Following the addition of Star Wars clothing and even Baby Yoda to The Sims 4, fans wondered just how long it would be until an official expansion pack would be unveiled. That came at the end of August, with a release date set for just a couple of weeks later. Jump forward to today, and we've been spending our time with a newly-created Sim who wants nothing more than to become a legendary figure amongst their galaxy-travelling buddies.
So, what does The Sims 4 Star Wars: Journey to Batuu bring to the table?
The first thing players will notice is just how beautiful the world of Batuu looks inside the game. Based on the real-life Galaxy's Edge theme park from Disney, it's one of, if not THE most aesthetically-pleasing area in the entire game. A lot of work has gone into ensuring even the tiniest details of the landscape are fine-tuned to perfection. Unfortunately, this is let down slightly by the fact you can't enter many of the buildings across the three accessible areas in Batuu.
One place you can enter however, which will instantly build up an atmosphere you'll be very familiar with if you're a fan of the Star Wars franchise, is Oga's Cantina in Black Spire Outpost. The infectious music and vibrant array of characters immerses you fully within the intergalactic experience.
Where the real meat on the bones of the Game Pack comes however, is in its story. The Resistance, The First Order and The Scoundrels are all looking for loyal participants in their agenda, and you'll be able to build a reputation with each of the three factions, gaining credits (the world's currency) and respect amongst your peers while doing so. There's no set linear path for completing each faction's missions - you could work with both The First Order and The Resistance at the same time for example - which was undoubtedly the right call by developers.
Things fall a little flat though, in that the missions you are set aren't the most inspiring or exciting in the world. You'll find yourself walking from one side of the map to the other to secure a box, or speak to a character (that can often be tricky to locate), and these types of quests are lacking any real substance.
Still, taking part is essential for die-hard fans, who are going to get exponentially more of an enjoyable experience than those who are unfamiliar with the film series. Getting your hands on your first lightsaber for example, is going to put a smile on the nerdiest of faces. You're also able to build your own R-series or BB-series droid, that'll follow you around as you go about your Batuu business; and who doesn't want their own droid?!
A lot of what Journey to Batuu has to offer is cosmetic, and while it won't tick all the boxes for those who were hoping for more of an engaging narrative experience, it's still something to be celebrated.
The Sims 4 Star Wars: Journey to Batuu is available now as an expansion to The Sims 4 base game, and is available for PC, Mac, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. A code for PC was given to Female First in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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