MySims Agents
A detective-themed life simulation game in the MySims series.
MySims Agents is a 2009 mystery life simulation video game published by Electronic Arts. It is the fifth installment in the MySims series and was released for the Nintendo DS and Wii in Europe on September 25, 2009, in Australia on October 5, 2009, and in North America on September 29, 2009. The Wii version received positive reviews, while the DS version received mixed reviews.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- EA Redwood Shores (Wii); Tose (DS)
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Director
- Kazuya Watanabe (DS), Brent Iverson (Wii)
- Producer
- Mitch Ueno (DS), Rachel Bernstein (Wii)
- Designer
- Hunter Howe (Wii)
- Writer
- Brian Kaiser (Wii)
- Series
- MySims
- Released
- September 25, 2009 (EU)
- September 29, 2009 (NA)
- October 5, 2009 (AU)
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
In the Wii version, the player begins as an aspiring detective alongside a friend named Buddy. After solving a case involving a dog and its true owner, a special agent from the Sim Protection Agency (S.P.A) informs the player that their application is approved and they are hired as a junior agent. The agent reveals that the man from the dog case, named Morcubus, is believed to have a grand villainous plan. Solving cases on main street leads to a promotion to special agent and access to the first S.P.A headquarters in the town, which has five floors, four of which can be decorated with earned furniture. The player can hire other citizens as junior agents to solve dispatch missions. Each case involves minigames such as analyzing chemicals, hacking, lock picking, and repairing machines. Tools include a wrench for salvaging spare parts, a magnifying glass for tracking footsteps, and a crowbar for prying objects open, each receiving technological upgrades as the game progresses. In the DS version, the player works as an undercover agent learning from the town's mayor that a thief called "V" plans to steal the town's secret treasure. The player completes minigames, side missions, travels to different locations, and interacts with villagers to find V. Completing minigames rewards Simoleons, the in-game currency, used for purchasing decorations. The collection of essences from previous MySims games returns, and the player can decorate the town, their house, or headquarters.
Development and release
Developed by The Sims Studio, it was the fifth game in the MySims series. General manager Tim LeTourneau stated that MySims Agents would be "completely different than any MySims game before. IGN received a sneak peek with several producers, including lead producer Rachel Bernstein, providing a walkthrough of the Wii version. The game was released in Europe on September 25, 2009, in North America on September 29, 2009, and in Australia on October 5, 2009.
Reception
According to Metacritic, the Wii version received "generally favorable reviews," while the DS version received "mixed or average" reviews. In Japan, where the game was released as Boku to Sim no Machi Agents: Mai no Kaitō Kara Hihō wo ma mo re Taisaku Ikusa! on October 1, 2009, Famitsu scored the DS version 27 out of 40 and the Wii version 26 out of 40. Matt Casamassina of IGN called the Wii version his favorite in the series, praising its visuals and minigames but criticizing the dialogue, particularly from sidekick Buddy, and the "sickly sweet character dialog" from previous games. GameSpot's Allen Rausch felt Buddy provided "laugh-out loud humor" through expressive body language and called the game the best in the series, complimenting its adventurous nature and storyline while criticizing puzzle simplicity. Nick Ellis of GamesRadar+ noted an "amusing script and snazzy visuals" and that the game never gets tedious despite repetition. Heath Hooker of GameZone commended graphics, storyline, and dialogue, stating it would be well received by younger audiences, but found some hints unclear and missions extremely simple. Kotaku's AJ Glasser called the game fun with decent controls and appealing visuals, listing linear gameplay and diverse puzzles as positives, while criticizing the clothes-changing process and intrusive low-battery Wiimote notification. Rebecca Armstrong of The Independent described the game as an "acute twist on both the Sims and James Bond" and a charming new addition to the family.
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