Review: MySims Cozy Bundle Made Me Wish for a Switch Wiimote
I loved the MySims games back in the day. They were a great way to relax and enjoy a sort-of Sims experience that felt like it prioritized decorating, creating, and interacting with characters. It was never taxing, and I could hop in and enjoy the often silly experiences. I was delighted to see the titles return on the Switch with MySims Cozy Bundle as both MySims and MySims Kingdom feel like they should be timeless titles, but things like the control scheme and execution of one title hold them back. In each of the MySims Cozy Bundle Switch games, our character becomes something of a savior to the people around them. In the original game, a town fell into disrepair after their designated Builder left them. You’re a newcomer who is able to work with Essences, essentially “vibes” dropped by interacting with the world around them, and use them as building blocks for the blueprints to make things like buildings and furniture. In MySims Kingdom, King Roland’s kingdom, filled with different islands that have their own theme, is also falling apart. This is because the Wandoliers who maintained them left. Fortunately, after a short tutorial, the player’s character is named the new Wandolier and sent around the islands to fix them and assist people with their issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jScgVXIGbXg&t=1s The gameplay in both games is relatively similar. There will be missions, and it is up to you to fulfill those requests to build up the area. In the case of MySims, there’s not so much of a story to it. Instead, you’ll take on requests to build furniture or buildings to build up your Star Level. This, in turn, gives you more blueprints, building material options, and places to go. Since this is essentially designed to be the “optimal” version of the game, the PC content that wasn’t present in the Wii game is here. It’s a nice touch, since it means you can meet and work with Alexa, Cedella, Natalia, Tad, Terry, and Wendalyn. You can also go to a Garden after Star Level 2, which means more places to gather Essences and build. It’s more freeform, which is nice, especially since you can build items and really customize buildings. However, since it is the “first” game, it can be more fiddly when following blueprints and getting things settled. Plus, I noticed you’re going through the exact same actions a lot. It’s still fun! It just hasn’t aged as well as I expected. With MySims Kingdom, I feel like it held up better. There are a lot of recurring characters, but there’s more structure to it. This allows the story to get quite silly and be more involved. That also means when you get to go to different islands and have those different experiences, it feels fresher even if you are doing similar sorts of gathering and creating tasks. It’s clear that EA learned from the first title. Even though creating furniture was fun in the original, having premade items is just easier and faster, so I can get back to enjoying interactions, building more, and exploring. Especially since, while it isn’t as big of an issue in this entry, both games in the MySims Cozy Bundle share a common issue. Images via EA The thing is, and this applies to both MySims and MySims Kingdom in the MySims Cozy Bundle, the Switch control scheme really is uncomfortable since you don’t have a Wii Remote, DS stylus, or mouse. It’s not intuitive, precise, or even comfortable when using a controller, and there is no option to use just one Joy-Con as thought it was a Wiimote. I didn’t realize how perfectly suited it was until I started playing through both games again. It doesn’t put me off to the point that I don’t want to play! Also, I do feel like perhaps MySims Kingdom is slightly easier to play, because of the lack of the more precise furniture constructing and other building decisions regarding its parts. But I feel like EA should have done some additional work on these remasters to ensure the could be comfortably enjoyed with a more conventional control scheme or the Joy-Cons. I get why the company didn’t, but it would make it a lot more pleasant. That aside, the other elements of these remasters are handled well. Both games of the MySims Cozy Bundle games look good on the Switch. The original game has the extra content added for the PC release. The ideas are still fun, and it isn’t like EA is just trying to capitalize on the “cozy” trend because those titles are popular now. Both games feel genuinely relaxing and pleasant. Are they also a little simple? Sure. You can tell the target audience was likely those newer to gaming or younger audiences. But they’re fun all-ages titles. Images via EA Which is probably the best reason to pick up MySims Cozy Bundle! It’s a good way to take it easy. Both MySims and MySims Kingdom are pleasant, upbeat games that let you be creative, and MySims Cozy Bundle lets you take your time with both. It’s a nice timesink to play in the evening as you relax at the end of the day. MySim
I loved the MySims games back in the day. They were a great way to relax and enjoy a sort-of Sims experience that felt like it prioritized decorating, creating, and interacting with characters. It was never taxing, and I could hop in and enjoy the often silly experiences. I was delighted to see the titles return on the Switch with MySims Cozy Bundle as both MySims and MySims Kingdom feel like they should be timeless titles, but things like the control scheme and execution of one title hold them back.
In each of the MySims Cozy Bundle Switch games, our character becomes something of a savior to the people around them. In the original game, a town fell into disrepair after their designated Builder left them. You’re a newcomer who is able to work with Essences, essentially “vibes” dropped by interacting with the world around them, and use them as building blocks for the blueprints to make things like buildings and furniture. In MySims Kingdom, King Roland’s kingdom, filled with different islands that have their own theme, is also falling apart. This is because the Wandoliers who maintained them left. Fortunately, after a short tutorial, the player’s character is named the new Wandolier and sent around the islands to fix them and assist people with their issues.
The gameplay in both games is relatively similar. There will be missions, and it is up to you to fulfill those requests to build up the area. In the case of MySims, there’s not so much of a story to it. Instead, you’ll take on requests to build furniture or buildings to build up your Star Level. This, in turn, gives you more blueprints, building material options, and places to go. Since this is essentially designed to be the “optimal” version of the game, the PC content that wasn’t present in the Wii game is here. It’s a nice touch, since it means you can meet and work with Alexa, Cedella, Natalia, Tad, Terry, and Wendalyn. You can also go to a Garden after Star Level 2, which means more places to gather Essences and build. It’s more freeform, which is nice, especially since you can build items and really customize buildings. However, since it is the “first” game, it can be more fiddly when following blueprints and getting things settled. Plus, I noticed you’re going through the exact same actions a lot. It’s still fun! It just hasn’t aged as well as I expected.
With MySims Kingdom, I feel like it held up better. There are a lot of recurring characters, but there’s more structure to it. This allows the story to get quite silly and be more involved. That also means when you get to go to different islands and have those different experiences, it feels fresher even if you are doing similar sorts of gathering and creating tasks. It’s clear that EA learned from the first title. Even though creating furniture was fun in the original, having premade items is just easier and faster, so I can get back to enjoying interactions, building more, and exploring. Especially since, while it isn’t as big of an issue in this entry, both games in the MySims Cozy Bundle share a common issue.
The thing is, and this applies to both MySims and MySims Kingdom in the MySims Cozy Bundle, the Switch control scheme really is uncomfortable since you don’t have a Wii Remote, DS stylus, or mouse. It’s not intuitive, precise, or even comfortable when using a controller, and there is no option to use just one Joy-Con as thought it was a Wiimote. I didn’t realize how perfectly suited it was until I started playing through both games again. It doesn’t put me off to the point that I don’t want to play! Also, I do feel like perhaps MySims Kingdom is slightly easier to play, because of the lack of the more precise furniture constructing and other building decisions regarding its parts. But I feel like EA should have done some additional work on these remasters to ensure the could be comfortably enjoyed with a more conventional control scheme or the Joy-Cons. I get why the company didn’t, but it would make it a lot more pleasant.
That aside, the other elements of these remasters are handled well. Both games of the MySims Cozy Bundle games look good on the Switch. The original game has the extra content added for the PC release. The ideas are still fun, and it isn’t like EA is just trying to capitalize on the “cozy” trend because those titles are popular now. Both games feel genuinely relaxing and pleasant. Are they also a little simple? Sure. You can tell the target audience was likely those newer to gaming or younger audiences. But they’re fun all-ages titles.
Which is probably the best reason to pick up MySims Cozy Bundle! It’s a good way to take it easy. Both MySims and MySims Kingdom are pleasant, upbeat games that let you be creative, and MySims Cozy Bundle lets you take your time with both. It’s a nice timesink to play in the evening as you relax at the end of the day.
MySims Cozy Bundle is available on the Nintendo Switch.
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