The Sims 3: Ambitions (PC/Mac DVD)

The great thing about the Sims has always been that you control somebody else and you can be as reserved or as adventurous as you want with their lives. However, there's always been a bit of a big BUT when it comes to the Sims. What's that then? Well are we ever really in control of EVERYTHING? The answer is no. Up until this point we've been unable to actually see past the front doors of the building of the place our Sims head off to work. Not anymore!!

Now the Sims has finally taken off. With the addition of a bunch of new careers (now called professions) including ghost hunters, firefighters, doctors, private investigators, stylists and architects we are able to control exactly what our Sims get up to at work. Now this works just the same as any other job in that we send our Sim off to work at the designated time, they can earn promotions and progress to the top of their field. The main difference is, now when we send our firefighter, lets say, to work we get to control almost everything. They get to work and can work on their fitness whilst waiting for an emergency, or we can get them to build relationships with their co-workers by the standard interaction instead of choosing "build relationships" on the drop-down menu we're all so used to.

On the main map we can now see where our professional is needed. If we're a ghost hunter, an icon will appear above a venue telling us that we're needed. We then click on the menu and can begin getting rid of those pesky ghost using our fancy new gadgets - or we can be rebellious and leave the ghosts to haunt the neighbours anyway. Similarly, what you get up to whilst you work doesn't always have to be productive. The architect may go off to access their customers home and personality in order to re-design their house but whilst inspecting a thing or two might slip into their pockets. That's right, our workers are sometimes a bit dodgy if we so wish.

A great aspect of the game is the ability to work for yourself. No more do you have to have a typical day to day job. You can be a fisherman, a gardener, a writer and a tattooist and all of these self-employed professions still have promotions but you can work at your own pace.

So what are the pitfalls in this new expansion? I can't really find any. I love the new careers, there are so many new outfits, interactions, lifetime wishes and the introduction of a bunch of new work related items such as the architects drafting table or the stylists makeover booth (all of which can be upgraded by handy Sims to make them even more productive). For once, I can't fault EA, they've even seemed to fix some of the major glitches the other packs were giving me.

I love this latest expansion pack,the new town twinbrook looks very realistic and the fog and swampy areas are a really nice touch as it gives the place a mysterious creepy feel which has never been done in the sims before,i like the new laundry option even though i wasnt sure about it before and visiting the laundromat to socialise while i wash my clothes,all the new careers are awesome and take many hours of fun play to reach level 10 with many hilarious adventures along the way,the new simbots are adorable and alot of fun to control and play with and being able to decorate your sims with tattoos is wicked,overall this is a great pack that has really spiced up my game with alot more things to do and it is way better than world adventures in my opinion even though that pack was ok for a few weeks,this one will keep me entertained for alot longer!

I couldnt wait to get this and since it has arrived have played it almost non stop. Ive had no problems with crashing at all and it saves fine. Theres a few new haircuts, but no extra clothes other than uniforms for the jobs. A few extra house decorations but not many. However been able to play the sims whilst they are at work is great, the only downside is that if you have two sims with jobs it seems difficult to be able to give them both equal attention. You can now also sculpt things which is good. Overall I'm glad I bought this game, just need to put a timer on to stop the hours passing by too quickly.