Tomodachi Life
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Unscored Reviews
A weird, hillarious, and heartwarming game that still surprises me after three solid weeks of playing it.
Tomodachi Life isn't going to make all players happy. It can be a touch directionless, and the oddities of the Miis isn't universally appealing. In the end, though, this is the sort of game that open-minded players will love if they give it a chance. There is so much to do and see on a daily basis, it almost becomes compulsory to switch on the game and check in with the Miis. Not a lot of games have as much heart as Tomodachi Life, and I really hope that fans give it the shot it deserves.
A life less ordinary.
Try it if you're a tween (or a tween-at-heart). Otherwise, avoid it.
Scored Reviews
Tomodachi Life reminds me what I love about Nintendo. Another developer might try an experience like this on iOS or Android, but it's unlikely they would leave it unsullied by in-game purchases. I also doubt that many other studios could nail the effortless humor that makes this so refreshing to play. It's not about shooting people. It's not even about jumping on heads. It's about mixing people together to see what happens, and I'm not sure anyone but Nintendo could figure out how to make something that simple so much fun.
In all, Tomodachi Life is filled with pure, unbridled joy. It puts a stupid grin on my face and keeps it there through its duration. Some might complain that it is "not a game," but they can go on hating. It does require the player to put in some love, flair, and wit, but what comes out is magic.
[T]his is a wonderful game that I obviously can't stop playing, and I can't speak highly enough of. Endlessly charming and unusually engaging, Tomodachi Life is a fantastic diversion.
Tomodachi Life is a unique game. It's a simulation, sure, but the random elements and varying personalities of the Miis keep it from being as straightforward as something conventional like The Sims. It's more of an opportunity to put Miis into a virtual world and play around with them. The players won't always have control, but they'll still have a good time. That said, I can see some people who are craving something more straightforward feeling letdown by the fact that don't have total control over the Miis lives and actions. Overall, I think anyone who takes a chance on this unorthodox property will have a positive experience, and hope Nintendo will build upon this franchise.
Tomodachi Life is a delightful and wholly enjoyable game. Bound to keep kids occupied for many hours with its endless amounts of character possibilities, it seems more suited to the younger generation as its trailers would suggest. Still, if you are a fan of The Sims and Animal Crossing, as much as I hate to refer back to these games as much as I have, then I'm sure you will enjoy Tomodachi Life in some capacity, be that for the short or long term.
Tomodachi Life offers a great kind of humor: it's just fun to laugh at yourself and your friends in absurd situations. Nintendo gets a lot out of mileage out of this Sims-like concept, but still manages to find ways to make it simple, accessible, and entertaining. The stiff, robotic voices could use improvement, but the effect of hearing the Miis speak is still novel in it's own way. The easy-breezy pace makes it ideal for short bursts of play, and it leaves me eager to check in on my town early and often.
Tomodachi Life finds fun in the most mundane of activities, thanks to quirky style that makes hanging out with digital friends surprisingly engrossing.
The fact that it's almost impossible to cover every aspect of Tomodachi Life in a single review is perhaps testament to the vast scope of the game. There is so much going on here and so many months of potential enjoyment on offer that this would easily become your most-played 3DS title. But again, that thorny issue remains — is this really a game in the strictest sense? It's closer to being an expanded version of Bandai's famous '90s craze the Tamagotchi, with your main duty being the happiness of your Mii population, rather than any skill-based challenges. In fact, there's precious little skill involved at all — given enough time, you'll be able to see everything this has to offer regardless of how "good" you are at it. Of course, that doesn't make the process any less entertaining or rewarding, but it's worth keeping in mind if you prefer your games to be a little more demanding.Despite concerns regarding its suitability for core gamers, Tomodachi Life is a title which has truly universal appeal; the barrier to entry which exists in many pieces of software — Animal Crossing: New Leaf included — is all but removed here, making this feel more like a casual mobile title. Some will see that as a negative, but under Nintendo's watchful eye, this cookie-cutter concept is expanded and improved almost beyond measure. Tomodachi Life is perhaps best described as the glorious culmination of the Mii concept that was heralded by the release of the Wii back in 2006, and at long last gives your virtual avatar a life of its own — as well as many humorous and entertaining escapades to enjoy.
Ridiculous, hilarious and full of the unique surrealism that Nintendo does so damn well, it's hard not to fall in love with Tomodachi Life and the characters you create. The sedate pace and minimal interaction might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this is guaranteed to be a cult hit. Worth experiencing at least once to see something genuinely funny and unusual, this is the kind of game that reminds you how imaginative Nintendo can be.
Perhaps it was at the point when I saw Chuck Norris doing yoga with Batman, the Joker, and Barack Obama or maybe it was when Princess Peach was rejected by Peter Griffin. At some point while playing Tomodachi Life, I realized how much the game activated my imagination. When I was little, I was never one to play with action figures or make up fake storylines for fictional characters to partake in, but with Tomodachi Life, I have never felt my imagination so stimulated. I feel like I am managing a virtual dollhouse of celebrities; that is okay, because I have never had so much fun planning the daily goings-on of my Miis.
Tomodachi Life is by far the weirdest game that I've ever engaged in. And much like my Miis, the experience has been completely unique.
Tomodachi Life is more a weird interactive soap than a game, but that doesn't make it any less compulsive. You might not be entranced by the simple, repetitive gameplay, but you'll become embroiled in your Mii's virtual lives, and you'll be surprised, baffled, boggled and bemused by the whole shebang. If you found The Sims or Animal Crossing dull then it's not for you – there's less to achieve and this is even less a game – but for everyone that hates Tomodachi Life there will be others who keep coming back for more.
Tomodachi Life is more toy than game, but it's an intriguing, colorful, and consistently surprising one.
For a hobby that has so many negative connotations associated with it I found Tomodachi Life allowing my kids to express themselves in a positive and creative way. With humour and also learning that fights with their game characters, just as in real life, can be resolved. I can't say it touched us as a family on a deep level – it's not meant to, it's just meant to be fun. But a truly fun and silly video game can be a therapy itself.
It is difficult to give Tomodachi Life a direct score, but the game does have the unique Nintendo look, feel and charm. The setup does take some time to progress, and it would require a little effort to truly benefit from the amusing and sometimes surreal moments between friends, family and random celebrities. Having dinner with Shigeru Miyamoto? It is possible. Going out on a romantic beach stroll with Beyoncé? Bit of a "maybe," but still within the realms of 'feasible' in Tomodachi Life. The concept is more of an experience than a game and, as such, is not for everyone - but it is certainly worth a go.
The latest of Nintendo's experiments to create games with appeal beyond the usual clichés of the medium, Tomodachi Life may actually be the most humanistic creation the company has ever put together. While it could (somewhat notoriously) stand to be more inclusive, its focus on the concrete personalities and tangible interactions of tiny digital people make it one of the most addictive and fascinating life sims ever made.
While life simulators in general give players the opportunity to create a persona and live out that avatar's life in ways they might not to live their own, this game gives the player the ability to affect dozens of lives without dictating every single moment of any given individual Mii's existence. If nothing else, "Tomodachi Life" presents a fascinating digital social realm that may, in time, shed some light on real-life interactions and allow us as a species to reflect upon our own selves. It may not be the prettiest game out there and it may not offer the most varied gameplay experience, but I'd be surprised if at the end of the year we in the gaming landscape don't look back on "Tomodachi Life" as the most unique title offered in 2014.
Tomodachi Life is undeniably charming
Tomodachi Life isn't for everyone, but it's still a fun game that can also be enjoyed in short bursts when pressed for time. While the main goal of the game is to basically keep your residents happy, it's a slight disappointment that you can't control their actions directly. I feel bad for a Mii who was shot down after asking for a relationship as I can't do a whole lot for them, but there's still enough to do in the game to keep things interesting.
Laid-back pacing and general silliness won't click with everyone
Tomodachi Life brings the quirk in spades, but it's not long before the novelty wears off.
Tomodachi Life might not have the lasting appeal of a title like Animal Crossing: New Leaf, but the game certainly offers up an interesting experience
Tomodachi Life has plenty of appealing zaniness and utilizes Nintendo's familiar Miis better than ever before, but the actual gameplay could use some more variety.
Well, if easy and weird is how you like it, Nintendo's Tomodachi Life may be just the Mii Rap Simulator/news program for you!
You can look inside your characters' minds to see what they're thinking, or even more oddly what they're dreaming (normally involving ninjas and superheroics, obviously).
Tomodachi Life is a trip into a world where your Miis live out a never-ending series of bizarre and amusing adventures. While I'm glad that Nintendo of America decided to take a chance in bringing it our way, those adventures are unfortunately tainted somewhat due to a few gameplay decisions that really should be rectified in a future sequel.
Tomodachi Life is a bizarre game. It's a tiny world with its own news channel (a popular story involved Roops opening his window and a bird flying in; another was the surge of headphone purchases around the island), its own residents with predictable dreams (they all sing in the concert hall with pre-generated songs lacking depth about love and pizza), and if you're open to it, its own comment. Playing Tomodachi Life is no different than life in its purest sense, but it makes one wonder: who's playing you? Should we care?
Yet the game fails to genuinely engage most of the time, leaving the player to observe when they should be making choices and doing things. It lacks clear objectives and direction, never making you feel like you've made any progress or done anything important. It's just plain boring too much of the time to recommend whole-heartedly.
Tomodachi Life does its best to cut through a lot of society's hateful garbage to produce an incredible island paradise of distraction and more often than not succeeds, but not without stumbling all over itself, revealing too many embarrassing inner thoughts. Just like that kid in gym class, it's possible to cross a line trying to prove a point. There's no progress in Tomodachi Life without you and maybe that's to the game's advantage. It puts no pressure on you to keep playing if you really hate the game, but revisiting your island paradise later won't leave you feeling guilty since you don't have to worry about picking a bunch of weeds.
A bonkers life-sim with bags of personality and lots of charm, the entertaining Tomodachi Life is let down only by its limitations as a gaming experience.
Tomodachi Life is a promising concept, and its abstract sense of humor can be very charming. It does, however, get old fast, and you'll find yourself making the characters say lewd things to keep yourself amused.
Hilarious, but runs out of juice very, very quickly
"Build your own doll house."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Nintendo's 'Tomodachi Life' is not only one of the most controversial titles in recent memory, but one of the oddest.
An amusing novelty on a good day but a tedious non-game for the rest of the week, Nintendo's life simulator proves voyeurism is not all it's cracked up to be.
