Review: Astraware and LDW’s Village Sim

As I write this review, I am on the final puzzle…which I’m told by the online community is a bit difficult. I’m close, but still no cigar. So far, I’ve logged in 464 hours playing this game and I must say that this is one of the best 450+ hours I’ve spent on a game. It took me a bit longer than some because I was on “slow” mode while I was intentionally taking baby steps learning the game during the earlier stages.

Over the years, LDW has gained a reputation as a multi-awarded, cross-platform gaming company. LDW (a cool acronym for “Last Day of Work”) has popularized the “simulated life” genre with their stable of ingenious games. Their games include such sim notables as Fish Tycoon and Plant Tycoon. Village Sim is their latest and possibly their greatest offering. Village Sim is a village simulator where you grow an island of people and teach them how to survive the rigors of creating and establishing a new civilization. Think of the game as a cross between “Survivor” (but with nicer people) and “Gilligan’s Island” (without the goofiness and canned laugh track).

As you are navigating the villagers through the challenges on how to live day-to-day, there are 24 life-changing events that can make or break your village. Anything from debris washing ashore, to seeing an unrecognizable face staring back at you in the bushes; to rabid, wild monkeys running loose; to finding varied colored vials strewn along the island can affect the lives of the villagers. Each villager, over time, can enhance the livelihood of the village by mastering one or more set of skills. You will be the one to decide which villager attains which set of skill(s). These skills include Farm/Fish, Research, Breeding, Healing and Construction. In addition to helping your villagers live long and prosper, there are 12 puzzles throughout the game that continue to move the storyline of “Surviving Gilligan’s Island” along. If you love good, clean games that entertain and challenge, you MUST get Village Sim. I cannot overstate how incredibly engaging this game truly is…and, I’ve never played, or liked for that matter, sim games before!

There may be a bit of a learning curve when you first get started...if your a first time sim-player like me. But, most should jump in after a brief familiarity with your surroundings and game environment. I inadvertently destroyed my village after playing it for 2 days by causing disease to spread and take over leading to my villagers’ ultimate demise. But, when I realized that the game rewards common sense and sound decision-making rather than impulsive, shoot-from-the-hip, gung-ho conclusions, that’s when the ball started to get rolling. This is one game that is truly great for the members of your family. Children can learn lessons of responsibility and choice by living vicariously through the villagers in the game. There are times a sudden and great surprise may overtake or greatly enhance the villagers’ lives and their future depends on how you will respond afterwards. Village Sim can run at a slower speed, if you’re just finding your way around the game at first. You can also choose to run it in real-time or even faster depending on your command of the game.

Village Sim is simply the “must-have” game of the year and probably, for a long time to come. The unpredictable events, ingenuous puzzles, soothing soundtrack and entertaining game play make for the most engaging game of any genre. This game should be on everyone’s PDA. (Note: at the close of finishing my review, I’ve solved the 12th and final puzzle…with a little help from the kind and generous people at LDW’s forum).

(You can give Village Sim a “test drive” by downloading the free demo here!)

-Kevin Agot, Carmichael, CA, USA