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When The Sims Medieval came out earler this year, it was a differet take on EA's The Sims franchise that was a welcome change from the norm. Pirates and Nobles, the first expansion for Medieval, looks to continue this with the addition of political tension between a country of nobles and a country of pirates with the player's kingdom caught in the middle.
Much like how expansion for the core The Sims titles add new furniture and outfits, so does P&N. Players will get a modest collection of themed items and outfits that suit either faction that can be added to the kingdom. These include torture/interrogation chairs, parrots/falcons, and a bunch of basic furnishings and nick-knacks. The interrogation chair is sadistically entertaining with players able to torture sims by tickling them, splashing water in a sim's face, or throwing a rabid chinchilla into a sim's lap. The avian companion, however, is by far the more useful addition as it can not only pester other sims, but can also fly off and return with goodies.
Players also get the new experience of following treasure maps and digging for buried treasure. As a comedic deterrent for players willing to dig up their entire kingdom in search of a single farthing, the pit beast can sometimes reach through the newly-dug hole and drag the treasure hunter into the pit for a little one-on-one.
All of the additions are fun enough -- even the no-frills stuff due to themeing alone -- but players might find some disappointment in the fact that the expansion (officially called an "adventure pack" by EA) does nothing to expand the kingdom itself. Sure, new quests are added to go along with the situation between the feuding kingdoms, but the player's kingdom itself sees little-to-no expansion.
Furthermore, there is so much more that could have been done with this expansion. Nowhere to be seen are some of the pirate staples such as peg legs and hook hands. Same could be said about the Nobles and their lack of powdered wigs. In fact, save for a pre-determined segment on the wide-open seas, there aren't even naval battles to be had. One would think that in a game with merchant nobles and plundering pirates running amok, there would be at least one player-controlled naval battle.
The Sims Medieval fans should have few reservations in puchacing the Pirates & Nobles expansion because what's included is good enough, but one can't help but think it could have been better.
Final Game Guys grade: B-
News10/KXTV