For perhaps the handful of people unfamiliar with The Sims franchise, it’s a series of open-ended strategic life simulation games, which involve creating virtual people and micro-managing their day to day lives, whilst helping fulfil their hopes and dreams (or not).

You might ask why anyone would spend time playing a game about virtual life when there’s plenty of living to be had in the real world. Nevertheless the series has amassed a huge following over the last decade. The original game and its sequels have spawned a host of expansion packs, with each subsequent generation offering more diversity and scope, whilst remaining true to the original winning formula.

As we’ve come to expect, The Sims 3 boasts some improved features over its predecessor. An expanded wardrobe and the introduction of sliders in Create a Sim provide a greater level of control over your sims’ physical appearance and voice. Personality points have been replaced with a new Traits system, which determines a sim’s character qualities and behaviour, as well as a selection of suitable life goals. Once you’ve finished setting up your household it’s time to learn how to run it.

Life – even a simulated one, can be complicated, and for the uninitiated a detailed in-game tutorial drip feeds information on a ‘need to know’ basis. Sims veterans will feel right at home from the outset, but newcomers should allow a good hour or so to establish a reasonable rapport with both the game and its controls.

Speaking of which, a great deal of effort has obviously been expended on making the controls as user friendly as possible; however they take quite a bit of getting used to – especially if you are more accustomed to the PC’s dynamic duo of mouse and keyboard. Learning to steer the cursor and operate the camera with thumbsticks takes a bit of practice. Navigating the numerous menus causes the game to pause, which does tend to interrupt the flow of play.

Another more frustrating interruption comes in the form of load screens, which kick in every time you change location. This is not such an issue when playing a one sim household, but it’s a different story when you are trying to keep track of multiple sims and they’re spread out across the town map (the manual advises frequent players to minimise load times by installing the game to the hard drive). While we’re in ‘complain mode’, the game froze a few times – during load screens and saves. A minor irritation, but worth a mention.

The Aspiration Meter from Sims 2 has been replaced with Moodlets, the Skills section has been expanded and the reward system updated, with Wishes replacing Wants and Fears. Fulfilling a Sim’s wishes will improve their Lifetime Happiness score. Wishes and their rewards can be trivial or grandiose; anything from ordering a pizza to becoming leader of the free world. Within the game there are also many Opportunities to be had and Challenges to be completed – each with their own rewards and unlockables.

The Build & Buy mode has had an overhaul, with more flexibility to place objects and build structures. If you’re not happy with the selection of in-game items an online exchange (via Xbox Live) is available to download other players’ customised creations and upload your own. The game has also evolved to allow you to leave the house and venture out into the neighbourhood with your Sim as they head off to work, to the gym, or to indulge in a little retail therapy.

Karma is a new feature unique to the console. Purchased with accumulated Karma Points these supernatural powers have beneficial or baneful effects on your sims and their surroundings. The benevolent gamer might bestow good luck on their sim, or instantly satisfy all of their current needs. Of course, karma can be good or bad and there’s great potential for mischief as well. Invoking a cosmic curse or an earthquake can wreak havoc on the sims, providing much entertainment from a player’s perspective.

Of course, no Sims game would be complete without its chill-out soundtrack and Simlish (the expressive language unique to sims), and visually the game is wonderful to look at, with a high level of detail and animations that are nearly on par with the PC version. There’s the odd framerate stutter and occasional glitch, such as a ‘levitating’ baby… an eerie sight!

Minor flaws aside, The Sims 3 is a decent port of the PC version and extremely playable on the Xbox. We can’t guarantee you’ll earn Lifetime Happiness points, but once you’ve got a handle on the controls you’ll be rewarded with many hours of immersive, Simfully good fun.