The developer started things off by telling us a cool story about how the original developer conceived the idea for The Sims in the first place. It seems inspiration for The Sims arose like a phoenix from the ashes of the developer's own tragic house fire. As he was working toward rebuilding his home, the visionary game designer decided he was having fun, and that he could build a game around the experience. As was explained to him later, you needed people in the game in order to make it fun.
The people in The Sims: Medieval are definitely the fun part. As you start the game, you begin as the Queen, (or king). You can then undergo a huge character modification process, guided by a hugely comprehensive guide that, like a good butler, is there when you need him/her but will get the hell out of your way at the slightest provocation. Part of the character process is selecting a fatal flaw and two additional positive elements to your personality, and that in turn influences your quests.
Pick a quest and you're on your way. My Queen liked to get her hands dirty in helping her kingdom grow, so she apparently decided the thing to do would be to chop some wood in the forest. Without an axe, I might add. Apparently she was also a frickin' Jedi.
The visuals seem to be exactly what we've come to expect from a Sims game. They've got a lot of practice making each element exactly right, despite the purposefully rough edges, vaulted ceilings, and dirty environmental elements. The game looks exactly the way it ought. The special effects magic is resonably sparkly without being eye-stabby, and the game characters that're supposed to be sexy are reasonably sexy.
Gameplay was as good as the rest of The Sims games. Each element is easily controllable, manipulatable, and you don't have to spend a huge amount of time learning how the game works, for those of you new to the Sims universe. I'm reasonably new to the Sims if I'm being honest. Which I am.
For those who are old hats at The Sims, there's plenty of newness for you. The facial expressions, character designs, missions, and environmental elements seem richer. It seems a fuller universe, and there are two new religious factions which will add a little x-factor to your quests. The best part about the religious factions? They worship you. Who doesn't love that? There's an assassin, a witch, a knight, and a magician, and a Monarch of either gender.
Death and failure are as inevitable to life as achievements and/or trophies, and you'll find both in The Sims: Medieval. It's possible to fail quests, possible to kill people, and possible to allow people to die. You'll be rewarded for achieving your goals, and completing your kingdom's ambitions.
The Sims: Medieval looks like quite a bit of old-timey fun. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.
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