quickly. Every day on the island will usually present a new obstacle that needs to be taken care of and must be balanced with necessary chores like cleaning, decorating, and maintenance. Other examples include: fishing with a personally made spear, extracting materials in the environment for building purposes, and scouring the area for lost items or treasures. Despite this, the game controls very well and feels as if it was built from the ground up on the Wii, which is something that a lot of other third party titles can't brag about.įrom the acquisition of wood and grass for clothes and shelter to locating fruit and water for eating and bathing, the title centers itself around the regular completion of everyday tasks. There are times where you will be forced to pick up certain items with the A button, which is something that really could've been done with the Nunchuk. And as said earlier, the Wii-mote, though limited in use, does have moments where it is needed. Tilting the Nunchuk up and down will allow you to shuffle through the option and item selection screens. Using the Nunchuk analog stick, you can move your virtual avatar from point to point, collecting objects and useful data along the way with the Z button. Unlike many other titles on the Wii, the Wii-mote is not used nearly as much in Castaway as the other control option, the Nunchuk. Performing jobs in the game feel very much like previous Sims titles, with a lot of the options being centered around quick selection menus. Though the plot may seem a tad overdone, the above mentioned tasks are truly where the game shines. Your job will be to survive on this island, all the while making friends with the other islanders, acquiring food, exploring the land, and honing your crafting skills. When your Sim comes to, it will find itself stranded on a large tropical island, covered in debris. Little are the newly created vacationers aware of the hazardous storm on the way though, and within a few minutes are virtually swept away by the tide. After making anywhere from one to six Sims, you will begin your proverbial "three hour tour" on the ocean waters.
From appearance and clothes to unique attributes (like what profession you excel in), Castaway offers several interesting customization options. Just like in previous Sims installments, you will begin by creating your individual character. And while this may just seem like another useless expansion, a few new gameplay elements really help Castaway stand out. It may not be the most original concept in the world, but the idea was bound to come up eventually. The Sims 2: Castaway is the third console installment in the Sims series, with the plot revolving around being stranded on a deserted island. Someone once told me, "repetition is sometimes good," and from looking at the above mentioned simulations, I can certainly agree. Though people tend to want to get away from reality when they play games, some find it both interesting and humorous to take on challenges that revolve around repetitive, everyday life. Life simulators have since become a popular genre, with games such as Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing being primary staples. Back in 2000, when the original Sims game was released, very few people probably knew the effect that these types of games would have on the gaming world.