A few days ago, I went back to high school with the new expansion pack released at the end of July: "High School Years".
High School Customizations
Unlike many packs, my discovery does not begin with the creation of a new home. Indeed, the game invites me to personalize the high school of Copperdale.
The place has a very retro feel, whether it's because of the tile patterns, the color of the walls, or even the choice of furniture. In fact, it fits well with the style of the establishments I frequented in my youth, a building that could have been built in the 70s-80s and that could use a good facelift.
I did not change the layout of the rooms. It's pretty well organized on that side. I contented myself with putting a brush stroke, enlarging the basement a little and installing new computers. Basically, I brought high school into the XNUMXst century.
Create a Sim
Unsurprisingly, the pack features new outfits, both for men and women. The lines are intended to be "young", with teenagers as the main target, even if adults can also wear most clothes. Beyond the trendy cuts, the usual American high school uniforms, in the colors of the local team.
A little preview for these gentlemen:
And for these ladies:
Note that this new collection was created in collaboration with users of Depop, a circular fashion application. I'll let you read the blog post from the official site here if you want to learn more about it. Being absolutely not focused on clothing trends, I admit that it does not speak to me much.
To stick to the theme of the pack, it will be possible to choose one of the four teenage aspirations: live to the full, admired icon, teen who does tons or determined.
Copperdale
The area is divided into three districts, therefore returning to habits.
To the north, Rockridge Heights with the high school, but also its stadium and the auditorium (place for graduation).
To the east, Prescott Square (named in honor of the town's founder) is home to two well-established homes: the superb home of the college principal (Prescott) and the no less welcoming Harjo home. A small house is already furnished, in a very square style. This is also where the library and the famous "Thé Tendance" boutique are located, combining both thrift store and tea room.
At the edge of the lake is the Plumbquartz Cove district, remarkable with its huge funfair and park. The rest of the area is occupied by residential spaces: an empty house and lot, the Price family home, and a vacation rental. This is where my Sims settled down to spend their high school years!
Objects
I could easily write a big block without managing to finish listing all the objects added. That wouldn't be very helpful and it would waste a lot of my time (and you too)! So know that there are a lot... a lot... a lot of objects added, and that in all categories, to create the classrooms and the offices of the high school, but also for furniture of many houses ( table, chair, desk, bed, toilets, decoration...) The style is quite retro, in various colors, which can be easily combined with the rest of the bookstore.
And three pieces that feature these objects:
Phone redesign
This is the first thing that shocked me when I started my game: the Sims have gone to the smartphone! I admit that I have a little trouble with the new interface and I regret that the option is not given to return to the previous version. Now the phone opens to eight big icons: Stylish, Sociable Bunny, Entertainment, Shopping, Getting Around, Business, Social, and Camera. I'll detail the first two in due course, later in the preview, as they tie directly into the expansion. For the rest, these are the same options as before.
Note in nice options (the small icons at the top left) the possibility of putting the phone on silent, changing the wallpaper of the phone and modifying its appearance (hull).
Extracurricular activity
Any teenager can have a voluntary extracurricular activity, which comes in the same form as adult careers:
- theater club
- IT team member
- chess team member
- member of the american football team
- member of the Sims cheerleading team
- Scout
This activity takes two hours from 15:30 p.m. to 17:30 p.m., just after the end of the lessons which end at 15:00 p.m. Finally, except for the scouts, who only meet on weekends, from 14 p.m. to 00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. The Sim cannot be accompanied on this occasion, so it takes place blindly. Like careers, the Sim has an optional daily task to complete in order to increase their effectiveness. Ranks are to be climbed, which rewards a unique object (but does not offer more remuneration!).
My Sim has joined the Pom Pom Sims team, which means he has to practice on a mat every day. Isn't it beautiful?
Careers
I did not embark on a career with the boy. Already, because the great aunt Motherlode contributed to the finances of her household. But also because I was afraid he was too busy. In themselves, the schedules are compatible with the lessons, again up to 2 hours per day, either in the morning (5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.) or in the evening (21:00 p.m. to 23:00 p.m.). But the game doesn't seem to accept combining the two (too bad, because I would have joined the drama club with the second Sim I played).
Two half-time careers are added:
- video game streamer
- InfluenSim
I tested the latter.
On the program, regular random tasks, which make it possible to raise the level of the Entrepreneurship skill, as well as a minimum level required in Charisma. The profession is quite interactive, and the missions varied, which avoids monotony.
Trendy Tea
This atypical shop combines a restaurant and a store. Small tables, clothes, shoes. And even an old computer in a corner to connect to the internet and a kitchen to cook up delicious meals. The whole is very welcoming, with a multitude of details and decorations.
By interacting with one of the clothes racks, the option is given to create a look, which loads a watered down version of the "Create A Sim" tool, this time to dress up a mannequin.
All the clothes owned are not available, just a selection (I don't know on what criteria). Unable to sort by game packs. The only options are style, color, and rarity. About the latter, it varies between common, rare, very rare, exclusive and Depop exclusive (the fashion app that helped create some of the clothes in the expansion, as I said above).
For an outfit to be complete, it must have a top, bottom and shoes. Other accessories can be added, such as hats or jewelry. Then it's all about budget. For my first look, I didn't have much left in my pocket. In other words, impossible to choose everything I wanted! The look is finalized with a name, to personalize or choose from a list for those lacking inspiration.
It is then created in the inventory, with different interactions offered: add it to favorites, sell it on Stile, offer it, rename it or wear it. And here is my Sim dressed as the model was!
Social media
The Sims is getting a little too social media-bound, so much so that I'm starting to lose track! Simstagram has been around for a while. In my humble opinion, that was enough, I posted there from time to time a story or the photo of my fart. Then an alternative version of YouTube was added with the video production station. Why not, even if it led to having a different number of subscribers, it was confined to the object. Sims who did not own a station would never see this channel.
But with the redesign of the phone, two new social media are added: Stilé (a trend-setting application) and Lapin Sociable (a kind of Facebook). Of course, everyone is independent, with their own number of subscribers....
Stylish
This new application is directly linked to the creation of a look described above, allowing it to be promoted and put on sale. Normally in this sense because the objective is simple: to make it a fashion essential so that its value increases. With the key, normally, a nice added value. By the way, the Sim is gaining subscribers, so the following looks will be even better received, to eventually make it a real source of income.
Beyond the influencer aspect that may not be appealing, the store is an opportunity to retrieve nice looks to wear to your Sim, thus adding even more outfits than the classics selected at creation.
Lapin Sociable
In itself, beyond the overdose of accounts, Lapin Sociable is not badly done. After adding friends to your acquaintances (regardless of level), you can post private messages to them or tag them, with self-generated texts based on a feeling. Additionally, as the Sim evolves, more posting options unlock. For example, if he does his homework, he can post about it. If he attends a party, the same.
But I admit that I regret that Maxis did not take the opportunity to do a global overhaul of the best social media, to give them better visibility, rather than adding yet another brick, which makes the whole thing confusing.
living in high school
I end with the very heart of the extension: the high school. When it doesn't bug, the Sim leaves for high school and remains playable (I had the issue twice where he just left without being offered to take control).
The day begins with a free period, with a few tasks to perform, such as socializing with friends or training in the gym. Then begins the first lesson. To join it, you have to click on the board, preferably 10 minutes before the start, because the building is large and the time slot very short. In addition, it is better to maximize the presence time because the Sim increases his skills in class (like logic in math class). Then comes the lunch break, with again some homework to do (revise or socialize). Then the afternoon begins, which again asks to attend a course.
Sometimes a few events lead to choosing the attitude to adopt, with the key impact on performance... for good or bad!
All days are the same, except Friday, exam day. The day always ends at 15:00 p.m., leaving plenty of time to do homework. My Sim loves doing this by the pool! Or sometimes in the canteen.
Different interactions are added here and there. On the computer, to be able to consult his notes, his timetable or revise. But also directly on his Sim.
There are parties...
Nice meeting...
And what would high school be without the sacrosanct end-of-year ball?
A social event with different objectives, and a unique reward (a gramophone in the color of the medal, bronze, silver or gold).
And if ever the grades are excellent, going from the initial C to the A in a sustainable way, it is an opportunity to finish high school early, to enroll in university even before the end of adolescence.
Be careful, however, because this makes it impossible to achieve aspirations and leaves extracurricular activity in stride. Me who wanted to become chief cheerleader, it's screwed 🙁
Conclusion
Copying the gameplay of college, in a slightly more accessible version, High School Years offers a new level of play for teenagers. It wasn't really lacking, but it's still nice to follow your Sims at different stages of their lives. Until now, I always created young adults, I will probably now go through adolescence for a brief passage through high school. The amount of new clothes and building objects gives great freedom to create new homes, and always more choices to guarantee a great diversity of life simulation. Note various other improvements that I have not mentioned: body hair, acne, facial hair... For ever more realism.
On the other hand, I was less hooked on the influencer/social media aspect. Admittedly, this copies our real life just as much... But this part of the game becomes too important. Anyway, for me. I don't like social media in real life (like I posted this week on my Instagram for the first time since February, and I have two posts on my Facebook wall for 2022). And that's not what I want to do with my virtual avatars! As much as I haven't felt too much pressure so far, I tell myself that it will be difficult to ignore Stile and Lapin Sociable in the future, even by ignoring notifications.
Origin - 39,99€
