I only picked this up because Amazon gave me $15 off my next game w/ the digital download version...
and lucky me, because this game isn't just the best Sims game BY FAR, it's going to be in the running for Game of the Year. No joke.
You start as a single Monarch with a quest to get your kingdom on its feet. From there, the game explodes with options, choices and fun.
After completing each quest, you can spend your rewards to erect new buildings in your empire, which can unlock new heroes, quests, items and other actions. Then you pick a new quest, some of which require a specific hero (like finding your king a bride), while other have multiple options for which heroes can undertake them and for the outcome that you'll be going for (a Wizard hero can befriend the dragon while a Knight can slay it). Some quests require multiple heroes (one Hero to kiss the frog prince(ss), and a Physician to concoct an antidote so her skin doesn't poison you).
Eventually you'll have a kingdom with a Monarch, Knight, Spy, Physician, Wizard, Blacksmith, Merchant, Priest and Monk all able to quest to improve themselves and the kingdom. Each hero levels up, gets equipment, and goes on living when you're controlling the others. You can even acquire new territories and then unlock new kingdoms with new goals to start all over with new people and strategies.
Throw in the Sims' humor (Physicians heal people by twisting their neck or throwing a leech on their face, punishment can be the stocks for an egging or feeding someone to a pit-monster/Sarlacc), and you've got an incredible game that came completely out of left field for me.
CHECK IT OUT (and thank me later). :)
