Tomodachi Life

[lithiumbreon]

So Tomodachi Life came out today and I'm wondering if anyone has got it yet. I haven't unfortunately, but really want to know how it is before I buy it. Soooooooooo what's it like?

 

[Fatima Shadow Frost Witch]

I'll be getting it today so will tell you then

 

[Fairy Ice Ricky]

So here's my personal experience with the game so far (also sorry for so many words, I just have a lot of feelings):

What I like most about this game is that for quite possibly the first time, your Miis have personality. Sure, Miis have raced karts with the greats and have exercised on Wuhu Island, but they merely did actions in those games without any real feeling or emotion. This is the first game that was really created for Miis, and I appreciate how they have this space to be themselves, interact with others, and basically not be drones or robots. (Granted you create/can edit their personalities as you seem fit, but once you let them loose, they are out there!) Some people might be turned off by the fact that your role as player is way more indirect in this game than in other life-sim-like games, but I've done enough "Mii do this" and "Mii do that" already, and so I like that my Miis may start doing ballet together or play with their Nintendo 3DS XLs without needing my permission to do something every single time. Plus my Mii is friends with like six celebrities, two Pokémon Gym Leaders, and some people from the future--no big deal.

In terms of basic gameplay, my main complaint with this game is that, in terms of activities where you do have a more direct role, things can feel a little too simple/basic, and can get repetitive really quickly. Special events in the game are on a daily schedule, so each day the same thing happens at the same time. (So you will always have the morning market start at 6:30 AM, you will always have Tomodachi Quest start at 4:30 PM, etc.) I've already seen most of these daily events, and a couple of them have already lost their luster for me. Also, the amount of requests Miis will ask from you is rather finite, and most of them you will probably experience within your first few days with the game. The repetition itself isn't a problem, though--it's the fact that these repetitive tasks are just so simple. I wish they had beefed up the direct activities in the game so that they were a little more complex. (Props to the Catch mini-game for begin an example of a good activity with more direct involvement.)

I won't say too much about these next two topics, but in terms of more complex gameplay I also really dislike how heterosexuality and strict gender binaries are so forced in this game. There was enough media attention on the #Miiquality campaign and NoA's (horrendous) response to it, you probably already know about the heterosexuality part. But whoa the gender binaries are real in this game--sure your Miis can wear any piece of clothing regardless of gender, but there are definitely moments when the blue boy/pink girl binary is just in your face.

But overall, I really like this game, and I can already tell you that this game will be one of my favorite games on the 3DS. I love when my Pokémon-related Miis (Flannery, Juan, Kris, and Brock) get together in Flannery's apartment and play games on her Wii U. I think it's hilarious that Shaquille O'Neal is currently wearing a panda suit in my game. I was totally rooting for my best friend's Mii and my Tyler Hoechlin Mii to get together when they went on their date. And I felt like such a proud papa when my Mii got married! (Also, why can't love be this easy in real life?!) I literally laughed out loud when my Miis make funny faces, have ridiculous dreams, and say the most random things. I've taken so many in-game screenshots of moments in the game, and I've shared stories of things happening in my game with friends and via Tumblr. I just really like how the rules of reality are just so bent in this game, and you never know what may happen next--it really makes for an exciting experience! I was originally on the fence about this game, as well, but after my two days with it I would recommend that you pick up this game when you can.

Also, I did these two things while I was on the fence and they really helped me make my decision to buy the game, so I would say do these two things if you're still unsure:

Spoiler

1) Read the reviews by Eurogamer, Nintendo Life, and IGN. I think together these three reviews more or less give you a nice overview of what you should expect from the game, both in terms of gameplay and in terms of how you may feel while playing the game. What I especially like about these reviews is that they take similar game play moments from the game, and yet they have differing opinions about their experiences with those moments (NL & IGN have a more positive take on the game, while Eurogamer is not as impressed with what's available). And this game really is a hit-or-miss kind of thing in my opinion, so I think it's important to see what it could potentially feel like being on the "hit" side and the "miss" side.

2) Watch YouTube videos that feature game play. I know for sure there are video journals by GameXplain, The Bit Block, and NintenDaan, and there may be more out there. Of course you might be concerned about spoilers, which totally makes sense--but honestly, watching maybe one or two videos from each of these video playlists only scratch the surface of what you can do and what you will feel when you play the game.

Okay, I'm done, goodbye!