Summary
EA’s upcomingThe Sims 5may not be gracing store shelves anytime soon, but there are a handful of other games that could challenge it for the life-sim spotlight. Indie gameParalivesmight just be one of them.Paraliveswill be joining other highly anticipated lifesimulation games likeLife By Youas a potential competitor for EA’s massively popular simulator gaming franchise.
While very little is known about the game, many believe thatThe Sims 5could represent a massive leap for the beloved series. Developer Maxis has gone on record stating that the upcoming entry will be characterized by its uniqueness, with the theme of the development process being one of “rebirth”. This is likely to excite fans of the series, asThe Simshasn’t gotten an official release in almost a decade and could arguably use a refresh. That said,The Sims 5is still a bit far out, and fans of the genre might want to look elsewhere, especially if they’re craving a unique take on the formula.
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Paralives Looks Like a Refreshing Spin On The Sims
The Sims 5will be differentfrom earlier entries in the series thanks to changes in technology, game design, and the goals of the developers, but just how far it will deviate from its predecessors remains to be seen. When it comes to truly novel, outside-the-box ideas within the life-simulation framework, it’s worth looking at indie titles, as they are untethered from the expectations and responsibilities of a major franchise or brand.
Paralivesis a good example of how an indie studio can shake up an established formula. From the first glance, it’s clear that the game is heavily inspired byThe Sims, centering around character customization and home building. While it may share theseimportantSimsfeatures, it stands out in some significant ways. The most obvious difference betweenParalivesandThe Simsis the presentation.Paralivesboasts a beautiful cel-shaded art style that allows it to look simple and clean, yet still detailed.Paralivesalso features soft, realistic lighting and a more conservative, grounded color palette, which stands in contrast to the decidedly colorful aesthetic ofThe Sims.
This singular art style also helps it stand out from otherThe Simscompetitors, mainlyLife By You, which features visuals that are much more similar toThe Sims. However, it seems thatLife By Youmay be taking greater steps to expand upon the foundation laid byThe Sims.Life By Youaims to simulate every secondof each characters' lives, in addition to creating a game that is comparatively more adult thanThe Sims.Paralivesdoesn’t have as grand ambitions by comparison, as the game looks like a more straightforward adaptation ofThe Sims' formula. In other words, ifLife By Youis a step forward fromThe Sims, thenParalivesis more of a side-step, offering a similar experience with a different coat of paint and some additional, albeit minor, features.
Of course, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While there may be some areas whereThe Simscould improve, it has strong, time-tested foundations, so not every game inspired by it needs to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. Competing games likeLife By Youmight offer a more adultexperience, but it looks likeParalivesis aiming for the same low-stakes, cozy gameplay that madeThe Simsso special in the first place. It’s also worth noting thatParalivesis very much still in development, with no release date announced, so its developer may yet reveal a lot of new ideas and features.
The Sims 5is in development.
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