The fixed camera is one of the biggest improvements to MySims, allowing the Sims Studio to focus its resources onto areas shown by the camera. The results are obvious’from the bustling cityscapes to the icy, snowy mountaintops, the environments in Agents look better than those of any MySims yet. Agents also boasts surprisingly nice lighting effects, bright colors and some sweet particle effects.
Fans who have been onboard with the series since the original will appreciate Agents’ visual improvements, in particular. Through that lens, they are especially noteworthy and very much appreciated.
Conversing with other characters is the backbone of this type of game, so dialogue is examined by a stronger magnifying glass than usual in a game like Agents. For the most part, it delivers. There’s an occasionally boring character, sure, but most of the Sims you’ll meet have vibrant, memorable personalities reflected well in the writing.
With hilarious characters like Zombie Carl, an undead Sim with a limb-losing problem, and a distressed yeti, how couldn’t they?
When you’re not laughing at the jokes and enjoying the detective work, however, you’ll notice some flawed evidence. There are a few technical issues like an occasionally lagging framerate, and while the detective gameplay is extremely well-done, customization fans may not care’players who enjoyed MySims for the creative freedom it encouraged might be turned away by Agents’ linear approach.
But once the fingerprint dust has settled, it’s the best MySims yet.
MySims Agents won’t be nominated for any Internet awards or win any game-of-the-year nods. But it doesn’t need to. Agents is a well-made and enjoyable game for all audiences, with appropriate humor and challenge for both older and younger players alike. It’s a great game to share with your kids, too, and solve the cases together.
And, when you’re friends aren’t looking, maybe play yourself.
With its unique flavor and fun minigames and detective gameplay, MySims Agents has uncovered three Infendo stars out of four.
Review based on retail copy of MySims Agents provided by publisher.